Meeting Students Where They Are: River Valley Counseling Center’s School-Based Counseling

Over the next few months, we’ll be highlighting different River Valley Counseling Center programs to introduce them to the wider ServiceNet community. Stay tuned to learn more about the people and services that make RVCC such a vital part of our network of care.

The idea for a school-based counseling program started modestly in the Holyoke schools 40 years ago when River Valley Counseling Center clinicians dropped in to support students when needed. There were no offices, no formal structure.

But as the advantages of a school-based program where students could be supported where they were, were quickly recognized, the program grew and became integrated into all Holyoke schools, and many other districts as well.

The idea behind the program is simple but powerful: eliminate barriers for students who benefit from regular therapeutic support. There is no long waiting list, no transportation hurdles, no scheduling nightmares for parents. Instead, outpatient therapy becomes part of the school day, accessible and familiar.

The success of that idea is clear in the numbers: there are currently 90 clinicians working in 73 schools across 11 districts, serving more than 2,500 students of all ages in Hampshire and Hampden counties. The clinicians work side by side with teachers, counselors, and families to help students manage anxiety, depression, trauma, and the everyday stresses that can make learning hard.

Even with that kind of growth, Director of School-Based Clinical Services Alexa Mignano says the team works hard to keep things personal. “We’re a big program, but we do things to make it feel small,” she says.

That philosophy shows in how they care for their staff as much as their students. Each new clinician is paired with a peer mentor, and the team focuses on making sure clinicians feel supported and connected.

It’s a strategy that works: clinician turnover is remarkably low — something Mignano sees as a key measure of success. “Low turnover means better outcomes for students,” she explains, because relationships and trust have time to grow.

The program’s success is also reflected in the many schools that choose to renew their partnerships year after year.

By meeting students where they are — and breaking down the barriers that stand between young people and the help they need — RVCC’s school-based clinicians are building stronger, more resilient school communities.

Now, as part of the ServiceNet family, RVCC brings this deep experience, trusted relationships, and a people-first approach to our shared mission of helping individuals and families thrive.