Have you, as a student, ever felt like all you need is someone to talk to who you can relate with and who can connect you to help? The Peer Counselors at Sandy Spring Friends School are here to serve that very purpose. Peer Counselors have been trained for twelve hours over the course of seven weeks by Ilene Lees, the upper school counselor at SSFS.

The peer application states that, “this workshop teaches high school teens the skills necessary to help their fellow students who may be struggling with difficult issues. These skills include listening, problem solving, and appropriate referral when needed. The program provides information on a wide variety of issues, including relationship difficulties, substance use, sexuality, mental health, and many others.”

The Peer Counselors are here to help you when you need it. If you are having friend or relationship problems, school stresses, or even just feeling lonely and need someone to talk to, we are here to help connect you to your sources of strength. That may be your positive peers, family support, spirituality, mentors, generosity, medical access, healthy activities, or your mental health.

Valentina Stephens has been a peer counselor for two years now and understands that everyone has their issues and problems. She has felt less alone since becoming a Peer Counselor. “Ive become a better listener and communicator too. I’ve been able to act as the mediator between two friends during conflicts,” Valentina explains. “I’ve found that I do the most counseling during exam weeks, while the seasons are changing, and after worldwide tragedies,” she described.

Peer Counselors are not here to tell you what to do. We are here to guide you in a way that is unbiased, yet understanding what it’s like to be a student on campus. Too many people are suffering. One in five people experience a mental health condition. We are here to reach out to those people and connect them to help, while it may be hard for them to get help for themselves. We understand, and we are ready to listen.