Personal Counseling

Supporting Our Students

Each campus at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School has its own dedicated mental health counselor. These counselors support the student’s well-being and development through a comprehensive program that is designed to focus on the specific demands of each division. This includes group and individual meetings with students and families, as well as parent events and guest speakers.

In addition, the counseling team supports the entire SSSAS community, working every day with students, parents and faculty, offering consultations and referrals to outside mental health professionals when necessary. The team meets weekly with a licensed psychologist for supervision and support.

Lower School Counseling

Director of Counseling Susan DeLaurentis, M.A., has over 30 years of experience (25 years at SSSAS) and is also the Lower School counselor. Susan is available to consult with all members of the school community, and works closely with the other members of her department. Ms. D is particularly fond of her daily “lunch bunch” program with groups of students in grades 3-5.

Middle School Counseling

Karen B. Kunz, M.A., LPC has over 15 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 2017. She joined the SSSAS community in 2004.

As the Middle School counselor, Karen devotes the beginning of the year to meeting all new members of the Middle School community. Mrs. Kunz works to help students and families navigate these transitions successfully. Mrs. Kunz also offers a lunch bunch program for all three grade levels. These are student-selected and provide a smaller environment where students can enjoy lunch together and benefit from a shared experience with their classmates.

In addition, Karen is available to provide social and emotional support to families and is always happy to discuss the developmental challenges and experiences that are unique to the middle school-aged student. She is available for individual consultations for both students and families.

Upper School Counseling

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.

Meet Our Counselors