Counselling
TUPPER'S COUNSELLORS
What does a high school counsellor do?
All of the counsellors here at Tupper are available to provide Personal, Academic and Career Counselling.
Personal Counselling Includes:
- Discussing Relationship Issues (Friends or Family)
- Discussing Issues around:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Grief/Loss
- Self-Esteem
- Conflict Management
- Exploring your Strengths, Needs, Values
Academic Counselling Includes:
- Help to set and achieve academic/educational goals
- Help in discovering strengths and needs when it comes to educational success
- Assist in questions about Program and Course Selection
- Provide tips on: study methods, techniques and environments
- Provide general information about Post-Secondary, Admission Requirements and Scholarships
Career Counselling Includes:
- Helping explore Personal Goals, Aptitudes, Interests, Achievements, and Career Plans
- Help show the correlation between School Subjects, Extracurriculars and Work/Careers
- Help in developing Job Search Skills, and Application Strategies
In addition to the above, a Tupper counsellor:
-Helps with course planning and problem solving with student course schedules.
-Offers counselling in a crisis, including suicide risk assessment, and offers support in finding ongoing outside counselling, if needed.
-Teaches and facilitates guidance lessons.
-Facilitates access to medical or financial supports for students and families in need, and external health and wellness supports in the community.
-Takes a student-centered approach to confidential counselling, whenever possible.
- Attends appointments and meetings for/with students working with outside agencies, as needed (BC Children's Hospital, MCFD, Child and Youth Mental Health)
-Helps students explore alternative or enrichment and career options within the VSB.
-Meets with students and their families to help support students academically, emotionally, and socially.
-Writes letters for scholarships
-Attends School Based Team meetings
-Attends discipline meetings with administration as the student's advocate
How do I know which counsellor to contact?
Grade 9-12 students have a single counsellor, while grade 8s are shared alphabetically among the counsellors.
CANCAR, M. mcancar@vsb.bc.ca Local 7602
Grade 10 Counsellor
Grade 8 Counsellor, Last Names A - J
Link Crew Coordinator
HIGENBOTTAM, W. whigenbott@vsb.bc.ca Local 7604
Grade 11 Counsellor
Grade 8 Counsellor, Last Names S - Z
Link Crew Coordinator
LEE, J. jolee@vsb.bc.ca Local 7601
Grade 12 Counsellor
WALL, J. jbwall@vsb.bc.ca Local 7601
Grade 9 Counsellor
Grade 8 Counsellor, Last Names K - R
Who can I contact in my community for help if I am concerned about a counselling-related concern?
Vancouver Crisis Centre: Distress Line- 604-872-3311
Online Support for Youth: www.YouthInBC.com
Child and Youth Mental Health: Raven Song,2450 Ontario St. 3rd Floor, intake Tuesdays 9am-4pm, 604 872-8441
Substance use and prevention concerns: SACY Program
https://www.vsb.bc.cahttps://www.vsb.bc.ca/page/5152/sacy-substance-use-health-promotion-initiative
Tupper contact: Tara Bigdeli tbigdeli@vsb.bc.ca
Suicide Prevention:
Tell someone, like a school counsellor, if you have concerns or thoughts about suicide. Call the Suicide prevention line- 1-800-SUICIDE Call 911 directly if it is an emergency
General resources for mental wellness:
Foundrybc.ca
Keltymentalhealth.ca
Anxietycanada.com