From the Counselling Team
St Pius X College Chatswood
- The Significant Role of Fathers
- Free Mental Health & Wellbeing Webinars
- Counselling Team Information
The Significant Role of Fathers
Children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing is enhanced when fathers take a strong interest in their development and learning.
When fathers feel good about being a dad, and are sensitive and responsive to children’s needs, this contributes to children and young people’s development of social and emotional learning skills.
Children thrive on the feelings of belonging and affection that come from caring and supportive families. Whether families have one parent or two, include step-parents, grandparents or other carers, they can build strong, positive relationships that support children’s mental health.
A father is a male parent or carer of a child
A father may not be biologically related to his child or live with his child all the time. Some children have contact with a father, while others don’t. He may be a grandfather, step-father, foster father or adoptive father of a child. Some children might have more than one father or relationships with other males who undertake a significant portion of parenting.
There is no ‘right’ way to be a father
Each father brings unique ideas and experience to being a supportive adult, and has a lot to contribute to the mental health and wellbeing of his child and family. Supporting a child and having their best interests in mind is what’s important, as this has a positive impact on their mental health and wellbeing.
Mrs Joe McCarthy - Psychologist and College Counsellor
Free Mental Health and Wellbeing Webinars
KYDS Youth Development Service is offering the following free mental health webinars for families and young people:
- Deep Listening: How to communicate effectively with teenagers
- What, how and why: How to regain motivation and build momentum after lockdown
- Mental Stealth: The seven secrets of stress management
- Parenting a Screenager: How to help your child develop a healthier relationship with technology
For more details, please see the attached document.
College Counselling Team
The College Counselling Team are available to provide confidential emotional and social support and guidance for your son and family. For reference our College Counselling Team contact details are shown below.
Mr Rick Russo
Counsellor (Full time Monday to Friday) working with students across all year groups.
Email: rrusso@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
Direct Phone: 9414 4359
School Mobile (in case of emergency): 0418 438 325
Ms Joe McCarthy
Psychologist (2 days per week: Tuesday and Thursday) working with students across all year groups.
Email: jmccarthy@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
Direct Phone: 9414 4322
Mrs Judy Gill
Psychologist (2 days per week: Wednesday and Friday) working with students across all year groups.
Email: jgill@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
Direct Phone: 9414 4315
The Counselling Team, together with the Diverse Learning Team, look forward to providing CONFIDENTIAL support to assist your son to build his SELF CONFIDENCE / SELF ESTEEM AND RESILIENCE within a caring, supportive Catholic school community. Please do not hesitate to make contact with any of the above team should the need arise.
Mr Rick Russo - College Counsellor/Chaplaincy Services