Ms. Koncz works hard every day to support the TJ community and help students to achieve their mental health goals. photo by Evelyn Jackson
Natalie Koncz seeks to make a safe and open space for all students and staff members through her role as the school Psychologist.
It is no secret that in the last decade, mental health has become a subject of discussions around the globe. These days, youth mental health has become just as much of a priority as physical health. Schools are keeping up to the modern age by having psychologists, counselors, and therapists and here at Thomas Jefferson High School, all students are in good hands with Natalie Koncz.
Koncz is TJ’s resident Psychologist, and has worked at TJ for the past 13 years. Throughout her day, she takes on many roles. She says that, “Some days I start off teaching in classes, I have small groups, I meet with kids individually, and I do a lot of evaluation and report writing for students who are in special education.” In addition to these tasks, Koncz is also involved in TJ’s Gifted and Talented program, meeting with parents, and consulting with teachers about mental health. While this schedule sounds hectic, Koncz handles it very well. When asked what the most important part of being successful in a role such as hers, she responds that flexibility is key. “Every day looks really different, and stuff comes up that you have to adjust to even if you had a plan.”
Despite these challenges, her passion for this position started young, remarking that she wanted to work in a school since she was a child. In addition to this, she notes, “I was always really interested in the field of psychology, and once I started researching how to marry the two: education and psychology, I found this field.” She completed her undergraduate at CU Boulder, majoring in psychology. It turns out that this job requires a very specific degree in school psychology, which Koncz completed at CU Denver.
Outside of TJ, Koncz enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons. Although she says that being a parent keeps her busy, she also reflects that, “living your childhood again through your kids is really cool because they just have so much joy in so many different things, and they’re just so uninhibited that it’s also reminded me to be silly and fun again too.” It is clear that Koncz is very in tune with herself and what is best for her. She is an avid reader, participating in book clubs and exploring many different genres of literature. Her favorite book is Cutting for Stone, a domestic fiction novel of love and betrayal. Her love of reading connects back to her mission of protecting her own mental health. “This job can be very extroverted, I’m constantly working with people, problem solving and helping others. I really like finding silence and quiet when I can,” and burying herself in a good book certainly does just that.
Koncz is driven to build a strong mental state for herself and others. She advises that one of the biggest steps is, “Prioritizing the right kinds of foods that you eat to keep your body, homeostasis and functioning well. We know how important nutrition is for the brain and emotional regulation,” between time to rest and proper foods, Koncz says that, “it’s a connection between, physical health to mental health.” To focus on her own wellbeing, , Koncz enjoys hiking and spending time in nature during her free time. People often don’t realize how direct that correlation is, but a happy body is crucial to a happy mind. It is very important for youth to be getting enough time outside, enough nutrition, and enough sleep.
In her 13 years at TJ, Koncz has revolutionized our psychology department and created a safe place for many students to discuss their needs. Her role at the school is necessary for all students, staff, and teachers to feel welcome and supported no matter what happens. Being the school psychologist requires patience, flexibility, and collaboration and Koncz continues to do an amazing job every day.
