School Counselors, Social/Emotional Learning,
& Mental Health Resources
First, please know that Lakeland School Counselors are here for you. No matter what you’re going through—at home, with friends or relationships, in the classroom, or elsewhere—you can always talk to a school counselor.
Supporting student mental health and social/emotional growth is a key part of school counseling, along with helping students succeed academically, exploring their interests, and planning for the future. These areas are connected, and challenges in one can affect the others.
To help you grow socially/emotionally, school counselors help students manage emotions, build healthy relationships, and work through challenges that may get in the way of learning. We provide classroom lessons, small groups, short-term counseling, and support during difficult times and major life changes. To learn more about the School Counselor's role in student mental health, click on the links below.
When needed, we also help connect students with additional school-based or community-based resources. Please see below to learn more about our partnerships with Northern Lights Counseling (NEW at Lakeland as of 2026) and Scranton Counseling Center. You can talk to your school counselor about which resource(s) may be best for you.
Supporting student mental health and social/emotional growth is a key part of school counseling, along with helping students succeed academically, exploring their interests, and planning for the future. These areas are connected, and challenges in one can affect the others.
To help you grow socially/emotionally, school counselors help students manage emotions, build healthy relationships, and work through challenges that may get in the way of learning. We provide classroom lessons, small groups, short-term counseling, and support during difficult times and major life changes. To learn more about the School Counselor's role in student mental health, click on the links below.
When needed, we also help connect students with additional school-based or community-based resources. Please see below to learn more about our partnerships with Northern Lights Counseling (NEW at Lakeland as of 2026) and Scranton Counseling Center. You can talk to your school counselor about which resource(s) may be best for you.
Northern Light Counseling & Integrative Wellness
Lakeland Jr./Sr. High School is partnered with Northern Light Counseling & Integrative Wellness to provide mental health support during the school day within the school building. At this time, students who use private insurance can access these services. More information can be found below. Please contact your school counselor to initiate services.
Scranton Counseling
Lakeland Jr./Sr. High School partners with both Scranton Counseling to be able to provide long-term, outpatient mental health services for those students who have medical assistance. Counseling occurs within the school building and during the school day. Qualifying students receiving mental health services through Scranton Counseling will meet regularly with Debbie McDermott while those students receiving mental health services through the Friendship House will meet regularly with Ernie Laskosky. Medical insurance is the primary factor when determining which services a student qualifies for. You can access the forms for each of these services below, but should contact your counselor to discuss which service is right for you.
Additional Resources
If the above options do not work, please consider the links below. The first is a list of local mental health providers that may be right for your situation. This list is not comprehensive, but offers a good start towards seeking services. The second links back to our Student Assistant Program (SAP) page. If you don't know where to start for a particular situation, making a SAP referral is a good place to begin. From there, our team will work to find the best interventions for the student in need.
