The College Counsellors are available primarily to students and their families but also to all staff and parents in the secondary college community.

Students who seek counselling may do so for help with a range of issues including academic, social and personal concerns. Students may self-refer directly, by e-mail, or through student reception. They may also be referred by a parent or teacher and sometimes will be introduced to a counsellor by a friend at school. Parents are very welcome to phone, e-mail, or make an appointment either to discuss your child’s schooling or to make us aware of a crisis in the family where extra sensitivity to the student’s needs will be helpful.

Confidentiality is very important to young people when they seek help so parents are not routinely contacted unless there are concerns about a student’s safety. It is normally explained to students, if they ask, that what is discussed will be kept in confidence unless it involves serious harm to them or to another person.

Parents are acknowledged as the most important people in a student’s life and every effort is made to keep you informed but this is balanced against the need to provide a safe place where students can talk about their concerns in private. Many students welcome the invitation to involve their parents in counselling but others prefer to keep the contact private and it is seen as important for this to be respected.