Esquimalt High School’s Counsellors are available to help you with personal or academic problems.
We have SCHOOL BASED COUNSELLORS and YOUTH and FAMILY counsellors. They have two similar but distinct roles.
School based counsellors do personal counselling, post secondary and career advising and course planning. Youth and Family counsellors do personal and family counselling.
Schedule an appointment
To request an appointment with a counsellor go to bit.ly/ESQcounselling or email the counsellor directly.
School-based counsellors for personal counselling, course changes and postsecondary advising:
- Vanessa Quast: vquast@sd61.bc.ca Monday to Friday
- Christine Golder: cgolder@sd61.bc.ca Monday, Tuesday (AM), Wednesday
International Student Advising
- Tim Zemanek: tzemanek@sd61.bc.ca
Youth and Family Counsellors personal and family counselling (not course changes):
- Laurel MacKay: lmackay@sd61.bc.ca Tuesday and Thursday
- Bob Beattie: bbeattie@sd61.bc.ca Monday to Wednesday
- Brianne Mendes: bmendes@sd61.bc.ca Tuesday to Friday
- Genevieve Carriere: gcarriere@sd61.bc.ca Wednesday and Thursday
Students: You can book an appointment by bit.ly/ESQcounselling or email a counsellor directly. Counsellors make every effort to see students during elective blocks or non-instructional time.
Parents/Guardians: To request a counselling appointment you can email one of the counsellors listed above directly, or call the school’s main office at 250-382-9226. If you have a Gmail account, you may use the link on this page to access our Google request form.
Helpful Websites
Looking for information about physical, emotional and mental health for youth? Check out these useful links:
- Greater Victoria’s Online Youth Portal www.youthcore.ca: This site provides numerous information and useful links for youth.
- www.bcfit.org: Divorce, separation and custody disputes.
- Where to call for Help Brochure 2018-2019
General Health
- Island Sexual Health Society www.islandsexualhealth.org: Information about birth control and safe sex.
- www.youthspace.ca: Online support chat room for youth.
Mental Health
- Canadian Mental Health Association www.cmha.ca.
- Resources for Responding to Trauma and Tragedy: Edutopia collection of resources
- www.psychosissucks.ca: Provides information about psychosis.
- www.openthedoors.com: Provides information about schizophrenia.
- BC Schizophrenia Society www.reachoutpsychosis.com: includes a parent education component.
- www.keltymentalhealth.ca: Mental Health Resource and organization
- Mood Disorders Association of British Columbia www.mdabc.net
- Mind Your Mind http://mindyourmind.ca/ A Canadian website for youth by youth providing resources to help manage stress, and mental health issues. Includes personal stories, coping tools, music and a blog.
- Mind Check http://www.mindcheck.ca/ A Canadian website focused on prevention and early intervention of mental health challenges in youth. Contains information, quizzes and resources.
- Victoria Suicide Prevention Booklet_youth
- Where to call for Help Brochure 2018-2019
Anxiety
- Anxiety Disorders Association www.anxietybc.com
- AnxietyBC Youth http://www.youth.anxietybc.com/: Information on common problem related to anxiety, cognitive behavioural therapy, sleep strategies, tools, stories, videos and resources.
- Anxiety Disorders Association of Canada http://anxietycanada.ca/english/youth/index.htm Information on anxiety disorders, those affected, treatment options, and how to help oneself or a friend.
- KidsHealth http://kidshealth.org/teen | Search for “anxiety” A US-based website providing general health and healthy living information for kids, teens, and parents, including information on causes, related issues, coping skills, and more.
- Teen Mental Health http://teenmentalhealth.org/understanding-mental-health/mental-disorders A Canadian website with evidence-based information on teen mental health, including anxiety. The site has a number of videos explaining different types of anxiety.