Guidance and Counseling
Providing Support
Systematically addressing academic, social, emotional, spiritual, and college/career concerns is the foundation of the Westminster Guidance and Counseling Department.
Whether meeting individually with students to work through personal struggles, guiding students and parents toward a successful four-year academic plan, working in the classroom to present developmentally appropriate guidance lessons, or hosting parent education events, the counselors do their best to proactively reach out to students and families during their time at Westminster. While they provide short-term counseling to students in need, they also offer referrals to outside agencies and individuals who can provide more extensive support.
Meet the Counselors
The Guidance and Counseling Department is an integral part of the Westminster community.
The staff – made up of three professional school counselors and two college and career counselors – utilizes a Christ-centered, comprehensive approach to school counseling. Guidance and Counseling is committed to helping students recognize their God-given uniqueness and understand and develop the gifts that He has given them.
Our Counselors
Craig Walseth
Upper School Guidance Counselor
cwalseth@wcastl.org / 314.997.2901, ext. 6122
Craig graduated from Covenant Seminary with a Master of Arts in Counseling. He has counseled both adolescents and adults and earned his license. Craig came to Westminster in 2006 as the middle school guidance counselor. He and his wife have three energetic boys.
Martha Hyland
Upper School Guidance Counselor
mhyland@wcastl.org / 314.997.2901, ext. 6453
Martha graduated from Missouri Baptist University with a B.S. in history and an M.A. in counseling. She served as the school counselor at Twin Oaks Christian School for the past six years. Martha graduated from Westminster in 2001.
Karen Aaberg
Administrative Assistant – Guidance and Counseling Department
kaaberg@wcastl.org / 314.997.2901, ext. 6130
Chrissy Guerra
College Counselor
cguerra@wcastl.org / 314.997.2901, ext. 6398
Chrissy grew up in Sacramento, California, and attended Stanford University where she graduated in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She then moved to St. Louis to do youth ministry at Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church. In May 2014, Chrissy earned her Master of Education in School Counseling from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She is an avid runner and loves reading as well as watching Stanford football.
Lori West
College and Career Counselor
lwest@wcastl.org / 314.997.2901, ext. 6460
Lori received a B.A. in social work from Grove City College and earned her M.S. in school counseling. She worked for six years as the K-12 school counselor at Twin Peaks Charter Academy in Longmont, Colorado. She and her husband Jim have four sons: James, Calvin, Drew, and Sam.
Mollie Pfuetze
Middle School Guidance Counselor
mpfuetze@wcastl.org / 314.997.2900, ext. 6454
Mollie comes to Westminster from Central Christian School where she served as the upper and lower elementary school counselor for six years. From 2003 to 2008 she served as the middle school counselor at Westminster. Mollie has a B.S. in education from the University of Tennessee and an M.A. in counseling from Covenant Theological Seminary. She and her husband Mark have two daughters Mallory (5th grade) and Bright (kindergarten) and a son Hampton (3rd grade).
Planning Ahead
Westminster’s comprehensive five-year college counseling program provides parents and students the opportunity to work toward a post-secondary plan that is best suited for every future graduate. A guided college search process begins in the spring of the junior year.
View and print a College and Career Counseling Calendar.
Time Management Tips for your Student
- Use a “Planner.” Use a planner to keep track of your homework assignments and upcoming projects. In your planner, keep a To-Do List, with highest priority items at the top.
- It’s Okay to Say “No.” If your neighbor asks you to baby-sit on a Tuesday night and you have a test the next morning, realize that it’s okay to say no. Prioritize, prioritize!
- Find the Right Time to Study. Figure out what time of day you do your best work. For example, if you are more alert in the afternoon, it is probably best to do your homework shortly after you get home from school. However, if you need time to reenergize before doing your homework, then set some time aside to relax before getting started.
- Don’t Waste Time Worrying. Sometimes stressing about an upcoming project or test can waste hours that could be spent working or studying. Instead of worrying, use that mental energy to get your work done!
- Be Realistic. While it’s good to set high standards for yourself, be sure not to overdo it by setting unrealistic goals that can set you up for failure. If you create a reasonable schedule, you’ll have a better chance of achieving your goals.
- Sleep! Even though it might not seem like it, a good night’s sleep is an important factor in managing your time wisely. Your brain needs time to relax and refresh so that, when it’s time to work, you can do so efficiently and to your best ability!
Adapted from The College Board’s “8 Ways to Take Control of Your Time”
The Transition
As students make the transition from Middle School to Upper School, questions or concerns might arise about the change in schedule and workload, the change in social dynamics, and what the next four years will look like.
If you or your student ever need to speak to a counselor about this transition, please contact us so that we can offer our support to help make it a positive experience!
Each year will bring new changes as your student continues to grow and develop. Following is a brief description of what to expect as your student moves through Upper School.
Learn More9th Grade
Social dynamics change for both males and females, resulting in new ways to navigate friendships. Be available to support and talk to your student about these changes. Expect to see more interest in guy/girl relationships. Talk about this as a family and set reasonable, age-appropriate limits on guy/girl activities.
10th Grade
Students start driving, and some say that adolescents score lower on impulse control and decision making at this time than at any other time of development. Talk with your student and set limits regarding their driving privileges.
11th Grade
Students sometimes feel a lot of stress as they manage a challenging upper school curriculum, along with preparing for college admission. This is a good time to talk with your student about the importance of balance in life, managing stress, and trusting in God’s plan for the future.
12th Grade
Senior year continues to challenge students academically. They desire even more autonomy, yet the transition to post-secondary plans can produce anxiety. This is a good opportunity to encourage your student to focus on the strengths that God has given him or her. Conversations about finances, how to make decisions, and time management are also important!
ERB Testing Resources
Parent Guide: Understanding Your Child’s Individual Subscore Report
Monitoring Your Student’s Social Media Usage
Parents, as you know, monitoring your student’s social media is an ever-challenging problem as new and sometimes dangerous apps are constantly being developed. You might find this article helpful when it comes to monitoring his/her social media usage.
Please let us know if we can be of any support to you or your student.
In His grace,
Craig Walseth
Today’s Teens and Social Media
At the November Class Activities Meeting, Westminster counselors explored parents’ specific anxieties about their teens’ use of social media. They offered resources to help parents stay informed about the rapidly changing world of technology, as well as suggestions about how to monitor a teen’s social media use.
13 Reasons Why
13 Reasons Why is an original Netflix series based on the 2007 novel Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. The show highlights a main character who kills herself and leaves recorded cassettes for the specific people she holds responsible for her death.
This show has caught the attention of many adolescents, including our students. 13 Reasons Why depicts disturbing scenes such as bullying, rape, and a graphic suicide. These are only a few of the unsettling images shown that stay with young students.
Read moreA large part of the attraction to the show is its relatability. Adolescents are sensitive to difficulties, challenges, and loss – both personally and among their peers. Their developing brains cannot fully grasp the finality of death. This is also the time in their lives when they are most easily influenced.
In turn, vulnerable students struggling with depression or other mental health issues that wrestle with hopelessness could be led down an especially dark path. We find that adolescents attempt to identify the why and what behind their feelings, and they use television and movies as ways to assess what is going on internally. Exposing themselves to weighty themes such as these allows students to incorrectly connect to and articulate what they are truly experiencing.
Considering the emotional and spiritual development of our students, our counselors would not recommend our students watch 13 Reasons Why. To further examine this topic, we’ve included two articles below from Daystar Counseling in Nashville, a Christian counseling agency that highlights important thoughts related to the show.
A Counselor’s Response to 13 Reasons Why
There are More Than 13 Reasons Why Your Life Matters and What You Can Do About It
Craig Walseth
Director of Guidance and Counseling
Martha Hyland
Upper School Counselor
Mollie Pfuetze
Middle School Counselor
Resources
Because the middle and high school years do not come with a manual, you may find these resources about the adolescent/teen years and parenting helpful.
ADHD
- CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder)
A non-profit organization providing information and resources to individuals with ADHD and their families
Learn More Adolescent Development and the Teenage Brain Anxiety/Stress Boundaries Divorce Grief Mental Health Parenting and Family Recommended Books for Middle School Parents Recommended Books for Upper School Parents Social Relationships and Relational Aggression Study Skills Technology
A nonprofit organization committed to building strong families by serving to bridge the cultural-generational gap between parents and teenagers
A non-profit organization that provides counseling, education, and support for kids and families when parents decide to separate and divorce
A non-profit organization that provides support services for children, teens, and families grieving the death of a loved one
Provides information about the signs and symptoms of teenage depression and bipolar disorder, as well as resources for those ready to reach out and get help
Provides information about mental illnesses, as well as resources for those in need of help
Find helpful blog posts or sign up for weekly emails. Mark Gregston is the founder and executive director of Heartlight Ministries, a Christian residential counseling program for struggling teens.
A nonprofit organization committed to building strong families by serving to bridge the cultural-generational gap between parents and teenagers
Provides Christian advice and resources on the topics of marriage, parenting, faith, and family
Offers free articles and tips to improving study habits
Public service website that offers information on effective study habits.
A non-profit organization working to make the Internet safer for children and families