School Counselling Services at Joseph Giles Elementary
Natalie Hodgson
Schedule: Mondays, Wednesdays and every second Friday
Greetings from your School Counsellor!
As your School Counsellor, it is my intent to provide a safe and welcoming experience to children and families requiring my services. Below, I would like to share some information about school counselling.
What are some reasons children see School Counsellors?
There are many reasons children come to school counselling, among these are:
- problems with friendships/peers
- concerns about bullying
- being worried or stressed out about things that are happening in class, at school or outside of school
- managing feelings/emotions
- looking for information to help others
- being scared or feeling unsafe for any reason
- just needing to be heard by someone who they can trust
- mediations with other students
I know that, in most cases, your children already talk to you about things that may be happening with them – the school counsellor can be another avenue of support for both them and you.
Consent
Students must be referred to school counselling (by themselves, the school or home). Some students just need a few sessions, while others will remain on my caseload for the school year. I am allowed to see a student once without parent/guardian consent. This one-off session is typically reserved for a student that is self-referring or when they are experiencing a moment of crisis. It is important to know that new referrals and consents are needed each year. To make a referral please reach out to me. After I receive a referral and speak with a parent/guardian, I will prepare a consent form to go home with your child. (Please note: Students in grades P-6 require parent/guardian consent. Students in grades 7-12 provide their own consent.)
School counselling is voluntary. Students can refuse to come to counselling even with parent/guardian consent. School counselling should never be a negative experience for students. If they don’t want to come, or want to end a session early, then that will be respected. Relationships are key in counselling!
Confidentiality
Keeping a trusting counselling relationship with students is very important. As a result, most of what happens during individual sessions will be confidential between the counsellor and the child. Be assured that I will contact you if there is something that I believe is important for you to know (with your child’s knowledge and consent). You know your child best, and you can be a valuable ally. It is my hope that we can collaborate regularly. Sometimes, parents or guardians will contact the counsellor for an update on what is happening. In this case, counsellors consult with the student and decide together what information to give. Students themselves are free to give as much information as they choose about our work together.
I am here to support
As your school counsellor, I am here for students, staff, and the families. I have extensive knowledge and practice in various therapeutic modalities, and continuously engage in training and professional development to improve my practice. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Ubuntu ~ I am because we are. ~
Natalie Hodgson:)