School Counselling at SMCDSB

School Counsellors provide various mental health supports to students in our schools. This includes counselling to support students with their feelings, friendships, behavior, and schoolwork. School counsellors also provide consultation by working with teachers, families, and community helpers to create a supportive environment where students needs can be met. 

School Counsellors supporting students of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit ancestry give mental health support that respects a students culture while understanding past and present trauma. This support helps students feel proud of who they are and deals with challenges caused by things like trauma passed through families, colonization, and unfair treatment. Along with their main duties—such as consultation, crisis help, classroom and family support, and referrals—these Counsellors have a special role. They work closely with Indigenous community partners and school staff. They help students and families find resources, services, and events that fit their culture. They also guide families through community agencies and support systems.

Counsellors can support students by:

• Giving short-term counselling to help with stress, anxiety, friendship problems, or emotions that make learning hard.

• Helping in emergencies by doing crisis support and safety checks.

• Connecting students and families to outside supports when needed.

• Offering consultation to parents and educators to better support students with complex mental health needs.

Mental health services are available to all students at SMCDSB regardless of, for example, race, colour, background, ethnicity, culture, citizenship, beliefs, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status or disability. 

All referrals to a School Counsellor begin with a consultation. 

1. Consultation with School Personnel:

   • Teachers and Administrators: Teachers and principals can ask for a consultation with the School Counsellor if they see a student having trouble. This could be problems with behaviour, schoolwork, or emotions. The Counsellor can share ideas to help, like classroom strategies, special supports, or suggesting other help if needed.

   • Counsellors may work with teachers to make plans for classroom management, teach social-emotional learning (SEL), or help with behaviour strategies for students.

2. Consultation with Parents/Guardians:

   • Parents can ask for a consultation if they notice changes in their child’s feelings or behaviour at home. This helps the School Counsellor give tips, share resources, or suggest ways to support the child.

   • Counsellors may also teach parents about their child’s social and emotional growth and how to help during hard times.

Our school counsellors are Regulated Health Professionals and use their clinical judgement and consultation with families to decide if school is the best place for the student to receive counseling

No! All counselling support offered in schools by school staff or community partners is free and accessible to students.

• Stress

• Anxiety/worry

• Social challenges and relationship difficulties

• Mood challenges (e.g., feeling sad, overwhelmed, down, angry)

• Substance use

• Developing healthy habits, routines, and coping strategies

• It can help you better understand your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours and make sense of them. 

• A Mental Health professional can help you build skills for managing stress and working through challenges.

• It can help you find ways to solve problems.

• It can help you better understand the people and resources within your community that can support you.