Elementary Comprehensive Guidance And Counselling

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Elementary Comprehensive Guidance And Counselling

• Monarch and Kinsac Elementary Schools
• Andrew Gosney, M.Ed., CCC
• (Soon to be RCT!!!!!!!)

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I have only 15 minutes!!!

• About me
• Comprehensive Guidance and Counselling
  Programming
• Need Survey results
• Referral Process
• Confidential vs Private
• Classroom Instruction
• Final Note

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About Me

• Grew up in Lower Sackville
• Teacher since May 1999
• Junior High/Elementary, FLECs, High School also
  taught in Sackville Correctional Facility
• M. Ed. (Counselling),2007, Mental Health First
  Aid and ASIST Certifications
• Grad. Diploma Educational Tech, B.Ed., B.A.
  (Sociology), Certificate in Criminology
• Beaver Leader
• Professional Associations NSSCA, NSCCT, CCPA
  (CCC Canadian Certified Counsellor), HRSB
  Guidance Lead Team
• Future goal to obtain RCT with NSCCT and
  establish private practice
• Father and husband to Anne

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Connor (9), Catherine (11), Elliot (5 starting
this year)
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What is School Counselling?

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

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Comprehensive Guidance and Counselling

• Recommended program by the Department of
  Education
• Needs survey (Social, Personal, Career, Academic)
• School wide programming
• Responsive services (1-1, group)
• Classroom instruction based on guidance outcomes,
  identified needs, administrative priorities
• Community based initiatives (Incredible Years,
  lias with Capital Health/IWK, SNAP)

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Survey Results

• Copy included in your package
• To summarize
• Huge demand for SEL (students, parents, and
  staff)
• Similar areas of SEL identified across three
  response groups
• See handout on available SEL programming
• Study skills (older students)
• Bullying/ harrassment (connected with SEL)
• Career education (D.O.E. looking at more for P-6)

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Some important points

• A School Counsellor is not a Clinical Counsellor
  (same training but different role)
• Counsellors are not administrators
• Counsellors promote the betterment of the
  client/student.
• Counsellors are trained to listen, support, at
  times challenge, facilitate access to outside
  resources/ agencies as necessary, as well as,
  design programming specific to a students needs
• Counsellors are not trained to diagnose, fix
  problems, or cure people
• Please do not start an open discussion with the
  student about going to counselling. (children can
  get embarrassed)

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Referral Procedure

• Please read through the full procedure in the
  package (some info on communication with family)
• Always encourage students to talk with their
  parents as a first step
• Step 1 Consult the Levels of Commotion scale
  (in handout package) with the child or on your
  own.
• 1- I am bothered by something but I can still be
  with my friends and do my school work easily
• 10- I am so bothered by something that I cannot
  be with my friends without getting upset and I
  cannot focus on my school work

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Referral Procedure

• Step 2 Fill out the internal referral form.
• Step 3 Complete SPT referral in TIENET
• Step 4 Complete the Student Services consent
  form. I have ones edited for Counselling purposes
  and approved by Student Services.
• Please note this process can be back-ended. (and
  typically is.)
• Also, students may request mini-meetings
  without prior consent (up to three)
• According to the Provincial TIENET policy
  (draft), no info considered confidential is
  allowed on TIENET documents accessible by more
  than the School Counsellor. Counsellors have a
  separate section in TIENET to maintain
  confidentiality.

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Appointment Procedure

• An appointment slip will be provided to the
  classroom teacher on the day of the appointment.
  If possible, prior to this.
• Please do not send the student down.
• Please note it may be necessary to change
  appointment times due to unforeseen
  circumstances. I will make every effort to
  connect (directly or otherwise) with the student
  to let them know to avoid any concern for the
  student.

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Important Points Continued

• I will walk the student to and from sessions
• When in session, please do not knock. (There will
  be a sign.)
• The counselling process is effective, but can be
  slowplease be patient
• I will have a schedule, but it will be flexible.
  (i.e. students may need appointments moved,
  groups might need to be re-scheduled, sometimes
  at the last minute or without notice)
• Please note Students may refuse guidance
  services at any time at which point I cannot
  provide services to that student.
• I will be making classroom orientation visits in
  September

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Confidentiality Vs Privacy

• Counsellors are required to practice
  confidentiality. It is the cornerstone of the
  Counselling relationship.
• Confidentiality is different from privacy.
  Each have distinct legal definition (i.e.
  Counsellor notes are confidential, CUMs are
  private.)
• Disclosure is the professional decision of the
  counsellor based on the benefit to the student.
  The student will almost always be informed before
  disclosure is made.
• Its a huge pain in the butt! I like collaboration
  and it takes a community to raise a child so I
  always ask the student if its okay to share and
  respect their decision.
• When a child is in danger, or someone will be
  hurt, there is no confidentiality. The student is
  informed and appropriate contacts made.

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When Instructing in Class

• As part of the program I visit grade level
  classes to facilitate psycho-educational
  programming
• Most programming easily falls into the area of
  Healthy Living curricula, however, other programs
  can cover outcomes in most curriculum areas
  (i.e. MindUp)
• I respectfully request that I be treated as a
  guest speaker. Your participation is welcome and
  encouraged. Additionally, should you want to
  extend upon what I teach outside of my scheduled
  time, please do so.
• Please note The unexpected may/will arise and I
  may have to re-schedule at the last minute.
  Always have a back up plan.

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Final Notes

• I dont know what I dont know!
• I have one year of elementary under my belt and
  coming from secondary to elementary
• Any support/constructive feedback you can provide
  to aid me in my work would be appreciated and
  humbly accepted
• I truly look forward to working with you all!!
• Questions? Please talk with me.