Mary Perkins has been the School Counselor at Derryfield since 2001. Mary’s counseling approach aims to help adolescents gain the important skills of self-reflecting, healthy decision-making, empathy towards self and others, and awareness of how their thoughts/moods/beliefs influence their perceptions, behaviors, and relationships.
“The number one goal is to provide a safe space for kids to talk about the day-to-day challenges of being a teenager and all of the things going on in their life that aren’t a part of their academic curriculum, but yet are so important. These things might include friendships and other relationships, stress, decision-making, changing social dynamics, and emotional regulation. I strive to give kids a common language to understand and talk about what they’re experiencing, and also to normalize all the ups and downs of adolescence. I believe that as our kids develop resilience, confidence, and emotional intelligence, they will find more success in the classroom and in their extracurricular lives.”