Wellness Center

Our Wellness Center offers students a mental health one-stop-shop where they have access to counseling, clinical therapy, community resource referrals and more. Our professionals provide a wide variety of services and programs to address overcoming life’s obstacles. Additionally, students can walk-in and engage in mindful activities and/or build social skills through game-based activities. All students are encouraged to utilize the Wellness Center. Our goal is that students will leave the center emotionally regulated and ready to re-engage in their studies.

How to Use the Wellness Center

Need some additional help and want to talk to someone? Make appointments to see our MH staff, including our Clinical School Therapist, Martha Perez-Castor.

Wellness Center location: Room 61
Stop by to schedule an appointment
Walk in to use a self-service station
Speak to your Academic Counselor to request services

Cozy Environment

Mindfulness Station

Aromatherapy

Loose Parts Play

Calming Plants

Activities

Kindness Station

Wellness Stations

The following are self serve stations. Students can walk in and experience immediate benefits.

Inhale & Exhale Check-In/Out (Mandatory)

Complete your survey at the beginning and end of each visit. Give your survey to the Wellness Coordinator before you leave.

Break from Screens (Mandatory)

Connect to yourself and experience the present moment by storing your phone in a cell phone sleeping bag.

Affirmations

Speak kindly to yourself. Create an affirmation to repeat daily.

Mindfulness

Feeling anxious, out of control, or down? Try a Mindful Module including Calm.com guided meditations to tame your mind.

Aromatherapy

Breathe deeply and find a scent that helps you feel calm and relaxed. Masks are mandatory at all times.

Enso Water Paint

Thoughts racing? Paint with water and be mindful of the present moment. Acknowledge your thoughts as they arrive and as they fade away.

Sand Tray / Kinetic Sand

Feeling out of control? Ground yourself in a sand tray with slow, smooth movement.

Loose Parts Play

Play and pattern to reduce stress and improve problem-solving skills.

Kindness Cards

Being kind to yourself and showing kindness to others reduces anxiety, depression, and lowers blood pressure.

Gratitude Well

Practice gratitude to improve sleep, and reduce aggression and anxiety.

Thought Reframes

Negative thoughts clouding your focus? Try using the replacement handouts to develop helpful thought patterns.

Wellness Resources

For Students

For Parents

Virtual Calming Rooms

Our Goals

Wellness Center services will help students find support for physical, mental, emotional and social concerns.

Our mission is to:

Provide easily accessible resources for students and their families
Proactively teach our students how to overcome mental health challenges
Listen and provide guidance
Reassure students that it is all right to ask for help

Safe and Welcoming

Furnished with cozy bean bag chairs and couches and decorated with pleasing artwork, the Wellness Center provides a comfortable setting for students to stop in during their breaks. Here you have space to ask questions, receive support or take a moment to decompress.

Our Wellness Center is equipped with a conference table to hold group meetings and private offices for one-on-one meetings.

wellness center cozy couches and lounge area

Frequently Asked Questions About Mental Health Support

What help do we offer students who need Mental Health Support?

DUSD partners with three major agencies in the Downey community: Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JCFS), Pacific Clinics, and Community Family Guidance. Beyond these three agencies, there are many other resources we refer our students to and we are not limited to this list. There are also counseling groups that students can become a part of that are focused on certain topics. If you have any questions about these groups, please ask your counselor.

How many students have access to these agencies?

When counselors are deciding which agency to refer students to, it is largely determined by insurance status, family and student needs, capacity at each agency, etc. JFCS is the only agency that has a definite and limited number of spaces because they are contracted by the district for that specific number of spaces. The other agencies are community-based organizations that take several types of funding sources which means that their capacity is determined by their agency—we will find you an agency that is right for you!

Are these services confidential for students?

Yes. What you discuss with your counselor or service providers is completely confidential. Remember that all school employees and health care professionals are mandated reporters for child abuse; meaning, if those items are discussed, action will need to be taken. Ask your counselor directly if you have more questions about confidentiality.

Do I have to have parental consent to receive services?

In order to receive outside agency mental health services, we will need parental consent—don’t hate us, it’s the law! We know that conversation sounds very scary—but we will walk you through it every step of the way. If you want to call someone directly, you can call the Care Solace Hotline: (888) 515-0595. Care Solace acts as your advocate to find you the help you need.

Additional Mental Health Resources

Care Solace (888) 515-0595
Trevor Lifeline LGBTQ (866) 488-7386
National Suicide Prevention Hotline (800) 273-TALK (8255) or text “START” to 741741 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org
California Youth Crisis Line Open 24/7 (800) 843-5200
Suicide Prevention Center (800) 727-4747
Department of Mental Health (800) 854-7771
Teen Line for teen to teen help: teenlineonline.org or text “TEEN” to 839863
Care Solace 24/7 Support, (888) 515-0595
Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Psychiatric Mobile Response Team (PMRT) ACCESS Line (800) 854-7771

Success in academics cannot fully occur without a healthy mind. Let’s tackle wellness together. Let’s empower classmates, family members and the community to make wellness a priority…because you deserve the best.