AVHS Counselling Services
The following page offers information about the role of the school counsellor and counselling services offered through the school.
THE ROLE of the SCHOOL COUNSELLOR
School counsellors are educators and trained mental health professionals within schools.
School Counsellors understand school culture and have a unique skill set that enables them to work with students and classroom teachers, as well as families to implement preventative and proactive strategies and to support students.
As a trusted professional embedded in the school community, the school counsellor is qualified to work in therapeutic, consultative, and psychoeducational capacities and comprehensively support student well-being and development, learning and achievement, life transitions and career planning.
SERVICES OFFERED
We offer confidential personal counselling services to the students of Avon View. The following are examples of some of the topics (but not limited to) which students may see us for:
Personal Counselling Services:
Coping with change
Anxious feelings
Body image
Culture shock
Depression
Family issues
Grief and loss
LGBTQIA2S+ Support
Homesickness
Perfectionism
Relationship Issues
Self-Esteem
Motivation
Substance use
Healthy Sexuality
Healthy Coping Strategies
Academic and Career Counselling:
Career/vocational counselling
Goal setting/planning
Course/subject choice(s) planning
Program Planning and Academic Support (referral for services)
Credit checks
Assisting with applications for admission to post-secondary schools, scholarships/bursaries
Connecting with resources outside of school (Student assistance/student loans, etc.)
Other Services:
Groups (Anxiety, Stress Management, Inter/Intra Personal Skill Building, Exam Prep, Social Explorations etc.) Available by request or as sign up when offered.
Referral for Support Services through the AVRCE (SchoolsPlus, Attendance Support, Student Support Workers, School Psychology, etc)
Referral to Outside Agencies (i.e. Mental Health Support Services)
Liaison for Rotary Exchange Program
Encounters with Canada Experiences
Adventures in Citizenship Experiences
Advanced Placement Courses (open to grades 11 and 12)
NSVS - Nova Scotia Virtual School (online courses)
HOW TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
To meet with a counsellor, please visit the secretary, Mrs. Whitehead, in Student Services during break times to arrange an appointment.
Mrs. Whitehead will book an appointment for you and provide you with an appointment slip which includes the date and time of your appointment. You do not need to indicate the reason for your appointment. The slip is to be given to your teacher when leaving class to attend an appointment.
But.... we also understand that booking an appointment doesn’t always work for those "unplanned" life events.
Sometimes you may need to talk to someone as quickly as possible. We understand this. So…. Stop into Student Services- even without an appointment- and we will try to juggle things around so that we can chat with you as quickly as we can.
In the case of an EMERGENCY: Be sure to tell Mrs. Whitehead that it is important that you speak with someone right away.
We strongly recommend that every student book at least one appointment during the school year to plan course selection, to review credits and to discuss options for the future.