In rural communities, access to mental health support can mean the difference between isolation and opportunity, between struggling silently and finding a way forward. Impact Counseling Services is helping bridge that gap in Williamson County by bringing healing, resilience, and support to students and families who need it most.
Thanks to support from the Greater Fayette Community Foundation’s Rural Community Health Fund, Impact Counseling Services was awarded $22,500, and is expanding school-based mental health programs across the region, ensuring that students don’t just survive challenges they have the tools and support they deserve.
How Impact Counseling Services is Strengthening Local Capacity Through School-Based Care
Impact Counseling Services brings high-quality mental health care directly into schools, improving access for vulnerable students and their families. By embedding licensed mental health professionals into school campuses, they eliminate many of the barriers students face when seeking help; lack of transportation, scheduling conflicts, insurance limitations, and long waitlists for local providers.
Inside the schools, Impact’s licensed therapists provide individual counseling, group therapy, case management, and peer support programs. Students struggling with grief, emotional trauma, family conflict, behavioral issues, or academic challenges are able to access support during the school day without disruption to their education.
Crucially, Impact’s approach extends beyond the individual student. Family counseling and coaching services create a cohesive system of care that strengthens support networks at home and in the classroom. This holistic model recognizes that healing doesn’t happen in isolation, it happens through connection, community, and collaboration.
How the Grant Was Put to Work
Through school-based counseling, trauma support, and family engagement, Impact Counseling Services is making progress across Williamson County:
- Since fall, over 345 students and 41 staff members across 7 school districts have received dedicated mental health support.
- Over 2,500 therapy sessions and 884 consults have been delivered.
- Psychiatry access has been provided to students with specific clinical needs.
The impact of this work is real and measurable:
- 88% of students showed progress on their counseling goals.
- Students with discipline concerns saw a 64% improvement in behavior.
- 59% of students with academic concerns improved their grades.
- Specialized services such as grief groups, EMDR therapy, and trauma-informed care are helping students heal, regain their voice, and build resilience.
- Families now have access to counseling and coaching, strengthening the support system that helps students succeed both at school and at home.
Stories Behind the Numbers
Behind each number is a real story of courage and healing.
From one student learning to regulate emotions after surviving trauma, to another navigating the devastating loss of a parent, these stories reflect the power of connection, trust, and community-led care.
By meeting students where they are, emotionally and physically, Impact Counseling Services is opening new doors for hope, resilience, and academic success.
Through the Rural Community Health Fund, the Greater Fayette Community Foundation is proud to support Impact Counseling Services as they expand healing and hope across Williamson County.
Why These Services Matter
When students are engaged in mental health counseling, they show improved classroom performance, stronger emotional regulation, and better behavior outcomes. Access to these services reduces barriers to achievement and empowers students to reach higher levels of success, both academically and personally.
Want to help create stronger, healthier communities in rural Central Texas?
Learn more about the Rural Community Health Fund and how you can get involved.