DCHS Counseling Update

Douglas County high school students, your voice matters!

Registration is now open for the 2026 Douglas County Youth Congress. Students in grades 9 through 12 are invited to share their ideas, experiences and solutions with elected officials and community leaders at the Colorado State Capitol.

Thursday, Oct. 8
Colorado State Capitol
Transportation departs from Legacy Campus in Lone Tree at 7:30 a.m.
Lunch is provided

This year, students will offer their perspectives on topics such as E-Bikes and Community Safety, Online Bullying and Digital Wellness, and Physical School Security.

Learn more and register: https://www.douglasco.gov/youth-initiatives/youth-congress/

Questions? Contact YouthInitiative@douglasco.gov or 303-814-5327.

This series is designed for students, parents, and educators who want to explore what medicine truly looks like — from thinking like a doctor and understanding the future of healthcare, to building a strong pre-med profile that stands out.

The Future Doctors Masterclass Series:

Led by Harvard Student Mentors | Live on Zoom | 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM EDT

Participants can register for one session, two, or all three — the choice is yours!

Session 1: Can You Think Like a Doctor? Real Medical Cases for Future Doctors
3rd October, 2026

Medicine is not just about knowing facts — it is about thinking under pressure, asking the right questions, and making decisions that matter. This session puts students in the doctor’s seat with real medical cases and challenges them to think the way doctors do.

Attendees will gain clarity on:
• How doctors approach diagnosis and clinical decision-making
• What separates medical thinking from everyday problem-solving
• How to start developing the analytical mindset that medical schools look for
• Why case-based learning is one of the most powerful ways to explore medicine early

Session 2: The Future of Medicine: AI, Robotics & the Next Generation of Doctors
10th October, 2026

Medicine is changing faster than ever. AI is diagnosing diseases. Robots are assisting in surgeries. This session explores what the future of healthcare looks like — and what it means for the next generation of doctors.

Attendees will gain clarity on:
• How AI and robotics are transforming modern medicine
• What new medical careers and specialties are emerging
• How future doctors will need to think differently from doctors today
• Why understanding medical technology gives aspiring doctors a significant edge

Session 3: How to Build a Standout Pre-Med Profile in High School
17th October, 2026

A strong pre-med profile is not built overnight — it is built intentionally, one decision at a time. This session gives students and parents a clear and practical roadmap for building the kind of profile that medical schools actually notice.

Attendees will gain clarity on:
• What a standout pre-med profile looks like from a medical school’s perspective
• The key activities, credentials, and experiences that strengthen an application
• How to plan academics, research, and clinical experience strategically
• How to start building your profile intentionally from as early as Grade 8

Meet the Mentors:

Enaya Ahmad | Harvard College, Class of 2026 | Neuroscience & Chemistry, Global Health Minor
Enaya researches brain tumor biology in the Shakhnovich and Rabkin Labs at Harvard and serves as Physics Teaching Fellow at Harvard Extension School. She is also a Humanitarian Affairs Intern at the United Nations.

Session Details:

• Eligibility: Students from Grades 8–12, Parents & Educators
• Format: Live, interactive Zoom session
• Duration: 60 Minutes per session
• Fee: Complimentary

Registration Link: https://futuredoctorsprogram.com/masterclass/apply

Seats are limited, and we strongly encourage early registration to secure your spot across the sessions of your choice.

You are warmly invited to share this email and the registration link with students, parents, and counselors in your community so that more families can benefit from this series.

We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be an inspiring and practical series for every student with a passion for medicine.

L. Jones along with Jennifer Richardson the clinical director from the FRP (Family Resource Pavilion) will be presenting a four series session on TBRI (R) Trust Based Relational Intervention. This is an evidence based practice to help parents gain tools and a better understanding of how to parent children who have experienced trauma. Although "trauma" is kind of a catch phrase recently, trauma can come from a significant loss or event in a person's life or from ongoing stressors. Most of our children were greatly impacted by the social isolation and drastic changes in their lives during COVID.

The classes are four Wednesday nights from 6-9 at the Family Resource Pavilion (FRP) and are FREE to anyone. You will be provided with materials and we will always have snacks but feel free to bring dinner. Unfortunately, childcare is not available.

There is also an additional or single class option on October 28 from 6-9 p.m. to attend a class specific to parenting teens- "Survival or Defiance". This class is also free but will be held at the new Human Services building at 11045 East Lansing Circle, First Floor Englewood, CO 80012. You can register for this with the same QR Code or link that's on the attached flyer!

These opportunities are FREE to anyone and a great way to offer resources to families that don't involve insurance approval, wait lists or complex funding! Sign up is easy- just use the QR Code or link!

Ask them how they’re doing—and then actually listen to the answer.

Not just - “Did you have a good day?”

Ask:
“Are you happy?”
“Have you been feeling really sad lately?”
“Do you feel like you belong?”
“Is anyone being mean to you or leaving you out?”
“Are you worried about anything you haven’t told me?”
“Do you feel like you have someone you can talk to?”
“Have you been feeling overwhelmed?”
“Have you been feeling hopeless?”
“Have you ever felt like you don’t want to be here anymore?”
“Have you ever thought about hurting yourself or killing yourself?”

Yes. Ask the hard question.
You are not putting an idea in their head by asking about suicide or self-harm. You are opening a door and letting them know it is safe to walk through it.

And check their phones.
Know what they’re seeing.
Know who they’re talking to.
Know what group chats they’re in.
Know what apps they’re using.
Know who is messaging them.
Know what they’re being sent.
Know what they’re posting—and what others are posting about them.

Look for bullying, exclusion, threats, sexual pressure, concerning messages, conversations about self-harm, or changes in their online relationships that make you think, “Something isn’t right.”

Privacy matters. But safety matters more.
Their social lives happen online now. Sometimes what they won’t say out loud is sitting right there on a screen. And pay attention to the things they aren’t saying, too.

Changes in sleep.
Changes in eating.
Pulling away from friends or family.
Losing interest in things they used to love.
Big changes in mood.
Irritability.
Constant worry.
Suddenly struggling at school.
Spending a lot more time alone.
Saying things like, “Nobody cares,” “I’m a burden,” or “It wouldn’t matter if I wasn’t here.”

Our kids don’t always have the words to say, “I’m not okay.”

Sometimes “I’m fine” means I don’t know how to tell you.

Sometimes the attitude is covering hurt.

Sometimes the child who seems the happiest is carrying something we don’t see.

So check in.

Put the phone down. Sit beside them in the car. Go for a walk. Hang out at bedtime. Ask again tomorrow. Make the conversation normal—not something that only happens when there is a crisis.

And if they tell you something hard?

Don’t panic. Don’t lecture. Don’t immediately try to fix it. Listen.
Thank them for telling you.
Tell them you believe them.
Tell them they are not in trouble.
Tell them they don’t have to handle it alone.
And get them the help they need.

We can’t protect our kids from every hard thing they’ll experience.

But we can make sure they know: “You can tell me anything. Even the really scary stuff. I will listen. I will help you. And you will never have to carry it alone.”

Check on your kids.
Ask the hard questions.
Check their phones.
Talk to them.
And keep talking.