Comprehensive Guidance and Counselling at Beaver Bank Monarch and Beaver Bank Kinsac Elementaries.

1. Comprehensive Guidance and Counselling at Beaver Bank Monarch and Beaver Bank Kinsac Elementaries. Andrew Gosney, M.Ed., CCC

2. About Me • Grew up in Lower Sackville • Married with three children: Catherine, Connor and Elliot • Masters in Education (Counselling), 2007 • Professional Associations: NSSCA, NSCCT, CCPA (CCC – Canadian Certified Counsellor) • Future goal to obtain RCT with NSCCT and establish private practice

3. Brief About CGCP • CGCP addresses outcomes in the following areas: Social, Personal, Academic and Career • This is inclusive of typical one-on-one and group counselling approaches • Involves needs assessments from students staff and parents (coming soon!) • The program is evaluated annually and adjusted as needed • It is a flexibly-rigid framework and is, therefore, a living program

4. Programming will include: • individual and group counselling sessions for specific concerns • More generalized groups facilitated by the counsellor which address CGCP outcomes (i.e.: leadership, yoga themed, mindfulness, peer links, lego club, etc.) • Classroom based instruction

5. Some important points • 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 • “Confidentiality” is different from “privacy.” • Please do not start an open discussion with the student about going to counselling. (children can get embarrassed)

6. Important Points Continued • I will walk the student to and from sessions • When in session, please do not knock. • The counselling process is effective, but can be slow…please 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 minute or without notice) • I will be making classroom orientation visits in September • There is a referral process (not yet finalized, but VERY soon) Teachers are asked to make an SPT referral at this time. • Students may request a “mini-meeting” with the counsellor (this is not the same a counselling session, but may lead to counselling services)

7. When to Refer? • Serious behavioural/ personal/ social issues (this will most likely go to SPT) • Anything that you’ve already attempted to deal with and believe guidance support may be helpful • Repetitive issues • Excessive worry, stress, grief, poor academics, social skills, poor sleep,etc. • Significant changes in behaviour

8. When a Referral May not be Necessary • Situations you’ve readily handled without assistance • If in doubt just ask me or school admin

9. Final Note • Guidance to elementary is fairly new in this province • I’m coming from secondary to elementary • Any support you can provide to aid me in my transition would be appreciated and humbly accepted • I look forward to working with you all!!