Dear Rita:

Congratulations! Job well done.

Regarding telling your son’s guidance counselor, I would ask your son if (in addition to talking with you, and he will need a lot of your attention, comforting, mirroring and validating his feelings, all of his feelings) he wants to talk to his guidance counselor.

If your son is familiar with the counselor, he may have a feeling for or against talking to the counselor and as all of your son’s feelings should be listened to, this is one of those feelings. You send your son the message that what he feels, what he wants, what he prefers matter to you a lot, and this is why you are asking him.

It could be that the counselor is competent and it could be that he/she is not. So if your son doesn’t have a definite reluctance to talk to that particular counselor, I would meet the counselor myself before my son does, so to learn what kind of service… or disservice he/she can provide your son.

Please post anytime during this sensitive time. I will reply to you every time and will be glad to. Again, my hat is off to you.

Stay strong.

anita