Counseling

I am very proud to be the counselor at Highlands. I am also a counselor at Longfellow. The years that I have spent in my two schools have allowed me to become very familiar with many of my families. This closeness allows me to provide support quickly when needed.

Schedule: Monday morning, Wedneday, and Friday

Focus areas:

• Classroom guidance: I provide 16 weeks of 45 minute lessons once a week at each grade level.
• Small groups: I am very committed to the power of groups to provide support for students. They are the best way I know to build empathy and a feeling of support and safety for students.
• Individual work with students: I enjoy talk, play, sandtray, drama and art therapy sessions with students.
• Parent education: I am a parent education instructor and have taught Parenting Teens, Strengthening Your Stepfamily and Systematic Training for Effective Parenting. I really enjoy facilitating the wisdom that parents share in class.
• Parent/staff consultation: I am always happy to consult with parents and staff as needed.
• Other: Lunch discussion and play groups offer an open door and a place to be heard and make new friends.

Janet Cardoza

Educational background and experience: I have a Masters in Mental Health Counseling from Idaho State University. I am a licensed Professional Counselor with a Private Practice endorsement in Idaho.

I have been married for over 30 years. My husband and I have three children. Our sons live in Brooklyn and Boise and our daughter is in Seattle. I miss them very much and my husband and I travel to see them whenever we can. We love the outdoors and do lots of hiking, biking and we love entertain at home. We have two dogs, two cats and one horse and nine chickens. I am very passionate about animals and their care. I have a colorful history of world travel as a child. I was born in Bahrein and we lived in Cronulla, N.S.W, Australia, Bordeaux, France and Beirut, Lebanon. These experiences have been invaluable in my counseling career. I spent a lot of time being the “new kid”. Helping children is the best way I know of to help the world!

To email the counselor please use the following convention:
firstname.lastname@boiseschools.org

For more information about our District's Counseling program:
District Counseling Department | Classroom Guidance Units | Small Groups
Parent Education | Individual Student Counseling & Parent/Staff Consultation