The Wellness Center works with the Counseling Department to coordinate and expand physical and mental health support services for students. We are located on the second floor of the new P-building on the Gunn campus. Find us in P-231.
To reach our team email us at gunnwellnessteam@pausd.org or call us at 650-354-8214
A safe, supportive on-campus space
Brief on-campus therapy for students
Students can access support for depression, grief, self-esteem, family life, stress, dating violence, sexual identity, and health needs
Referrals to further resources both on and off campus
Students can speak with a Wellness and Counseling Team Member by filling out this form. Our staff will respond as soon as possible. Requests submitted outside of school hours will not be checked until the next school day. We are also available by email and Schoology on regularly scheduled school days Monday-Friday, 8:30am-3:30pm.
Note: If you are concerned about the immediate health and safety of yourself and someone else, please call 911.
I am in my ninth year serving students at Gunn and currently in my second year as the Wellness Coordinator! In my previous role at Gunn, I was managing the CASSY team and am bringing years of experience in student mental health to ensure our students are receiving the best care!
My favorite forms of self-care are running and walking my huskies!
I'm originally from Texas-I love the wildflower fields and the Texas sunset
If I could live anywhere else in the world it would be Valencia, Spain. It is where my father's side of the family originates from.
Rosie Castillo-Cabanas, She/Her
Wellness Outreach Specialist
I am in my third year of serving students at Gunn. As an outreach worker, I bring awareness to issues of mental health and coordinate events to promote the health and wellbeing of all students.
My favorite form of self-care is spending time with family! It is time that fills me with genuine happiness and something I have always seen as important. Our favorite thing to do is karaoke so I think that's another great form of self-care.
I was born and raised in San Jose. I love being from San Jose because of all the great food, people, and having my family close
If I could have one dessert for the rest of my life it would be ice cream! My main weakness is vanilla milkshakes from Baskin Robbins or Cold Stone- I think they're magic!
Jenny Gross, She/Her
CASSY Therapist
I am so excited to be back at Gunn High School this year after joining in the middle of the school year last year. My counseling career began at UCLA where I received a Bachelor's in Psychology and a Minor in Accounting. I then went on to get my Master's in Counseling from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). As a therapist, I utilize evidence based practices (such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy) mixed with creative approaches (such as art therapy) to help students identify what is causing stress, anxiety and/or depression in their lives and to identify solutions to help manage their stress and symptoms. When I am not working with students, I love camping, spending time with my dogs, and traveling to new places.
Paul Hickey, He/Him
CASSY Therapist
I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) who has been practicing therapy in the schools for 20+ years and is currently in his 2nd year of providing counseling services to Gunn High School students. As A Mental Health Therapist, I use a strength-based approach to help students become aware of their overall strengths and to help them identify and become aware of strengths that have yet to be identified. I help students identify obstacles that may get in the way of helping students identify their strength and their ability to excel in their own personal lives. In addition, I help students in the area of mindfulness and stress reduction in the areas of academics and personal relationships.
A little Information about me:
1.) I enjoy spending weekends at the gym working out, playing Raquetball, and playing and watching sports.
3.) My favorite sports are Baseball, Basketball, and Football. My favorite teams are the Giants, 49ers, and Warriors.
4.) My hobbies include creative writing and art. I am currently working on becoming a published author.
5.) My favorite food is anything that tastes good :)
Brittney Tabel, She/Her
PAUSD Mental Health and Wellness Associate
I grew up in Daly City and have worked as a therapist in community mental health, clinic, and school settings. I love getting to use a mix of tools from cognitive behavioral therapy, solutions-focused therapy, and art therapy to help people explore their feelings and cope with challenges.
I am so excited to be joining the team at Gunn and getting to support the students of the community. I am a firm believer in creating a safe space of mental health support that meets each individual where they are at—understanding each person’s experience and journey is unique and tailoring interventions to best support their goals. I am excited to be working with students in developing their emotional skills and supporting insight in their journey of understanding who they are and how they relate to others.
In my free time, I love to paint (my specialty is birds), see live music (I love jazz bands), and explore museums (art, science, and history)!
One on one counseling is provided through a district partnership with CASSY. CASSY is a nonprofit agency that partners with schools to provide professional mental health services to students in their academic setting. Our therapists are compassionate, extremely competent and conveniently located right on campus. All services are free to the student and their parents.
Students, parents, or staff can email Wellness Center staff at gunnwellnessteam@pausd.org to get more information about referrals. Note: If you are concerned about a student's immediate safety, please call 911.
The following document is a reference guide you may use when you feel like your child may be facing a potential mental health emergency. Below are some safety risk indicators, modified for the distance learning environment, that may lead to major warning signs.
As you use this tool, please look for patterns and an accumulation of symptoms and/or behaviors, in order to figure out best next steps for your child and family. If you believe that your child is an imminent threat to themselves or others, please call 911 immediately or go to the nearest emergency room.
Supporting a friend through crisis and other distress can be challenging and overwhelming when you don't know what to do, who to reach out, or what to say. The Student Safety Guide will hopefully help you and your friends and peers support each other in difficult situations!
CalSCHLS is the oldest (since 1999), largest, most comprehensive state effort in the nation to provide local school-communities with their own data on School Climate, social-emotional and mental Health, and Learning supports and engagement through a Survey system sponsored by the California Department of Education. Henry M. Gunn's Summary Reports:
