Supporting learner wellbeing

Our school is now part of the Ministry of Education’s Counselling Support in Schools programme – Awhi Mai Awhi Atu. This means we now have a free counselling service at our school to assist with your child’s wellbeing two days per week (Thursday and Friday).

Our counselling support is designed to support our learners so that they can thrive at school. It is not designed to replace existing counselling.

Our counsellors are registered professionals, carefully chosen for their skills and experience working with children and their whānau.

Counselling support can help children and young people to understand how to navigate their feelings, such as grief, anxiety, stress, or loneliness, and discover new coping skills and strategies.

We will offer both individual and group sessions depending upon the need.

Wellbeing

Counselling can play an important role in supporting learner wellbeing.  Our counsellors will work closely with teachers and whānau, wherever possible, to get the right support in place.

Wellbeing can be understood through Duries concept of Whare Tapu Wha, which embraces balancing the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions of a person. enhance the mana and wellbeing of children and their whānau.

How will counselling work in our school?

Our school has selected our counselling support to best meet the needs of our learners.  The counselling received will depend on the student and the need and will be designed by our counselling provider.

If the counselling needed is greater than can be delivered in school, help with referring on to the appropriate provider will be given.

What can I expect from this support?

Our school counsellors will:

• be safe, honest, and trustworthy

• listen carefully, be respectful, and value your culture, language, and identity

• provide this service at school, in a safe space.

We want you to be involved, as much as possible, so we can work together to get the best support for your child.

You will have an opportunity to meet the counsellor, either Ngairini O’Kell or Matthew Tooley, and discuss how this support can work for you and your child.

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How do I access this support?

We will contact you if we think your child might benefit from this support, alternatively and you can talk to the principal, SENCo, or any teacher if you would like to seek counselling support for your child.

We will uphold you and your child’s rights to privacy and keep all information safe. Counselling support will not be provided without your involvement.

You can request counselling for your child by completing the referral form that is on our school website and emailing it to the counselling provider, by dropping the form at school, or by asking a teacher to send a referral on your behalf.

You can also request a phone call with the counsellor by emailing your details to Vonnie Marshall.

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Vonnie is the Counselling Team Leader & Awhi Mai Awhi Atu Manager for the counselling provider, Skylight Trust.

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Her email address is- vonnie.marshall@skylight.org.nz.

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Meet The Counsellors

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Belle Mayston (she/her) – Creative Arts Therapist

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My name is Belle, and I am a creative arts therapist with Skylight Trust. I have a degree in psychology, a master's in clinical arts therapy and am registered with ANZACATA (The Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association). I will be providing 1:1 creative arts therapy sessions at Wainuiomata Intermediate on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

 

Creative arts therapy is a psychotherapeutic process that supports people to explore and

express feelings that may be hard to articulate into words, in a safe and welcoming space. I work in a way that is person-centred and collaborative, using a number of techniques and creative mediums. Working inclusively is important to me, and I strive to embody Tangata Tiriti as well as having experience working with neurodiverse and rainbow groups. 

 

Anyone can do creative arts therapy - you do not need to be ‘good’ at art to benefit, as the focus is on the process and meaning-making rather than the outcome. Creative arts therapy promotes self-exploration, emotional regulation and a holistic view of wellbeing. 

 

For more information on Creative Arts Therapies you can visit the ANZACATA website https://www.anzacata.org/

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Referral Form