Counseling
Meet Your Counselor
Coastal Adult School and FBUSD's Alternative Education programs are supported by a dedicated school counselor who is here to help students navigate their academic journey, address personal challenges, and plan for the future.
Kathryn Bernsdorf, School Counselor
kbernsdorf@fbusd.us
(707) 961-3611
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Crisis Hot Lines
Coast Crisis Help Line 707-964-HELP (4357)
County Mental Health Crisis Line 855-838-0404
Suicide and Crisis Life Line: Call or text 988 or chat https://988lifeline.org/
Suicide Prevention Website
You Are Never a Bother Website
Restorative Practices
Restorative Practices are foundational to how our schools operate. Circles are a regular part of our daily schedule — not just a response to conflict, but a way of building the kind of community where students feel known, respected, and supported.
What Are Restorative Practices?
According to the International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP), restorative practices is a social science that studies how to build social capital — networks of relationships — and achieve social discipline through participatory learning and decision-making. This includes both informal and formal processes that proactively build relationships and a sense of community in order to prevent conflict and wrongdoing, not just respond to it.
Click here to read "Defining Restorative," an article by Ted Wachtel, Founder of the IIRP.
The use of restorative practices helps to:
- Reduce crime, violence, and bullying
- Improve human behavior
- Strengthen civil society
- Provide effective leadership
- Restore relationships
- Repair harm
Restorative Questions
When conflict arises, restorative questions guide both parties toward understanding, accountability, and repair. Click here for the full set of restorative questions as developed by the IIRP.
Community Building Circles
Community Building Circles are a cornerstone of Restorative Practices and a frequent part of daily life in Alternative Education. Circles create space for students to be heard, build trust, and strengthen their sense of belonging. Click here for a list of circle prompts used in our circles.