The Alamo Community College District’s students counseling policy is under review. The safety officer at the District has told the colleges’ counselors to cut back on therapeutic counseling. Instead, counselors have been told to focus on intervention, advising, instruction and guidance until the District carries insurance that will cover therapeutic counseling.

Meanwhile, the District is gathering information on what kind of services counselors at the colleges provide. They are also reviewing the professional credentials of those who are currently employed.

Counselors provide a variety of services for students to ensure their success in college. These services include academic advising, personal counseling, career/goal setting, and crisis intervention. Counselors also teach student development courses.

“It’s been my experience, I mean I been around counseling centers for about 30 years, and counseling centers for the most part do not engage in therapeutic counseling. We do crisis intervention,” said Dr. Adolfo R. Barrera, Palo Alto’s Vice President of Student Affairs.

To weigh in on the kinds of services you think counselors should provide students, Mary L. Apolinar, Palo Alto’s Chair of Counseling or call (210) 921-5285.