In the fall of 2022, Fieldston welcomed Dr. Ben Harris as an additional member of the counseling team. With the ongoing global mental health crisis, ECFS continues to offer increased guidance from its Health, Wellness and Counseling Team. Now, with individual psychologists allocated to every grade level in the high school, Dr. Harris works primarily with the current Form IV class of 2026.
Dr. Harris began his career as a fourth-grade teacher 30 years ago and made his shift to psychology after an encounter with the school’s psychologist where he was “amazed by how cool her job seemed, how thoughtful she was and how helpful she seemed.” As he continued his teaching career, he realized he was more passionate about talking to kids about their emotions and the issues they face than teaching in a traditional setting.
From assessments to impending college fears and other personal challenges students may face, schools foster a stressful environment. Dr. Harris emphasizes the importance of having access to a psychologist in school, stating how: “It’s important to have someone whose focus is on kids’ mental health…I think if that person is in a school, they can see a lot of things they wouldn’t see outside of a school.” Poor mental health can have many side effects, some of which include the inability to focus, difficulty sleeping and in extreme cases, physical problems. Trying to function in an academic environment under these circumstances is extremely challenging, and the support of a school psychologist can ease this burden. Dr. Harris shares his belief that: “Therapy is useful for almost anybody and a lot of people who wander in this office have never had any experience with therapy…it kind of demystifies the idea of psychology and therapy and all that.”
“Part of the reason I have the dog is that people recognize who I am and are more likely to come in here…It’s sort of like an advertisement, a sandwich board.”
What is most notable about Dr. Harris is his certified therapy dog, Trixie, whom he brings to school on a semi-regular basis. Trixie is a very well-tempered and intelligent dog who has had countless exposure to different groups of people. Dr. Harris describes the dog as a way to make himself more approachable: “I try to do a lot of outreach. Part of the reason I have the dog is that people recognize who I am and are more likely to come in here…It’s sort of like an advertisement, a sandwich board.” Dr. Harris further shares how Trixie also serves as a source of comfort in that simply interacting with her is therapeutic because: “petting a dog activates nonverbal experiences in our brains and bodies.” Therapy, he believes, involves more than just talking, and having the dog plays a crucial role in fostering positive safe environments for students in times of need.
As a child, Dr. Harris did not participate in therapy but knows, “It would have been helpful to see someone in high school or before.” He further voices, “My guess is that if I was born in 2008, I probably would have seen someone because I think it is so much more common and less stigmatized than it was when I was a kid.” Having a school therapist who is accessible and known amongst his students, helps to destigmatize the concept.
For Fieldston students, Dr. Harris’ office is a safe haven—a cozy escape where one can grab sweets and seltzer between classes, hang out with a furry friend or express emotional exhaustion. The walls are lined with a large collection of random images, including magazine covers and photos of his family. Through his outreach and ability to cultivate memorable relationships with each of his students, Dr. Harris has already become an integral part of the Fieldston community.
