Counselling service

The emotional and social wellbeing of our students is extremely important at Mercy College and is a fundamental priority of our wellbeing programs. These support structures are designed to assist each individual student as she journeys from adolescence to adulthood, and experience the joys and challenges of life. A team of staff are dedicated to managing the whole school approach to student wellbeing, the student welfare team includes the Directors of Junior and Senior Students, the Year level Coordinators and the College Counsellors.

Counsellors

Our College counsellors are available on campus throughout the school day. Students are able to access their services through confidential appointments made at their discretion.

The counselling service provides support for students who are dealing with a variety of concerns, including personal issues, relationship issues, resolving conflicts or academic challenges. Support for families is also available and the counsellors can refer families to appropriate services if required.

The counselling service is provided by trained and experienced counsellors within the College and is appropriately confidential within legal boundaries. Referrals to the counsellors can be made by students, teachers or parents. Once entering a counselling relationship students will be informed of their rights and the limits to confidentiality. Students should feel assured that counselling is a safe and private activity, where they can explore feelings and issues, and have their privacy respected. Our counselling philosophy springs from the works of Catherine McAuley who calls us to:

'Be ever ready to praise, to encourage, to stimulate, but slow to censure and still more slow to condemn.' - Catherine McAuley