Friday February 19, 2010  

Guidance News
Mrs. Black

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Notes From The School Counsellor’s Office: 
My Name is Carolyn Black and I will be the full time school counsellor at Kensington Int. Sr. High school this year. 

I completed my Masters in Education in 2004. This was a joint degree from UPEI and Acadia. I am a Certified Canadian Counsellor (CCC) and am a member of The Canadian Counselling Association (please see the website: http://www.ccacc.ca/ccacc.htm and follow the link to "Find a Counsellor". I am also an active member of the PEI Counselling Association holding memberships to both the Professional Counselling Chapter and the School Counselling Chapter. 


Areas of Specialization:

Career Counseling: I have course work that specializes in this specific area. I am qualified to administer and interpret many career counselling assessment tools and I remain current on University updates/changes by attending conferences and meetings hosted by the Universities of Atlantic Canada.

Personal Counselling: I have training related to suicide intervention, anxiety, stress, grief, mediation and have helped clients effectively develop coping strategies. I have also developed a good working relationship with the Mental Health System and will make referrals when necessary.

Group Counselling: I have training in this area and am hoping to have more support groups available to students during this school year.

Assessment Specialization: I am currently qualified to do administer and interpret B level assessments. This includes a variety of achievement tests and screening tools for mental health purposes. I am currently taking a course from Memorial University that will qualify me to administer cognitive tests. When I complete this course, I will be a technician for using the WISC and a C level tester. I will have to have supervision for several more years before I will be deemed capable to interpret this test on my own and to do full cognitive assessments. 

Methods For Referrals: There are a number of options available for students and parents.

Self Referral: A student can just drop by and set up their own appointment. For a self referral, legally, parental contact does not have to obtained for one visit. However, if I determine that there is a need for ongoing therapy, I am legally obligated to obtain parental consent. If a student is 16 years of age or older, parental consent is not required to visit the school counsellor. However, I am still ethically obligated to report if I have safety concerns for the client (ie. suspected abuse, suicide, etc.) Or if I believe the client will hurt someone else. 

Principal, Vice-Principal or Teacher Referral: Many times I am called in to mediate situations between students or to empathize when a student has heard some upsetting news. Due to the fact this will only be a one time visit unless determined otherwise, parental contact is not required. However, as with the self referral, the sames rule apply for parental contact. 

Parental Referral: Parents may also contact me and ask that I speak with their child. Parents may call the school secretary and ask to speak with me directly or leave a message for me to call them back. You can also contact me through email. This will be linked through the school website.