We would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves. We are the school’s Guidance Counsellors, Stephen Dawson and Brett Greer. Our role is to help students work through any issues they might be facing, in any area of their lives. Primarily, this involves listening and doing our best to understand how the student is feeling. We work completely confidentially, as building trust is essential if the student is to get any therapeutic benefit from the relationship. We do not see ourselves as ‘fixers’ or advice givers, but rather people who will listen, try to understand and help students find a way through any difficulties they may be facing. We don’t want people to be put off by the term ‘counselling.’ We don’t want people to be intimidated by the idea and see it as something only ‘broken’ or ‘messed up’ people engage in. Essentially, we would like students to see us as people they can chat with about anything they like, because to talk about our issues and explore ways of dealing with them can be a really effective way of finding better ways of living.

The best type of referral is always a self-referral. Often, when a student is ‘sent’ to us by a staff member or a parent, we become just another adult they don’t want to talk to. We certainly want you to be mindful of your son’s mental health but if you feel they may benefit from talking to one of us, discuss the idea with them in an attempt to get some 'buy-in.’ Try to bring them round to the idea mentioned above: that they should not see this as a big thing or something only for broken people but rather an opportunity to talk to someone who will listen, and try to help. It is incredibly important for our sons to see that acknowledging their issues and talking about them is a strength, not a weakness. Suppressing and ignoring them is the real danger, as they often find a way out, often in extreme types of behaviour.

PNBHS Guidance Counsellors - Mr. Steve Dawson dawsons@pnbhs.school.nz or 3545176 ext. 764

Mr. Brett Greer greerb@pnbhs.school.nz or 3545176 ext. 717