Susannah Harrison, M.A., LPC has over 20 years of experience working with adolescents, adults, and families within independent school settings as a mental health counselor. She completed her master’s degree in counseling at Boston College, and has been a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia since 2011. She joined the SSSAS community in 2004.
As the Upper School Counselor, Susannah meets with every ninth grader and new upperclassman at the start of the year, to check in and see how the transition to the Upper School is unfolding. She explains how to make an appointment with her office and what the limits of confidentiality include.
Susannah is available throughout the school day for students and families who may need consultation. She also coordinates the Peer Leadership program, in which 11th graders are nominated by their peers in the spring and are invited to apply for the position of Peer Leader for their senior year. The Peer Leader's primary responsibility is to work with freshmen advisories with the hope that they can help prepare freshmen for the Upper School. They act as role models and work to provide an open-minded, supportive, and trustworthy environment in which the freshmen have the opportunity to ask questions and seek guidance. Susannah works closely with the senior class, accompanying them on their annual retreat to Shrinemont in the fall, running monthly senior girl’s lunch groups, and also organizing the College Transition Workshop in the spring.