St Joseph's College,Summerhill

The Guidance Counsellor cares for the student in all-encompassing holistic manner in keeping with the ethos of the school, striving to increase the students self-esteem, confidence and achievement in all areas of school life.

As the student prepares for subject choices at Senior Level, the Guidance Counsellor organises and administers Differential Aptitude Tests (DATs). The guidance dept will give a presentation to parents at a special evening organised to explain the choices available at this level to children, i.e. the transition year option and subject choice for fifth year, LCA & LCVP. The Guidance Counsellor is available to meet students and parents on a one-to-one level to discuss individual cases in the strictist of confidence.
During Careers classes at Senior Level, a programme of talks by experts in various fields is organised by the Guidance Counsellor. There is openness and a commitment to accept all students and a warm invitation is extended to any parent to talk to and work with the guidance dept for the well-being and healthy development of the student.

Counselling helps students to explore their thoughts and feelings, and the choices open to them; giving care and support to students learning to cope with the many aspects of growing up.