Green and gold swoosh with Amherst A logo on a white/gray background that says Amherst Junior High School Counselors

Welcome to the Amherst Junior High School Counseling Website!

Our counseling program is designed to address the needs of all students by helping them acquire competencies in career planning and exploration, knowledge of self/others and educational/vocational development. The school counseling program consists of various programs: individual and group counseling, parent and teacher consultations, group guidance, referral assistance to other programs and services in the community, and classroom guidance.

Mrs. Stallings is the school counselor for grades 6-8 last names A-K. 
Mr. Harcula is the counselor for grades 6-8 last names L-Z.

Erica Stallings school picture on a gray background. Erica is smiling, has long blonde hair with a yellow sweater and gray amherst t-shirt

Meet Mrs. Stallings

Hello! My name is Erica Stallings. As a fellow Comet alumni myself, it fills my heart with joy to give back to the community that helped shape who I am today. Helping students find success both academically and emotionally is truly my passion. I look forward to building more relationships as I serve the students and families of AJH. 

I earned my Bachelor's in Middle Childhood Education at Heidelberg University and my Master's from Cleveland State University in School Counseling.

Email Mrs. Stallings
Bob Harcula school picture on a gray background. Bob is smiling, has a blue button up shirt on with a brown designed tie.

Meet Mr. Harcula

Hello! My name is Bob Harcula and I am looking forward to a school year filled with helping students become well-rounded individuals, achieve goals and reach their fullest potential here at AJH. 

I am from Amherst, Ohio. I earned my Bachelor's in Education from The University of Toledo and my Master's from Cleveland State University in School Counseling.  

Email Mr. Harcula

The Role of a Middle School Counselor

Middle school counselors are educators uniquely trained in child and adolescent development, learning strategies, self management and social skills. They implement a school counseling program to support students through this important developmental period. The school counseling program provides education, prevention and intervention activities, which are integrated into all aspects of students’ lives. The program teaches students the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary for academic, career and social/ emotional development. We also...

Listen to students’ concerns about academic, emotional or social problems Help students process their problems and plan goals and action Mediate conflicts College/career preparation Small group counseling 504 coordination Make referrals to outside counseling Help students get organized Parent/student/staff communication Student advocate

How Do I Communicate with My School Counselor?

Mr. Harcula and Mrs. Stallings are available Monday-Friday during school hours. Our offices are located in the main office.

You can reach out to us via email.

Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services

Our district has a partnership with Ohio Guidestone and New Leaf counseling agencies for families who are seeking school based therapy, office based therapy, or a combination of both. Please contact your counselors if you are interested in additional mental health support for your child.

The Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County brings together the expertise, resources, and proud histories of the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Board of Lorain County (ADAS) founded in 1989 and the Lorain County Board of Mental Health (LCBMH) founded in 1967. The MHARS Board was established in July of 2019. The people served by the mental health and substance use disorder systems have a common goal, and that is recovery. Consolidating the county’s addiction and mental health organizations strengthens our ability to coordinate treatment and recovery services. This is to improve our clients’ lives, and also improve the lives of their family members. The goal is that we will maximize delivery of these health services. It means providing the right care, in the right setting, at the right time. For more information, please visit http://mharsloraincounty.org.

Mental Health Resources
Mental Health Agencies

Contact Information

Graphic titled “What is the Difference Between a School Counselor and an In-School Therapist?” comparing the roles. School counselors mediate social issues, support all students, assist with academic and career goals, and focus on helping students navigate the school day. In-school therapists provide individualized attention, focus on their clients’ personal growth and behavioral health, and have a broader understanding of a student’s medical and family history. Source: Amber Harding, Looking Glass.

Table titled “Levels of Responsive Services” with five levels: Emergency Intervention, Level One Referral/Prevention, Level Two Short-Term Intervention, Level Three Extended Intervention, and Level Four Outside Referral. Rows list professionals, duration, and goals. Emergency intervention involves all mental health staff until safety is ensured, with the goal of ensuring safety and returning to class. Levels One through Three involve counselors, social workers, and progressively longer interventions focused on prevention, short-term skills, and extended support. Level Four involves community mental health agencies, with treatment duration and goals determined by an outside treatment plan.