Health & Wellness
Accessing counseling & wellness support at UHS
High school can be a demanding—and at times stressful—experience. At University High School, we believe students learn best when they feel supported, balanced, and confident in their environment. Academic success is closely connected to emotional well-being, and we are committed to caring for the whole student.
To support this balance, UHS provides dedicated social-emotional counselors who are available to help students navigate personal, social, and emotional challenges. Our counseling resources are designed to promote resilience, self-awareness, and healthy decision-making, while ensuring students feel seen, heard, and supported throughout their high school journey.
Students and families are always welcome to reach out directly to Mrs. Fernandez or Mrs. Bird with questions or concerns. Our counselors are available to all students and can be accessed in a variety of ways:
✓ Student or parent request
Meetings may be requested through walk-ins or scheduled appointments to discuss personal, social, emotional, or behavioral concerns.
✓ Teacher referral
Teachers may refer students when academic performance appears to be affected by personal, social, emotional, or behavioral challenges.
✓ Student Support Team (SST):
The SST may recommend short-term counseling or regular check-ins as part of a student support plan.
✓ Counselor outreach
Counselors may proactively meet with students based on feedback from staff, parents, or peers, or during key academic periods such as grading cycles.
✓ Community referrals
When additional support is needed, Mrs. Bird or Mrs. Fernandez may refer students and families to trusted community professionals for assessments, evaluations, or long-term counseling services.
VIRTUAL CALMING ROOM
Take a moment to pause. Breathe.
A space for students, families, and staff to access tools and strategies for managing emotions, reducing stress, and building resilience. Whether you need a short reset or ongoing support, these resources are here to help you feel grounded and supported.
Some Simple Tips
Practicing Self-Care
Self-care looks different for everyone. Identify activities that help you feel your best and intentionally make time for them—even in small moments. Prioritize sleep, healthy eating, and physical activity, and remember it’s okay to set boundaries and say no. Regularly check in with yourself, surround yourself with positive people, and treat self-care as a necessary part of a healthy, balanced life.
Stress, Sleep & Balance
Sleep is essential for focus, learning, and managing stress. High school students need 8–10 hours of sleep each night to perform well academically. Lack of sleep can affect memory, concentration, and test performance, making it harder for students to succeed in school.
Diet & Nutrition
A balanced diet is essential for energy, focus, and overall well-being. Eating regular meals that include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein helps students stay alert, manage stress, and perform at their best academically. Staying hydrated and limiting sugar and processed foods also supports concentration, mood, and overall health throughout the day.
Community Resources
✻ Comprehensive Youth Services, Inc.
Services include individual and family counseling for at-risk youth and families, anger management classes for adults and adolescents, and on-campus crisis counseling through student assistance programs at select Fresno Unified and Fresno County schools. Additional programs include Keep Kids Drug Free, one-to-one mentoring, and the STOP program.
✻ Al-Anon & Alateen
Alateen is part of the Al-Anon Family Groups; Al-Anon meetings are for anyone affected by someone else’s drinking. If there’s no Alateen meeting available to you, you are always welcome to attend an Al-Anon meeting.
✻ 211 California
211 is a free and confidential information and referral service serving people of all income levels, languages, and cultural backgrounds. 211 offers access to live, trained specialists, via phone or web, to connect people to services in their community 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
✻ Fresno County Mental Health
Provides mental health services for youth ages 0–18, including infant mental health services for children ages 0–3. Services include assessments, case management, individual and family therapy, medication support, substance abuse prevention, parenting groups (English and Spanish), youth support groups, and trauma-informed, family-based treatment.
✻ Sullivan Center for Children
The organization has over 20 years of experience serving Central Valley families and employs knowledgeable staff specializing in childhood development, parenting, and common challenges faced during a child’s growth. It provides expert guidance and support to families throughout all stages of development.
✻ All 4 Youth
All 4 Youth is a partnership program between The Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health and Fresno County Superintendent of Schools for children and youth ages 0-22 years old experiencing difficulties that affect them at school and at home.
✻ Kingsview Mental Health
With a strong tradition of commitment, the focus is on serving rural communities where other health resources are often limited. Treating people with care and compassion is the cornerstone of their philosophy, valuing each person’s worth and wholeness in body, mind and spirit.
✻ The Fresno Family Counseling Center
Provides low-cost counseling services by advanced graduate students enrolled in the Marriage & Family Therapy Program at Fresno State and post-graduate MFT interns who work under the supervision of Fresno State Faculty who are licensed professionals.