The School Counselling and Social Work Services Department helps students and families to overcome personal social and emotional barriers and problems to promote students school performance, development and achievement.  Through a variety of modalities, including individual, family, small group and classroom programming, counselors promote a strength based approach seeking to enhance student’s social/emotional competency, promote resiliency and increase students’ availability for learning. Counsellors also provide crisis intervention response, case management and assessment services, as well as community development, outreach and referrals.  As part of the school multidisciplinary team, counsellors are available for case consultation, provision of professional development, and intervention planning.

Issues which can be addressed by counselling staff include: 

• behaviour problems               
•  mental health issues
• substance use                          
• emotions management
• self esteem
• social  skills                           
• bullying
• violence prevention                
• conflict resolution
• leadership development
• stress management
• family issues
• abuse
• trauma
• grief/bereavement
• homelessness                          
• parenting
• pregnancy       
• sexuality                     
• life skills

 In addition to these duties, staff within the department provide specific services within four job classes:  Attendance Counsellors/Social Workers, Counselling and Support Workers, First Nations Counsellors and School Support Counsellors.