Student Experience
Personal Counselling
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Personal Counselling > Banner
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What We Do
Personal Counselling at the Senior School offers a valuable opportunity for your child to connect one-on-one with an accredited clinical counsellor for personalized support. Our counsellors assist students in navigating a wide range of challenges, including academic stress, anxiety, depression, substance use, interpersonal conflicts, parent-adolescent conflict, and experiences of grief and loss. Our primary goal is to promote student well-being by helping them build resilience, develop self-awareness, and learn strategies to manage the complexities of daily life, ensuring they feel supported and connected throughout their time at St. George’s School.
If you’re concerned about your child and would like to connect with their personal counsellor, please do reach out. You can find your child’s counsellor listed by Advisor.
Please note that counsellors are available during school hours only and are not available outside of school hours, on the weekends, or over school holidays.
If you’re concerned about your child and would like to connect with their personal counsellor, please do reach out. You can find your child’s counsellor listed by Advisor.
Please note that counsellors are available during school hours only and are not available outside of school hours, on the weekends, or over school holidays.
Privacy & Confidentiality
Privacy and clear confidentiality are essential to an effective school Counselling Program. Every effort will be made to protect student privacy rights except under certain limited conditions.
As mature minors, Senior School students can access counselling on their own. What students share with their counsellor will remain confidential unless the student gives permission to share, or unless the counsellor is required by law or school policy to share.
Counsellors take secure and confidential case notes to keep track of goals, processes, and strategies discussed in session.
These are the situations where information may be shared with parents/guardians and/or others:- If a student asks a counsellor to talk to someone on their behalf or pass along information to a third party;
- If a counsellor has reason to believe that the student or someone else may be in danger;
- If a court orders the release of information;
- If required by law; or
- To consult with another allied health professional in confidence, and with the student’s consent, to try to find solutions or answers for the student.
During an annual cycle of progress meetings, teachers, Heads of Grade and/or staff members of the School-Based Team may discuss concerns that they have regarding a student’s academic or socio-emotional well-being. These meetings help us to better support students by monitoring progress, highlighting successes, and addressing concerns. School counsellors may follow up regarding their students to ensure that appropriate supports are in place to meet each student’s social and emotional needs.
Department Members
Ms. Jones approaches her clinical work from a strengths-based perspective, utilizing a person’s natural abilities in order to learn and grow. She enjoys getting to know students to understand their unique perspectives on the world better and to support them in developing an identity that is well grounded in a confident knowledge of who they are and the values that guide them.
Jocelyn Coburn
MEd., RCC (she/her)
Department Head & Personal Counsellor
MEd., RCC (she/her)
Department Head & Personal Counsellor
Ms. Coburn is dedicated to building meaningful relationships with students, focusing on their strengths and guiding them in developing self-awareness while navigating the challenges of teenage life. She is committed to meeting students where they are, taking the time to understand their unique perspectives and subjective experiences. Ms. Coburn enjoys learning about each student's story and uses humour to help them uncover their values and cultivate a strong sense of self.
Monique Wong
MA, RCC (she/her)
Personal Counsellor
MA, RCC (she/her)
Personal Counsellor
Ms. Wong is a mental health clinician who takes on a collaborative and collective approach to supporting students. Her clinical work emphasizes the mind-body connection. She is a certified somatic experiencing practitioner and an EMDR-trained therapist. She is an immigrant from Hong Kong; Cantonese is her mother language, and English and Mandarin are her additional languages.
Wednesday–Friday
How To Submit A Referral For Your Student
If you are concerned about your child’s emotional well-being or mental health, please reach out to their personal counsellor by email with a few lines outlining your concerns, and their assigned personal counsellor will connect with your child. Please ensure to include your student’s full name and grade.
Frequently Asked Questions
List of 4 items.
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How can my child book a time to see their counsellor?
Students can book via Google Calendar. If they don’t see a time that works, they can also email their counsellor. Students are also welcome to drop in and chat with their counsellor if their counsellor is available. -
Can my student’s personal counsellor tell me what is going on with my student?
Counselling sessions are confidential unless there’s a risk of harm to the student, so generally speaking, no, we can’t give you specific information about your child. That said, do know that if we are worried about your child’s safety, we will loop you into safety planning. Head of Grades are valuable resources for updates on your child’s day-to-day activities at the School, and the Personal Counselling Team works closely with them. -
What is the difference between Personal Counselling and University Counselling?
Personal counselling offers therapy to students. We help them work through problems, develop strategies and make referrals for more support as necessary. University counsellors help students with course planning and university applications. University counsellors and personal counsellors can work together if your student is feeling stuck about what direction to take or how much stress they can manage in their workload. -
I want to put in a referral for my child, but they would be upset with me if they knew I did. How can we handle this?
We can reach out to students and let them know that “a few people” or “someone” was concerned about them without naming you specifically. If you’d prefer we do this, please make a note about this in your referral email.
Get Support
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Foundry
Same-day virtual and in-person counselling available in various locations around BC.
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Bounce Back
Free skill-building program for youth 13+ and above with mild to moderate anxiety or low mood. This skill-building program is delivered online or on the phone with a coach.
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Anxiety Canada
Practical and specific strategies for anxiety management, including the free MindShift app.
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9-8-8
Dial 998 for the Canada-wide crisis hotline.
Junior School
Senior School
St. George’s School acknowledges that we are situated on the unceded traditional territory of the Musqueam First Nation.
Contributions to St. George's School Foundation are eligible for tax receipts as prescribed by Canadian law. St. George's School Foundation's Charitable Registration Number is: 11917-5511 RR0001.
Contributions to St. George's School Foundation are eligible for tax receipts as prescribed by Canadian law. St. George's School Foundation's Charitable Registration Number is: 11917-5511 RR0001.
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