I first met Mrs. Northey at the NJOCF meeting I attended.  When I found out she was involved in High School Student Assistance, I knew I needed to find out more about her job.  Student Assistance Counselors (aka: School Social Workers, School Psychologists, Child Study Teams, and a bunch of other similar names) are often the first means of intervention in school settings.  So few students know about them, however, that they are often not until a mental health issue seriously impacts school performance.  Every school has this resource.  Use it!

Student Assistance Counselors are a valuable resource in schools.  Often times students don’t really know who we are or what we do.  Every school district by law has to provide Student Assistance Counselors.  Theses professionals all offer some of the same services however some also offer additional services.  First of all:  What is a Student Assistance Counselor? 

Otherwise knows as SAC’s we are professionals who offer prevention, intervention and referral services to students for alcohol, tobacco and other drug issues.  However most of us offer a significant number of additional services.  Most of the time we are trained mental health professionals who have experience with many social, psychological and family issues, including treatment of persons with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), eating disorders, phobias, depression and anxiety disorders.  All the services we provide are completely confidential.  Students usually meet with the SAC during the school day.  Sometimes the SAC, with the student’s permission, will call upon other resources to help the student.

Being a teen is difficult enough.  If you are a teen with a mental illness you do not need to struggle alone. 

For help with any issue or concern contact your school SAC

Ms. Northey, LCSW, CADC, SAC is a Student Assistance Coordinator for the Franklin Township Public Schools.  She is Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor.  In addition to working with all age students in Public Education, she held positions at Rutgers University where she counseled college students and has worked within the psychiatry departments at a number of hospitals throughout New Jersey.    Ms. Northey has extensive experience in treating persons afflicted with eating disorders, anxiety, depression, substance abuse as well as other mental illnesses.
She currently has a private practice in Somerset, NJ