Jeff Steffenson, a clinical psychologist and mental health therapist, is an accessible and caring resource on campus for all BSM students. He offers a variety of student support groups. Through his work, he presents students with a chance to connect, heal, and grow in a supportive environment designed to meet their emotional and mental health needs.
He leads a variety of support groups that bring together students experiencing similar challenges. There are groups for a variety of challenges, from grade-level and gender-specific groups to spaces for those managing anxiety, depression, or grief. There is even a group for students affected by addiction in their families. “There’s a girls’ group for every grade, an anxiety and depression group, a children of alcoholics and addicts group, a guys’ group, and a grief group,” Steffenson said.
Each group is co-led by both Steffenson and a BSM counselor to ensure guidance and safety for participants. The groups meet about once every two weeks, rotating which class period they occur in, so no single class is consistently missed. Meetings begin with a strong foundation of trust and confidentiality. “It’s super important to start off sharing only what you feel safe with. By the end, many students have formed close friendships and a real sense of belonging,” Steffenson said.
Anna Mohabir, a BSM sophomore and a member of the girls’ group, shared that the opportunity has made a meaningful difference in her life. She described the group as a place where she feels completely supported and understood. “It’s a very supportive space where girls support girls, no matter what,” Mohabir said.
She also explained that the group has helped her become more confident in expressing her emotions and trusting others. “I’ve gained more confidence in how I feel because I’m expressing myself and being supported by others,” Mohabir said.
One of students’ biggest worries about joining any of these groups is that their sensitive information may be spread. Steffonson ensured that throughout all of his years doing this, these spaces have been very confidential, and he hasn’t had a problem yet. “We all know we’re there for each other and that we can’t go and tell each other’s secrets to other people,” Mohabir said.
Although the mental health stigma still exists, especially in high school settings, Steffenson has seen major progress. He stated that he is seeing improvements among the student body. “Schools are realizing that students have a lot going on and need spaces like these to open up,” Steffenson said.
Through compassion, confidentiality, and community, Steffenson’s groups give BSM students something invaluable: a place to be heard, to heal, and to know they’re not alone. This environment cultivates relationships that might have never become possible without these groups. Students tend to grow beside one another and take pride in their classmates’ achievements. “It’s pretty cool, because you’ll start off in ninth grade, and by the end of it, it’s 12th grade, and everybody’s tight and really good friends, and I think that’s the best part,” Steffenson said.