Student Wellbeing

Individual Counselling

The counselling service is a well-used one and counsellors at both campuses have had the greater part of their time spent speaking with students one-to-one about issues that are important to them. Common presenting issues include anxiety, mood disorder, family disharmony, friendships/relationships, motivation, anger, grief, social skill difficulties and a variety of others. Have you ever wondered what it is like to attend counselling sessions? Well here, a junior and a senior student give you an insight into what is has been like for them.

Junior – Year 7

My mum asked me whether I wanted to go to counselling as an experience, to deal with what was troubling me. I said I wanted to think about it. Once things got worse, I told mum I’d give it a shot and see how it works. For the first session, I thought it was really weird telling all the things that had happened to me to a person I had just met. I even missed some sessions after the first one, because it felt so weird. But as things got worse for me, I went back. When I decided to tell the counsellor everything, I felt more and more comfortable. We spoke about things that could help me in my situation. We even had my parents be part of the sessions, twice. I continue to see the counsellor because what we are speaking about is working and is helping me. I keep attending counselling because even though there are issues that still affect me that are beyond my control, I am getting more confidence and am moving forward.

Senior – Year 12

I began seeing the counsellor due to social awkwardness. After speaking with the counsellor in private sessions, I became a member of a social

skills group which included some of my friends. Both types of sessions assisted me with sorting out conflicts and getting things off my chest without being penalised for it. In my junior years, the sessions were full-on counselling sessions... and in my senior years, the sessions were less to do with counselling and were more casual sessions – less Mr Pascal Rohan and Ms Maree Keel focussed and problem-based and more along the lines of personal development. Counselling has been a place to let off steam, to give over information, to seek advice and to even establish a good relationship with the counsellor as someone who knows and understands me...which is really why I have kept coming back.

Parent Evening

Four of our student members (representing years 8, 10 and 12) spoke on the topic of mental health, from ‘the inside-out’ to a group of parents early in the year. These students had an intimate association with issues relating to weight, anxiety, depression and autism spectrum disorder. Whilst it would be advantageous to attend such a gathering and to listen to an ‘expert’ speak on these topics – it is quite another thing to hear about an insider’s experience and to come to appreciate just what life is like for some of our young people. My thanks to these boys and to the parents who support them.

Farewell and thanks

After six years at the College, I have now seen one cohort of secondary students, Year 7–12, through the school and will be now taking up a counselling appointment elsewhere. I wish to acknowledge here the goodness and strength of the many boys and young men who have availed of counselling over the years and who have made efforts to advance their psychological, social, and intellectual wellbeing. It is not always easy to do the work of change that needs to be done on oneself – it can be hard...and sometimes, very hard – and so I applaud the many who have challenged themselves to ‘be, well’. Thank you – it has been my pleasure to have known you. Mr Pascal Rohan Director of Student Wellbeing

Counselling at Kinnoull

The counselling service at Kinnoull has been very busy over the course of the year, with many students and parents availing of the opportunity to seek support. A significant number of individual students have accessed the service in order to deal with challenges presented by their academic studies, work on personal issues or address mental health concerns. Emphasis has been placed on students adopting stress management strategies such as meditation and relaxation techniques to alleviate some of the pressures associated with the rigours of VCE. A number of groups have been operating in 2014: including a Comedy Club and a Year 12 Social Skills group. Next year the College will welcome a new member to the counselling team, however it is important to acknowledge and thank Pascal for his hard work and the dedication shown over his tenure at the College. He has made a significant contribution to the counselling service and to the life of the College; particularly in his role as the Director of Student Wellbeing. All the best Pascal, we wish you well in your future endeavours.

Ms Maree Keel Kinnoull Counsellor