Mental Health

Mental Health Therapist Role:

Mental Health is part of an interdisciplinary team (PLS) that works within the district, supporting student's mental health needs through a variety of methods. Mental health focuses on students whose mental health needs affect their ability to participate fully in school. Mental health therapists work within multiple schools to provide counselling services. Mental health therapists can provide individual counselling for a variety of school related mental health concerns (e.g. symptoms of anxiety, depression, regulation) using evidence-based psychotherapies, group counselling, psycho-educational seminars, parent support, consultation, debriefing, trauma-informed practices, connections to community resources.

What Can you Expect? 

Therapy (including counselling) is a collaborative process between the student, guardian, therapist, & applicable school professionals. The therapist aims to help the student & their family develop skills that can contribute to improved functioning at home, at school & in the community. Goals for therapy are developed jointly between the client & therapist. The student or guardian has the right to end therapy. Consent for service can be revoked at any time. PLS does not provide mandated therapy & is of the opinion that the student’s voice & level of comfort is of the upmost importance. The student & family are encouraged to practice skills learned in therapy between sessions if applicable. If therapeutic suggestions are made for classroom modifications, school staff are invited to implement those modifications. School service providers are expected to respect the student’s confidentiality utilizing Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy legislation. All therapeutic records will be maintained as required by applicable legal & ethical standards.

Will My Child be Seen by a Therapist?

The student may or may not be seen by the school-based therapist; service priorities are determined by the tiers of intervention & severity of mental health concerns. Students with no counselling coverage through benefits are typically triaged to a higher priority. If you have coverage for counselling services, you are asked to seek out external services. This allows students with no coverage to receive school-based services. 

Coverage for counselling can include (but not limited to):

*Employee & Family Assistance Programs (EAP, EAFP)

*Insurance coverage

*Employer benefits / wellness funds

*Reimbursement through Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD)

*Supports for Permanency (re: adoption & private guardianship)

*Non-Insured Health Benefits Program

* Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support 

*Children-in-Care (i.e., foster care, kinship care, etc.) 

The therapist will assess the suitability of school-based mental health services. 

School-based mental health services are often short in nature, if your child requires longer-term, or intensive treatment, the school therapist can consult with you on other resources better suited.

Online & Phone Counselling Services 

If phone or online counselling, or online consulting services are needed with the student’s therapist, the therapist can utilize a mobile phone, landline phone &/or video to accommodate the student. Online & phone counselling is not recommended be used as a crisis service for students with thoughts of suicide, acute mental health issues, & / or a risk to themselves or others.