Elementary Elementary Comprehensive Guidance Comprehensive Guidance

And CounsellingAnd CounsellingMonarch and Kinsac Elementary SchoolsMonarch and Kinsac Elementary Schools

Andrew Gosney, M.Ed., CCCAndrew Gosney, M.Ed., CCC(Soon to be RCT!!!!!!!)(Soon to be RCT!!!!!!!)

I have only 15 minutes!!!I have only 15 minutes!!! About meAbout me Comprehensive Guidance and Comprehensive Guidance and

Counselling ProgrammingCounselling Programming Need Survey results Need Survey results Referral ProcessReferral Process Confidential vs PrivateConfidential vs Private Classroom Instruction Classroom Instruction Final NoteFinal Note

About MeAbout Me Grew up in Lower SackvilleGrew up in Lower Sackville Teacher since May 1999Teacher since May 1999 Junior High/Elementary, FLECs, High School – Junior High/Elementary, FLECs, High School –

also taught in Sackville Correctional Facilityalso taught in Sackville Correctional Facility M. Ed. (Counselling),2007, Mental Health First M. Ed. (Counselling),2007, Mental Health First

Aid and ASIST CertificationsAid and ASIST Certifications Grad. Diploma Educational Tech, B.Ed., B.A. Grad. Diploma Educational Tech, B.Ed., B.A.

(Sociology), Certificate in Criminology(Sociology), Certificate in Criminology Beaver LeaderBeaver Leader Professional Associations: NSSCA, NSCCT, CCPA Professional Associations: NSSCA, NSCCT, CCPA

(CCC – Canadian Certified Counsellor), HRSB (CCC – Canadian Certified Counsellor), HRSB Guidance Lead TeamGuidance Lead Team

Future goal: to obtain RCT with NSCCT and Future goal: to obtain RCT with NSCCT and establish private practiceestablish private practice

Father and husband to AnneFather and husband to Anne

Connor (9), Catherine (11), Connor (9), Catherine (11), Elliot (5 starting this year)Elliot (5 starting this year)

What is School Counselling? What is School Counselling? ““Guidance Counsellors with Halifax Guidance Counsellors with Halifax

Regional School Board are responsible Regional School Board are responsible for coordination of the guidance for coordination of the guidance program within the school and program within the school and community, focusing on community, focusing on preventativepreventative and and responsiveresponsive programs and programs and services. These programs and services services. These programs and services are principally concerned with the are principally concerned with the personal, social, educational and career personal, social, educational and career needs of all students, placing priority needs of all students, placing priority on what is in the on what is in the students'students' best best interest.” (Student Services, HRSB)interest.” (Student Services, HRSB)

Comprehensive Guidance and Comprehensive Guidance and CounsellingCounselling

Recommended program by the Department of Recommended program by the Department of Education Education

Needs surveyNeeds survey (Social, Personal, Career, Academic)(Social, Personal, Career, Academic)

School wide programmingSchool wide programming Responsive services (1-1, group)Responsive services (1-1, group) Classroom instruction based on guidance Classroom instruction based on guidance

outcomes, identified needs, administrative outcomes, identified needs, administrative prioritiespriorities

Community based initiatives (Incredible Community based initiatives (Incredible Years, lias with Capital Health/IWK, SNAP) Years, lias with Capital Health/IWK, SNAP)

Survey ResultsSurvey Results Copy included in your packageCopy included in your package

To summarize:To summarize: HugeHuge demand for SEL (students, parents, demand for SEL (students, parents,

and staff)and staff) Similar areas of SEL identified across three Similar areas of SEL identified across three

response groupsresponse groups See handout on available SEL programmingSee handout on available SEL programming

Study skills (older students)Study skills (older students) Bullying/ harrassment (connected with SEL)Bullying/ harrassment (connected with SEL) Career education (D.O.E. looking at more for Career education (D.O.E. looking at more for

P-6)P-6)

Some important pointsSome important points A School Counsellor is not a Clinical Counsellor (same training but A School Counsellor is not a Clinical Counsellor (same training but

different role)different role)

Counsellors are not administratorsCounsellors are not administrators

Counsellors promote the betterment of the client/student. Counsellors promote the betterment of the client/student.

Counsellors are trained to listen, support, at times challenge, Counsellors are trained to listen, support, at times challenge, facilitate access to outside resources/ agencies as necessary, as facilitate access to outside resources/ agencies as necessary, as well as, design programming specific to a students needswell as, design programming specific to a students needs

Counsellors are not trained to diagnose, fix problems, or cure Counsellors are not trained to diagnose, fix problems, or cure peoplepeople

Please do not start an open discussion with the student about Please do not start an open discussion with the student about going to counselling. (children can get embarrassed)going to counselling. (children can get embarrassed)

Referral ProcedureReferral Procedure Please read through the full procedure in the package Please read through the full procedure in the package

(some info on communication with family)(some info on communication with family)

Always encourage students to talk with their parents Always encourage students to talk with their parents as a first stepas a first step

Step 1Step 1: Consult the “: Consult the “Levels of CommotionLevels of Commotion” scale (in ” scale (in handout package) with the child or on your own.handout package) with the child or on your own.

1’1’- - I am bothered by something but I can still be with my friends and I am bothered by something but I can still be with my friends and do my school work easilydo my school work easily

‘‘10’10’- - I am so bothered by something that I cannot be with my friends I am so bothered by something that I cannot be with my friends without getting upset and I cannot focus on my school work’without getting upset and I cannot focus on my school work’

Referral ProcedureReferral Procedure Step 2: Fill out the internal referral form.Step 2: Fill out the internal referral form.

Step 3Step 3: : Complete SPT referral in TIENETComplete SPT referral in TIENET

Step 4: Complete the Student Services consent Step 4: Complete the Student Services consent form.form. I have ones edited for Counselling purposes and I have ones edited for Counselling purposes and approved by Student Services. approved by Student Services.

Please notePlease note: this process can be back-ended. (and : this process can be back-ended. (and typically is….) typically is….)

Also, students may request “mini-meetings” without Also, students may request “mini-meetings” without prior consent (up to three)prior consent (up to three)

****According to the Provincial TIENET policy (draft), no info considered ****According to the Provincial TIENET policy (draft), no info considered confidential is allowed on TIENET documents accessible by more than the School confidential is allowed on TIENET documents accessible by more than the School Counsellor. Counsellors have a separate section in TIENET to maintain Counsellor. Counsellors have a separate section in TIENET to maintain confidentiality.confidentiality.

Appointment ProcedureAppointment Procedure An appointment slip will be provided to An appointment slip will be provided to

the classroom teacher on the day of the the classroom teacher on the day of the appointment. If possible, prior to this. appointment. If possible, prior to this.

Please do not send the student down.Please do not send the student down.

Please note: Please note: it may be necessary to change it may be necessary to change appointment times due to unforeseen appointment times due to unforeseen circumstances. I will make every effort to circumstances. I will make every effort to connect (directly or otherwise) with the student connect (directly or otherwise) with the student to let them know to avoid any concern for the to let them know to avoid any concern for the student. student.

Important Points ContinuedImportant Points Continued I will walk the student to and from sessionsI will walk the student to and from sessions

When in session, please do not knock. (There will be a sign.)When in session, please do not knock. (There will be a sign.)

The counselling process is effective, but can be slow…please The counselling process is effective, but can be slow…please be patientbe patient

I will have a schedule, but it will be flexible. (i.e.: students I will have a schedule, but it will be flexible. (i.e.: students may need appointments moved, groups might need to be may need appointments moved, groups might need to be re-scheduled, sometimes at the last minute or without re-scheduled, sometimes at the last minute or without notice)notice)

*Please note*Please note: Students may refuse guidance services at : Students may refuse guidance services at any time at which point I cannot provide services to that any time at which point I cannot provide services to that student. student.

I will be making classroom orientation visits in I will be making classroom orientation visits in SeptemberSeptember

Confidentiality Vs PrivacyConfidentiality Vs Privacy Counsellors are required to practice confidentiality. It is the Counsellors are required to practice confidentiality. It is the

cornerstone of the Counselling relationship.cornerstone of the Counselling relationship.

““Confidentiality” is Confidentiality” is differentdifferent from “privacy”. Each have distinct from “privacy”. Each have distinct legal definition (i.e.: Counsellor notes are confidential, CUMs are legal definition (i.e.: Counsellor notes are confidential, CUMs are private.)private.)

Disclosure is the professional decision of the counsellor Disclosure is the professional decision of the counsellor based on the benefit to the student.based on the benefit to the student. The student will almost The student will almost always be informed before disclosure is made. always be informed before disclosure is made.

Its a huge pain in the butt!Its a huge pain in the butt! I like collaboration and it takes a I like collaboration and it takes a community to raise a child so I always ask the student if its okay to community to raise a child so I always ask the student if its okay to share and share and respect their decisionrespect their decision..

When a child is in danger, or someone will be hurt, there is When a child is in danger, or someone will be hurt, there is no confidentiality.no confidentiality. The student is informed and appropriate The student is informed and appropriate contacts made. contacts made.

When Instructing in ClassWhen Instructing in Class As part of the program I visit grade level classes to As part of the program I visit grade level classes to

facilitate psycho-educational programmingfacilitate psycho-educational programming

Most programming easily falls into the area of Healthy Most programming easily falls into the area of Healthy Living curricula, however, other programs can cover Living curricula, however, other programs can cover outcomes in most curriculum areas (i.e.: MindUp)outcomes in most curriculum areas (i.e.: MindUp)

I respectfully request that I be treated as a guest I respectfully request that I be treated as a guest speaker. Your participation is welcome and encouraged. speaker. Your participation is welcome and encouraged. Additionally, should you want to extend upon what I Additionally, should you want to extend upon what I teach outside of my scheduled time, please do so.teach outside of my scheduled time, please do so.

Please notePlease note: The unexpected may/will arise and I may : The unexpected may/will arise and I may have to re-schedule at the last minute. have to re-schedule at the last minute. Always have a Always have a back up plan.back up plan.

Final NotesFinal Notes I don’t know what I don’t know! I don’t know what I don’t know!

I have one year of elementary under my belt I have one year of elementary under my belt and coming from secondary to elementaryand coming from secondary to elementary

Any support/constructive feedback you can Any support/constructive feedback you can provide to aid me in my work would be provide to aid me in my work would be appreciated and humbly acceptedappreciated and humbly accepted

I truly look forward to working with you all!!I truly look forward to working with you all!!

Questions? Please talk with me.Questions? Please talk with me.