Counsellors

Counsellors

Counsellors support students with their wellbeing and safety in a caring, respectful, non-judgmental manner, whilst aiming for students to feel safe and validated. The counsellors will assist students to navigate difficult situations that may be getting in the way of school and/or life to enhance growth and fulfilment.

The counselling team are qualified and registered professionals and are committed to the New Zealand Counsellors Association (NZAC) guidelines and code of ethics. The counsellors engage in regular professional supervision in order to maintain safe and effective practice.  They also regularly engage in professional development throughout the year to continually upskill. 

Counselling is free, private and confidential for all year level students.

No issue or concern is too big or small.  Students can talk with a counsellor about anything they wish.

Our Team:

Head of Counselling: Katie Griff grf@northcote.school.nz 481 0141 ext 740

Jacqui Tohovaka: toh@northcote.school.nz 481 0141 ext 745

Jared Edwards: edw@northcote.school.nz 841 0141 ext 766

Judy Padrutt: judithp@northcote.school.nz 841 0141 ext 704

What do counsellors do?

The counsellors see students for lots of different reasons and can support students in different ways.

Our counsellors can support you with:

• Reducing stress
• Improving relationships
• Understanding yourself better 
• Skills and coping strategies for managing your challenges
• Safety plans if you or others are at risk
• Referrals to external services
• Discussions with family, friends, staff or other professionals 
• Information/education
• Advocacy

Is counselling confidential?

Counselling is a private and confidential service between the student and the counselling team.  

There are legal exceptions to confidentiality in order to prevent harm and help keep students and others safe.  Below are situations where this may occur:

• They have self harmed or are going to harm themselves
• Someone has harmed the student or is going to harm them
• The student is going to harm someone else

OR

• The above is happening for someone else

Please trust the counsellors have students’ best interests as a top priority and if any of this happens they would talk to the student about what happens next. 

NOTE: Sometimes the counsellors are asked by teachers, deans, nurses, friends or family to check a student’s safety or wellbeing.  If you find yourself in this situation, the counsellor will explain this to the student.  

Make an appointment:

Just click here to make an appointment

You can also fill in a form at student reception. Here is a link to the form.

What happens next?

Once we receive your request one of our team will be in contact with you.  We will either email you and/or call you up with a runner (the runner slip is the same across the school for other reasons so no one will know the slip is to see a counsellor).  

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
 

What can I expect?

• You will see the same counsellor each time in order to get to know you better.  It also prevents you from having to repeat yourself to different counsellors 
• Appointments are held during school hours during class time
• The counsellors will update your attendance on Kamar
• Approximately 30 - 50 minutes long (but this can be longer or shorter depending on the need)
• If the appointment runs longer, it’s usually because there is a high need for support, so if you are waiting for your appointment and one of our counsellors has been delayed, one of the team will let you know as soon as they can
• Sessions are usually fortnightly, but can be weekly if needed and of course will be discussed with you directly
• You may need to see a different counsellor on the odd occasion if your allocated counsellor is not available or we need to check your safety 

 

How long will I have to wait to see a counsellor?

In your request, we will have asked you if your need is ‘urgent?’  If it’s urgent, then we will do our best to see you the same day or the day after.  Otherwise, generally we aim to see you within one week depending on counsellor availability.

If you are waiting and your concern becomes urgent, please email Katie Griff here and she will make the necessary arrangements.

 

Can I choose my counsellor?  

Our counsellors have different styles, training and strengths.  You are most welcome to request a particular counsellor and we will do our best to connect you with them, but this sometimes depends on availability, so if they aren’t available and/or if there are safety needs to be checked, this will be with any counsellor.  

 

Will my caregivers/whanau know if I see a counsellor?

Some students ask if their caregivers/parents will know that they’re seeing a counsellor.  Counsellors do not routinely tell whanau that you are attending counselling sessions unless you consent, or unless you express concerns around harm to yourselves or others (see confidentiality information above).  
 

Can I just turn up to student reception and ask to see a counsellor immediately?

We encourage you to request your own appointments ahead of time, but if you believe a matter is urgent, you are welcome to walk in and ask to see Katie Griff.

 

Can I change counsellors?

It can take time to build trust with a counsellor especially when we are talking about difficult concerns.  This is really normal and part of the therapeutic process.  However, if you find you aren’t connecting with your counsellor and want to try another counsellor, we won’t be offended and will do our best to accommodate.  All you would need to do is either inform your counsellor, or email Katie Griff here.  We will link you with another counsellor in the team but please be aware there may be some delay if there is a wait list.

 

What happens if I can’t make my appointment?

If you are away or for any reason you can’t make your scheduled appointment e.g. test, assignments, school trip, absent, please email your counsellor straight away so they can reschedule your appointment.  Communicating your absence will also allow us to offer the appointment time to another student.  

 

Can I bring a friend with me?

We usually see students on their own due to confidentiality reasons, however, if you are particularly nervous or worried for your first session, you are welcome to bring a friend.   Please just let us know so we can make the necessary arrangements.  We often find after the first session, students are comfortable to continue on their own.  If there is a reason you need to bring another person to work through an issue, that is ok too, again please let us know.

 

Do you take notes?

Yes, we take notes and input them on our software system.  Your notes are confidential and only the counselling team has access to your notes.  Any questions about your notes, just ask Katie Griff here…

 

Can I refer someone I’m worried about to counselling?  What if I don’t want them to know it was me?

We would encourage any student who has concerns about another student to tell a teacher and/or their dean, who will then forward the information to us.  You can even tell us concerns for a student from another school.  

You are also welcome to talk with us directly and we can manage the concerns from there.  We will talk with you about how this can be confidential and we will make a decision about how to proceed.    

Remember confidentiality rules and exceptions apply with this situation too, but again we will talk you through this.  

 

Who do I contact if I need to speak with someone outside of school hours?

We encourage you to speak with your whanau if it’s safe to do so.

Emergency 111

Need to Talk? free text 1737 - 24/7

Youthline 0800 376 633 or tex 234 - 24/7

After hours mental health crisis 094868900

Suicide Helpline 0508 TAUTOKO or 0508 828 865 - 24/7

 

INFORMATION FOR WHANAU/CAREGIVERS:

If you would like a counsellor to connect with your young person, we will offer them the opportunity to engage.  Please note, we do require their consent and willingness to engage in counselling, but this is not required if there are safety concerns.

Counselling is a private and confidential service which means we routinely do not inform whanau if their young person is seeing a school counsellor unless they consent, or there are safety concerns. 

If you would like to refer your young person or have any questions, please contact Katie Griff here

NEED HELP NOW:

24/7 emergency help - if you or someone else is in immediate danger - contact:

Police & other emergency services - 111

Mental Health Crisis Service - North Shore (09) 486 8900