CounsellingCounselling Team at MLC work with girls from Pre-Kinder to Year 12, counselling students with learning difficulties and/or social-emotional problems that may impact upon their learning. Liaising with Pastoral Care staff, the counsellors also spend time working with teaching teams to implement whole school policies such as Child Protection and Student Welfare and to develop programs to ensure that our girls feel safe and happy at school. A positive psychology approach to various issues, which has included coaching, has been taken with many students. In 2007 the counsellors have worked with teachers in a joint project with The University of Sydney. The process of workplace coaching strives to develop teachers’ leadership capacity and to increase their insight into the impact of their interactions on colleagues and significant others in their lives. The counsellors have worked with a number of House groups running relaxation and meditation sessions which have been particularly welcomed in times of high stress such as the lead up to exams. The utilization of stress-reducing techniques has been shown to be beneficial in improving psychological and physical health and lifestyle awareness and brings us closer to the ideal of an holistic, integrated approach to caring for our girls. The School Counsellors also work closely with the Gifted and Talented Co-coordinator and the team of teachers working with these students to assist in accurate assessment and the interview process. The counsellors also work with the Director of Pastoral Care to put together a series of Parent Forums held once a term in the evenings as part of the Parents and Friends Association Meetings. The counsellors also advise on Parent Groups and Associations who may be running courses or seminars of interest to our community and these are communicated through news@mlc.
Coaching for LifeOver the past two years MLC School has been fostering student and staff well being through the vehicle of coaching. Solution focused coaching develops an understanding of one’s life purpose, which then can be transformed into realistic goals and values. Such a skill is invaluable at any age. During 2005, a research study was conducted in conjunction with Drs Suzy Green and Anthony Grant, from The University of Sydney. Interested Year 11 students were coached by trained Teacher-as-Coaches for ten weekly sessions and focused on a school-related goal and a personal goal. The results of the research show that life coaching was associated with significant increases in levels of cognitive hardiness and hope and significant decreases in depression. The program continued in 2006. During Term 2, Year 11 students will again be offered the opportunity to be involved in Life Coaching. Year 11 is an ideal target group given their capacity for decision making and the many choices they face. In addition to this continued focus on student coaching, the School is participating in a world-first research study into the numerous benefits of work place coaching for those employed in the education sector. This research with Sydney University’s Coaching Psychology Unit investigates the impact of coaching support on one’s mental health, goal attainment, resilience and wellbeing. Recently, MLC has been selected to present a workshop at the Alliance of Girls’ Schools Conference, June 2007, on the power of coaching to enhance resilience and wellbeing. Ms Barbara Rumble |
