While we focus on wellbeing in all areas of learning and teaching, therefore taking a whole school approach, we also recognise that there are times when particular individuals require support with mental ill health. We take a tiered approach to the wellbeing support that is provided in school, as shown in this diagram.
Two important groups of people who support our students are introduced below: the counselling team and the ELSAs in the Primary school.
Our counselling and social work team are here to support the RCHK community in moving toward greater wellbeing, through a variety of counselling practices and specialist expertise. We liaise with wellbeing and pastoral staff in providing emotional support for our students and the wider RCHK community, including parents and school staff.
Why provide Counselling support at school?
Schools play a vital role in developing the emotional wellbeing and resilience of children and young people. By providing a supportive and caring environment, we enable our students to develop a sense of safety and belonging. This helps protect them from thoughts and feelings that can negatively impact many aspects of their lives including; achievement, motivation, relationships, and self-esteem.
No matter who we are, everyone experiences challenges at some time or other that affect emotional wellbeing and happiness. Seeking counselling can be very helpful, offering support at challenging times.
Here are some of the ways counselling can help:
- Finding solutions to problems – we can persist through challenges no matter how big or small.
- Increasing accomplishment – developing coping strategies to build resilience.
- Increasing positive thoughts and feelings – being able to bounce back when things feel hard to resolve.
- Discovering meaning and motivation – developing more positive approaches that can enhance future growth and success.
- Increasing relationship understanding – supporting and developing relationship skills.
Working with a member of the counselling support team can lead to positive change. Enabling the development of new ways of coping and greater resilience and can have a positive influence on managing future challenges.
Our Service
We are a team of counselling and social work professionals, who provide support, primarily to students but also to the wider Renaissance College community. This includes offering parenting or family support.
All members of our team are highly experienced and knowledgeable practitioners. We are registered to practice and belong to professional associations in Hong Kong, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. All of our team adhere to a code of ethics and receive regular supervision.
Our service is open to all members of the school community, it is confidential and can be offered in English, Cantonese or Mandarin.
For further information or to get in touch with our team, please contact RCHK Counsellor, Nia Cooper.
Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs)
Counselling is only one of the types of support provided within school. Some students’ needs are best supported by short term, targeted interventions which can be provided by someone other than a counsellor. Some students benefit from working with an ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant). More information about the work that ELSAs do can be found here.
Some students continue from ELSA support to counselling, while others need no further significant support at the end of their time working with an ELSA. The counselling support team liaise closely with the ELSA team when more support is required following a period of intervention with an ELSA.