Counseling

At Bishop Amat Memorial High School, our Counseling Department is committed to supporting the academic, personal, and social-emotional development of every student. We understand that each student is unique, and our goal is to guide them toward success in high school and beyond—whether that means preparing for college, navigating social challenges, or accessing learning support. Families searching for a college-focused Catholic high school with robust academic counseling and support services will find a dedicated team ready to help students thrive.

Our comprehensive counseling program includes:

Academic and College Counseling

Students are assigned an academic counselor who guides them through course selection, graduation requirements, and college preparation. Our College Center, led by our dedicated College Counselor, provides personalized college advising, SAT/ACT planning, scholarship information, and assistance with college applications and financial aid.

Inclusion Support through STEP

Our Inclusion Program, overseen by the STEP (Support Team for Educational Progress) Coordinator, offers minor adjustments that are necessary to facilitate student learning in the general education classroom. Our goal is to foster self-advocacy within students so that they can become confident in their strengths and academic capabilities.

Social-Emotional Counseling

A licensed Social Emotional Counselor is available to help students with personal concerns, stress management, peer relationships, and emotional wellness—providing a safe space to navigate the challenges of adolescence.

Our counselors are accessible throughout the school day and after school for individual appointments. In addition to scheduled check-ins, students are encouraged to request meetings as needed using the appointment sign-up outside the counseling offices in the 400 wing.

Mental Health Therapy

Beginning on June 29, 2026 the counseling department at Bishop Amat Memorial High School will offer mental health therapy for students, parents, families, and alumni of Bishop Amat.  This service is offered by Ms. Nicole Pfiester, a Marriage Family Therapy (MFT) Trainee, under the local supervision of Licensed Marriage Family Therapist (LMFT)  Karen Hendrickson, LMFT License# 34831.  Ms. Nicole Pfiester attends weekly training classes through National University’s Masters of Marriage and Family Therapy program and receives weekly supervision. Due to ethical considerations, Ms. Pfiester is unable to provide therapy for students she currently teaches, or their family members.

There is no cost for this service to members of the Amat community.  Services offered include individual therapy for students, parents, and alumni residing in California, couple therapy for parents and alumni, and family therapy for currently enrolled families.  Telehealth is available for adults.  In person sessions will take place at the Bishop Amat campus.  There are limited appointments available for the program.

If you would like more information about any of these services please fill out this contact form. You may also contact Ms. Pfiester at npfiester@bishopamat.org.

Bishop Amat’s Counseling Department is made up of experienced educators and counselors with specialized training in college readiness, student wellness, and inclusive education. We are here to help students grow in responsibility, confidence, and self-understanding while preparing them to excel in college and beyond.