Wise words with...

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  

Isaiah 41:10 

Schools are a hive of helpers. Teachers and learning support staff help students to learn and grow in knowledge and character. Administration staff help with the day-to-day running of a school. Maintenance staff help to keep buildings and grounds functioning and clean. Canteen staff help to bring nourishment to teachers, other staff and students. At NCS, our chaplaincy and other support staff help with spiritual growth and nurture of faith. Our students are encouraged to help each other and this is seen in as many ways as there are young people in this school.

Helping builds community – and understanding. Helping shows love . Helping empowers.

As counsellors, we are also helpers. Our role at NCS is to help students who are experiencing difficulties at school – with relationships, with motivation, with emotional pain or dysregulation, with personal situations that need navigating.

As a Christian school, we promote the truth that Jesus Christ can be trusted to be the ultimate helper whenever we are troubled. He knows us best and if we can be honest before Him and trust the work of the Holy Spirit, He will help us to grow in understanding of ourselves and help us to work through difficult situations. He includes people in this helping – equipping them with skills that are embedded in love, kindness, patience and resolve.

Our aim as Christian counsellors is to also be agents of Christ's help - to encourage, to challenge, to care for, to listen without judgement and to point in directions that might require more specialists help in terms of mental health and well-being.

We encourage all students and their families to seek help when faced with difficult circumstances. Seeing a school counsellor is a good first step in seeking help– especially in the sphere of mental health: worry, depression, anxiety, stress. School counsellors can help with outside referrals if this is desired or needed.

As counsellors we appreciate and understand that families are busy and often pushed for time. The very real pressure in our daily lives from work, bills, sickness and our many commitments can feel like we just can’t keep up. Making time for connection with our children can sometimes feel like an extra chore…Having intentional time with our children even 10 minutes a day where we stop and connect emotionally is shown to reduce mental illness. A big statement you may say? It is so simple we can miss it.

If you struggle to connect on an emotional level with your child we encourage you to make contact with the counselling team here at NCS.  We are here to support all our students and families.