Other questions about counselling

Many students prefer to have a conversation with their tutor or Head of House and tell that person that they are interested in counselling. Other students prefer to talk to a parent. Either way, you can tell a trusted adult that you'd like a counselling appointment. They can then help reach out to the school counsellor or one of our social workers.

There is a range of public and private mental health services in Hong Kong, as well as community resources. Our counsellors can refer students to information about these services and resources. These can include mental health organizations or specific clinicians (like doctors or psychiatrists).

If the counsellor student believes that the student would benefit from support outside of school, they will contact the student’s parents/guardians to talk about a suitable service. The counsellor might make what is called a “referral”, which means that they will help refer you to another suitable, trained professional. This referral might be to a specialist counsellor, doctor, clinical or educational psychologist, or psychiatrist, depending on your needs.

It is understandable that some students feel uncomfortable about talking to a counsellor. Whether you’re opening up to a friend, parent, or counsellor about your feelings, it does require courage to be open and honest. 

Some students feel hesitant to try counselling because they worry about their friends’ judgments. They worry that their friends may think they are “weird” for going to counselling and talking about their issues. Students often overcome this worry once they realize this fact: Just like we all have physical health, we all have mental health. 

It is not shameful to take good care of your health. It is a wise thing to do. Your own body, mind and health overall deserve that care. If you ignore your mental health and needs, you may feel better for a short while. However, ignoring an issue does not always work. Ignoring your feelings is often just a short-term fix.

If you’re not feeling mentally healthy, this can hinder you from doing things you want (such as being with friends, doing well in school). It can also get in the way of enjoying life in general. Seeking help – from a counsellor or social worker – can help you enjoy life more fully again. You can learn skills and strategies that help you feel free to do the things you like to do again.

Some students face this challenge (and so do adults to go to counselling!): They feel like it is somehow "wrong" to see a counsellor.

Feelings of shame related to mental wellbeing are common. People may feel embarrassed to ask for help because they assume asking for help is a sign of weakness. They may have learned from family and friends that a "strong" person doesn't need help.

Also, some students feel like their problems are too "common", and that “everyone else” seems to be coping fine. "Why should I need to see the counsellor, if everyone else is coping?" they ask themselves.

In reality, humans are social animals, and it is not at all weak to ask for help from others. Humans thrive when we support each other. After all, we’re a species that know how to collaborate, and thanks to that, we’ve been able to build cities, write books, create music, invent vaccines, and much more. Huamns are social creatures, and it is in our nature to collaborate. Asking for help is a deeply human action. 

Knowing when to ask for help is also an important life skill. Asking for help can let us see things from a different perspective, learn about ourselves, and get new ideas. Counselling is just one of many ways you can ask for help from others.

Yes, the counsellor really appreciates getting feedback from you. Please be open about any thoughts or feelings you have about counselling.

All the counsellors at SIS believe in collaborating with students, and believe that students get the most out of counselling when each and every student feels like they are being heard. Therefore, do voice out how you feel. Whether you think counselling is going well or whether you would like things to be different, the counsellor will be happy to hear your views.

If you do not feel that you need counselling anymore, we encourage you to tell your counsellor in person or emailing them. The counsellor will be very interested in hearing your thoughts.

It is perfectly okay to feel that you do not want or need counselling anymore. Sometimes, this might be a sign that you have made progress and no longer need counselling. Other times, you might wish to stop because you are experiencing some difficult feelings or because your situation has changed. 

Either way, it is good if you tell your counsellor, so that they are aware of your needs and can adapt their services accordingly.