Encouraging Each Child to Grow and Thrive
The counseling team at Epstein supports our students’ academic, social, emotional, physical, and mental wellness. With the understanding that all students benefit from support in some of these areas, we have a robust program designed to meet students where they are, and to encourage them to grow and thrive in all areas.
Early Childhood Program (ECP) Counseling
Andrea L. Bern, LCSW, RPT
Our Early Childhood Program is unique in many ways, including a full-time counselor. Andrea Bern is a licensed clinical social worker and a Registered Play Therapist who works to promote each student’s social and emotional development. She spends time weekly in each classroom conducting developmentally appropriate lessons on specific topics.
Lessons include stories, songs, games, mindfulness, and other hands-on activities to provide a multi-sensory experience. It also includes working with small groups or individuals who could benefit from additional support and connections.
- ECP students are taught skills to help develop their social/emotional intelligence. These skills include social awareness, self-awareness, relationship skills, self-management and responsible decision making
- Weekly lessons include games, activities, books, role plays to ensure every type of learner can benefit from the lessons
- Every lesson includes a mindfulness component
- Provides individual support for children, families, and teachers, with connections to outside professionals for any additional support that may be needed
In addition to working with students, she also works with teachers and parents who are looking for strategies and other resources to help their students flourish both at school and at home.
Elementary School Counseling
Molly Levine-Hunt, LCSW
The Epstein elementary counseling program focuses on the whole child and their experiences in and outside school. Monthly lessons and themes are based on the CASEL standards (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) and are created to support students' developmental and emotional growth. Molly Levine-Hunt, Ms. Molly, as she's known at school, is a licensed clinical social worker with training in expressive arts and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Together with our teaching and administration teams, Molly meets twice a month with each grade, where they discuss every student's academic and social-emotional well-being. Both strengths and struggles are processed, and each student has a plan of action to support them best individually.
Reflecting on our students' specific needs, Molly holds whole class meetings and lessons, small groups, lunch groups, and individual sessions. She takes pride in working with students and families to make sure students feel seen, heard, and supported. Molly also helps teachers in connecting with their students and parents.
Middle School Counseling
Lucy Reish '15, APC, M.Ed., NCC
Middle school can be a challenging time for students socially and emotionally. Our program helps navigate the middle school years by supporting students’ and their families’ needs through in person support, referring out for mental health support, collaborating with teachers, administrators, parents, and more.
As the Middle School Counselor, Ms. Reish supports the social, emotional, and academic well-being of all students in grades 5-8. She partners closely with students, families, teachers, and administrators to help create a supportive environment where every child feels known, heard, valued, and equipped to succeed.
Ms. Reish provides individual counseling and small group support based on students' needs. Topics may include anxiety, stress management, friendship challenges, emotional regulation, self-esteem, grief, executive functioning skills, and other areas that impact student well-being and success at school.
In addition to supporting students individually and in small groups, Ms. Reish works with all middle school students through weekly classroom guidance lessons in 5th and 6th grade and monthly advisory lessons in 7th and 8th grade. These lessons focus on age-appropriate social-emotional learning topics that align with a monthly theme, such as empathy, resilience, friendship, conflict resolution, stress management, and healthy decision-making. The goal is to proactively build skills that help students navigate the opportunities and challenges of middle school.
Ms. Reish also collaborates regularly with administrators, advisors, and teachers to discuss student needs and ensure students are supported both inside and outside the classroom. This team-based approach helps maintain a strong understanding of each student's academic, social, and emotional growth.
Families are encouraged to reach out whenever questions or concerns arise. Ms. Reish is available as a partner to support students and help them thrive throughout their middle school experience.
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