Counsellors usually provide solution focused therapy sessions. What is discussed during the sessions is confidential. The length of the sessions may vary depending on the issues being addressed. The School Counsellors address personal, social, developmental, emotional and academic issues. Throughout the year, the School Counsellors facilitate events and workshops focusing on different topics and themes which offer support for the students, staff and parents.

Counselling is a voluntary process. Your child may seek the School Counsellor independently, or a teacher/ parent may recommend it.

Parents and guardians are welcome to meet with counselors and are asked to make appointments in advance, to ensure that the counselors make availability. They may call the school or email a counsellors to set up a meeting.

There are a variety of challenges the school counsellors can offer support in, for example:

• Peer pressure
• Friendships and relationships
• Bullying
• Exam and academic pressure
• Family dynamics
• Transition
• Grief and loss
• Body image and self-esteem
• Self-harm, etc.
• Trauma

Therapy can lead to better relationships, solutions to specific problems, significant reductions in feelings of distress and improved self-esteem. Since therapy often involves discussing unpleasant aspects of one’s life, your child may experience uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, loneliness, and helplessness.

Some ways that parents/guardians can support their child include:

• Letting your child know you’re still there for them whenever they need to talk and reassuring them that you understand that it is hard to talk about uncomfortable feelings and events.
• Focusing on listening, showing empathy and being curious about what it’s like for them, rather than trying to ‘fix’ things straightaway.
• Conveying confidence in your child’s ability to successfully cope. Openly tell them you are proud of them for speaking with someone.
• Try not to take it personally if your child finds it easier to open up to a counsellor. Remember that sometimes it is helpful and healthy for a young person to speak to an adult who isn’t in the family, and who has some emotional distance from the situation.
• Being supportive about the new coping strategies children try.
• Attending Counselling insets and workshops at school as they focus on mental health awareness and inform the parents of trending and important issues that children face.

One of our ethical and legal obligations involves informing students of the purposes, goals, techniques, and rules of procedure under which they may receive counseling. Disclosure includes informed consent and clarification of the limits of confidentiality.

Breaching of confidentiality only occurs if legal requirements demand that confidential information be revealed or to prevent serious and foreseeable harm to the student or any other individual. Serious and foreseeable harm is different for each minor in schools and is determined by students’ developmental and chronological age, the setting, parental rights, and the nature of the harm. School Counsellors consult with appropriate professionals when in doubt as to the validity of an exception.

Therefore, in the event of a medical, psychiatric, or psychological emergency (i.e. suicidality or signs of self-injury), the School Counsellors together with the school nurse will contact a family member or relevant persons in order to facilitate the helping process and provide adequate support to the student.