School Counsellors are available to help you with personal or academic problems that need more help than the Teacher Advisor can give. If you want to change, drop or add a course, you must make an appointment in advance to see a School Counsellor. School Counsellors can also assist with post-secondary planning and transition.
Esquimalt High School’s Counsellors are:
- Allyson Hoffman: ahoffman@sd61.bc.ca
- Lisa Baylis: lbaylis@sd61.bc.ca
First Nations Counsellors can assist aboriginal students with personal and academic issues:
- Rachel Trebilco: rtrebilco@sd61.bc.ca
Youth and Family Counsellors are available to support students with personal issues.
- Bob Beattie: bbeattie@sd61.bc.ca
- Deanna Skinner: dskinner@sd61.bc.ca
- Laurel MacKay: lmackay@sd61.bc.ca
Scheduling an Appointment
Students: To request a counselling appointment students must fill out a counselling request form, available in the counselling area. Students will be informed of their appointment time via email or through message in the school’s main office. Counsellors make very effort to see students during elective blocks.
Parents/Guardians: To request a counselling appointment call the school’s main office at 250-382-9226 or email one of the counsellors listed above directly.
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.
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
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.