Lisa Fogarty

Mental Health Counselor

About Me

• Mother of five: Ages 17 – 24
• Savannah Native- Born & Raised
• B.A. – University of Georgia
• M. Ed. – Mental Health Counseling / Georgia Southern University
• M. Ed. – School Counseling / University of the Cumberlands 

Primary Functions

• Provide Classroom SEL lessons addressing the three major areas of the National Counseling Curriculum:  Personal and Social, Academic, & Career.  
• Provide immediate, short-term, solution-based therapy, both individual and group sessions.
• Refer to outside therapists when more intensive therapy is needed. 
• Handle any crisis intervention that may arise.  
• Act as the liaison between the student and teachers, parents, administration, and/or outside entities to ensure the safety and well-being of the student.  

Hello St. Vincent’s family, 

Six years ago, I was blessed to join St. Vincent’s faculty as one of the school counselors. Although, when I walked through that gate six years ago, it was really like coming home. You see, I am a proud alumna of St. Vincent’s Academy, class of 1989. My mother also attended SVA, and I have one daughter who graduated in May, 2020, and who graduated in May, 2022.  

I have been a school counselor for over 10 years now, and an adolescent mental health counselor for many years prior to that. I obtained a M.Ed. in Counseling with a focus on mental health from
Georgia Southern University in 1997. I worked as an Adolescent Mental Health Counselor at Charter Hospital, specializing in crisis intervention. During this time, life happened. I got married, and had two beautiful sons. Even though I enjoyed my position at Charter immensely, I was fortunate enough to be able to stay at home with my children through their younger years. In 2007, I joined the St. Peter the Apostle family as their school counselor; and in 2013, I remarried and was blessed with three more beautiful bonus children. I then moved to my current position here at SVA in 2018.

My approach to school counseling is eclectic in nature relying heavily on Alfred Adler’s theory and the Cognitive-Behavioral theories. I identify with the Adlerian theory because it takes a positive, hopeful approach with students, and this aligns more with my own personality. The Adlerian and the Cognitive-Behavior theories are both short-term and goal-oriented, which work well in the school setting where our time with students is limited. Since every student is unique and will present with different concerns, I feel that it is often necessary to mesh several approaches together or interchange approaches to fit the individual sitting in front of me with their particular problem; hence, an eclectic approach.

First and foremost, I believe all students have dignity and worth, and they have a right to a welcoming, safe, and mutually respectful learning environment. As a school counselor, I will help provide an atmosphere of security, warmth, and encouragement as students work to reach their fullest potential in the areas of academic, career, and personal/social development. By nurturing all students’ social and emotional well-being, this will encourage academic advancement and future success. I will strive to empower all students to reach their fullest potential and prepare them to be college, career, and society ready.

I also feel it is imperative as an effective school counselor that I comply with our state’s Standards for School Counseling Programs and to the American School Counselor Association’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Confidentiality and trust are an absolute must, in my opinion, to have a successful school counseling program. 

I am always available for any student, parent, colleague, or community member that needs assistance or guidance. Please so not hesitate to contact me.