Guidance and Counselling aims to build a structure of professional knowledge and career skills on foundations already acquired by students.

Overview of Roles in Whole School Guidance

Guidance Counsellor

Provides leadership in school guidance and has an expert role in a number of areas: Personal/Social, Educational, and Career Guidance.

Principal

Arranges appropriate conditions for successful school guidance

Subject Teachers

Advise students on subject specialisms and mentor individual students. Involved in the pastoral care of each student.

Class teachers

A specialist role in the pastoral care of students in a particular class. Provides assistance to parents.

Year Heads

A specialist role of responsibility for a particular group of classes. Along with the form-teachers, these play an import role in the personal development of students in the school and monitor discipline.

Learning Support/SPHE/PE Teachers

An important role in personal development of the student.

Parents

The primary educator and still the most influential when it comes to career choice.

Students

Identify their own guidance needs

Management

Must ensure ‘Appropriate Guidance’ (Section 9c Education Act) is provided.

Career Guidance and Counselling

Career Guidance and Counselling is at the heart of our Pastoral Care System at Colaíste Chríost Rí.  Our Guidance Counsellors have a caring and supportive role in the school where students can get advice and supports about a range of issues.   From relationships to study skills and family difficulties to college advice and information, the Guidance Counsellor is on hand to meet with students in a confidential environment where they can be cared for and supported throughout their time in the school. 

Counselling helps pupils explore their thoughts and feelings and the choices open to them. It gives care and support to pupils learning to cope with the many aspects of growing up and school life and with their individual personal circumstances. Colaíste Chríost Rí endeavours to offer a comprehensive guidance and counselling service to all our students. The Guidance Counsellors liaise with HSCL, Year Heads, Class Teachers, Learning Support Teachers, School Chaplain, Subject Teachers, Deputy Principal and Principal. They also have regular contact with parents, psychologists, employers, colleges, social services, counsellors and the Department of Education

The Career Guidance and Counselling Departure within Colaíste Chríost Rí provides support for all students in three main areas:

–  Personal and Social Guidance
–  Educational Guidance
–  Career and Vocational Guidance

Click to access the Coláiste Chríost Rí Career Guidance Portal.

Guidance and Counselling Dept. Resource List of Agencies

Professional help is available through a broad range of supports and services including:

On Line service: www.yourmentalhealth.ie is a resource where you can find information on mental health and on a broad range of supports and services across the country.

A doctor: Find a local family doctor (G.P.) or a health centre by visiting the HSE.ie online service finder. G.P.s are also listed under ‘General Practitioners’ in the Golden Pages. A GP will be able to give you information about the range of supports that are available in your area.

Hospital services: Go to the Emergency Department of your nearest general hospital if you believe the person is in immediate danger. Hospitals are listed on the HSE.ie online service finder. You can also contact the emergency services by calling 999 or 112.

H.S.E. Mental health services: If you have been supported by a mental health team, you can make contact with them directly. If not, you can get a referral through your GP.

SuicideAware.ie : Confidential counselling support 087-7998602

Listening Service 24 hours a day, emotional support

Samaritans
Free helpline: 116 123
Samaritans is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone struggling to cope. For confidential, non-judgemental support please call 116 123 in the Republic of Ireland or 08457 90 90 90 in Northern Ireland, email jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.ie for details of the nearest branch.

Childline
Free helpline: 1800 666 666
Online Chat: www.childline.ie
Teentxt service: text the word “Talk” to 50101
Childline provides a free and confidential listening service to children and young people up to the age of 18. The Childline helpline is open every day, 24 hours a day and Childline Online Chat is open every day 10am – 10pm.

Self-harm support:

Pieta House
Find your closest branch: www.pieta.ie/index.php/contact-us
Email: mary@pieta.ie
Pieta House offers specialised treatment to clients who self-harm, suffer from suicidal ideation or have made multiple suicide attempts. Clients receive an intensive programme of one-to-one counselling lasting about four to six weeks. Pieta House is a non-profit organisation and the service is free of charge.

Money and debt management support:

MABS Helpline: 0761 07 2000 (Monday-Friday, 9am – 8pm)
Local MABS offices: www.mabs.ie/contact-mabs/
The Money and Budgeting Service (MABS) is a free and confidential service for people in debt or in danger of getting into debt. Advisers can give you advice and support on many money management and debt issues, and can also provide you with MABS self-help materials free of charge.

Public services:

Citizen’s Information
Information Phone Service: 0761 07 4000 (Monday- Friday, 9am to 8pm)
Mortgage Arrears Information Helpline: 0761 07 4050 (Monday – Friday, 9.30am to 5pm)
Provides comprehensive information on all aspects of public services and entitlements for citizens in Ireland.

General mental health support:

Grow
Infoline: 1890 474 474
GROW is a mental health organisation which helps people who have suffered, or are suffering, from mental health problems.

https://www.shine.ie/Shine
Information helpline: 1890 621 631 (Monday- Friday, 9am to 4pm)
Email support: phil@shineonline.ie
Shine supports people with mental ill health and their families and friends. The information helpline provides general information, a listening ear and specific information about Shine services. Emails received by phil@shineonline.ie are viewed and responded to by trained psychotherapists, within a 24 hour period between Monday and Friday. The service is confidential.

Turn2Me
Turn2Me provides moderated peer support forums, online support groups, access to Thought Catcher – a mood measuring tool – and one to one online counselling.

MyMind
My Mind provides a range of community mental health services through around 50 mental health professionals, which includes an ‘e-psychology’ service. Online services include email exchange with health professionals and online counselling via Skype. My Mind emphasizes the limitations of online support for more serious mental health difficulties which they address on a face to face basis.

Aware
Helpline: 1890 303 302 (Monday–Sunday, 10am to 10pm)
Support email: wecanhelp@aware.ie
Aware is a national voluntary organisation providing support through depression. Aware provides provide face-to-face, phone and online support for individuals who are experiencing mild to moderate depression, as well as friends and families who are concerned for a loved one.

MentalHelp.ie
MentalHelp.ie is an online directory run by Mental Health Reform (M.H.R.), the national coalition of organisations promoting improved mental health services. The directory brings together the services and supports offered by M.H.R.’s member organisations and includes information on helplines and websites, support groups and training, benefits and housing, inpatient care and counselling, complaints and advocacy, rights and recovery.

3Ts Self Help eLibrary Resource
3Ts have produced a series of self-help booklets in conjunction with the NHS that are available to download for free and are intended to serve as a ‘first step’ towards recovery across a broad range of topics that effect mental health. Each booklet is accessible, easy to read and is 20 to 30 pages long, containing information, tips and techniques for coping and managing the particular issue. There is sign-posting to relevant resources & supports at the rear of each booklet. They can be downloaded free from 3ts.ie, either to print or to view. There is also an audio option with the guide.

https://nurturehealth.ie/Nurture
Phone: 085-8619585
Email: info@nuturehealth.ie
Nurture is an Irish charity offering timely and affordable professional counselling and supports surrounding pregnancy and childbirth mental health illnesses & emotional wellbeing to women, their partners and families in Ireland. If you would like to make an appointment to talk to one of their counsellors please ring Nuture headquarters to arrange an appointment with a counsellor in your area.

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender support:

LGBT Helpline
Helpline: 1890 929 539
The LGBT Helpline is a national support service providing confidential, non-judgmental, support and information to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people and their families and friends. The LGBT Helpline is run through a network of local helpline centres by trained volunteers.

Abuse / domestic violence support:

AMEN
Helpline: 046 9023718 (Monday-Friday, 9am – 5pm)
AMEN provides a confidential helpline and support service, and information, for male victims of domestic abuse.

Women’s Aid
Free Helpline: 1800 341 900 (10am-10pm every day of the year, except Christmas day)
Women’s Aid is a voluntary organisation offers free and confidential support to women and their children who are experiencing domestic violence in the Republic of Ireland.

Children at Risk in Ireland (CARI)
Helpline: 1890 924 567 (Monday – Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm)
The CARI Helpline (Lo Call 1890 924 567) is a specialised, confidential national service. The CARI Helpline advisors respond to calls from professionals seeking referral advice and parents who have just received the devastating news that one of their children has suffered sexual abuse or they are concerned about their child’s sexualised behaviour.

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre
National helpline: 1800 77 88 88 (24 hours a day, 365 days a year)
The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre is a national organisation offering a wide range of services to women and men who are affected by rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment or childhood sexual abuse. The services include a national 24-hour helpline, one to one counselling, court accompaniment, outreach services, training, awareness raising and lobbying.

Advocacy support:

Irish Advocacy Network
Phone: 047 38918
Email: admin@irishadvocacynetwork.com
The Irish Advocacy Network has peer advocates in place in most H.S.E. areas in Ireland, north and south, who regularly attend acute units and day centres. Their main job is to give support and information to people with mental health difficulties by befriending them and offering a confidential listening ear or peer advocacy.

Drug, alcohol and addiction support:

Drugs.ie
Drugs.ie provides Ireland’s only online interactive information and support chat service – the drugs.ie LiveHelp service. Drugs.ie also houses a national database of treatment & rehabilitation, information & support, counselling, education & training services.

H.S.E. Drugs and Alcohol Helpline
Helpline: 1800 459 459
Email support: helpline@hse.ie
The HSE Drugs & Alcohol Helpline provides support, information, guidance and referral to anyone with a question or concern related to drug and alcohol use and/or HIV and sexual health. The service is confidential, non-judgemental and offers space to talk about your situation, to explore some options and to consider your needs. During calls/ emails, staff refer to a database of over 400 services nationwide. Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9.30am and 5.30pm

Support for eating disorders:

Bodywhys
National helpline: 1890 200 444
Email support: alex@bodywhys.ie
Bodywhys is the national eating disorder association of Ireland. They provide a variety of supports for people affected by eating disorders. Helpline 1890 200 444, email support: alex@bodywhys.ie, online support groups, and face to face support groups in Dublin, Carlow and Sligo.

Legal Aid & entitlements:

FLAC
Information and referral line: 1890 350 250 (Monday- Thursday, 9am to 5:30pm and Friday, 9am to 5pm)
FLAC is an independent legal rights organisation offering basic legal information and advice to the public. FLAC offers first-stop legal information to the public via its telephone information and referral line.

Support for children and young people:

ReachOut.com
ReachOut.com helps young people get through tough times. By providing quality mental health information and covering issues that can impact our mental health, ReachOut.com takes the mystery out of mental health.

SpunOut.ie
The website, SpunOut.ie, carries a range of health information for young people, including mental health, sexual health, exam stress and general lifestyle information. SpunOut also has an extensive online directory allowing site visitors to search for supports and services in their area.

Rainbows Ireland
Find Rainbows services in your area: www.rainbowsireland.ie/where-is-rainbows/
Rainbows Ireland supports children and young people experiencing loss as a result of bereavement, parental separation and divorce. This support is provided to small groups of similar age and loss experience over a twelve week programme. The programme is available in local communities – primary and secondary schools, family resource centres, Diocesan centres, youth projects. It is a free service to children and young people.

HeadsUp service
Text HEADSUP to 50424
HeadsUp provides information and support to young people. The HeadsUp services include HeadsUp Text which is a free and confidential 24-hour text service, providing young people with details of a range of helplines and support services by simply texting HEADSUP to 50424. The HeadsUp website provides information, real life stories and a Cognitive Behaviour Therapy based online skills section.

Family and parent supports:

https://onefamily.ie/One Family
Helpline: 1890 662 212 (Helpline hours are listed on the One Family website here.)
Support email: info@onefamily.ie
One Family provides a national lo-call helpline service for all members of one-parent families and those who share parenting, their families and friends, and professionals working with them.

ReachOutParents.com
The ReachOutParents.com website provides reliable information for parents about supporting young people’s mental health and well-being.

Children in Hospital Ireland
Information line: LoCall 1890 25 26 82
Email: info@childreninhospital.ie
Children in Hospital Ireland (CHI) is a voluntary organisation committed to promoting and ensuring the welfare of all children in hospital and their families.

Parentline
Helpline: LoCall 1890 927277 (Monday – Thursday, 10am to 9.30pm and Friday, 10am to 4.30pm)
Parentline provides a completely confidential helpline for parents and guardians, providing support, guidance and information on all aspects of being a parent.

Support older persons

Senior Helpline: 1800 804591 (Every day, 10am to 10pm)
Senior Help Line is a confidential listening service for older people by trained older volunteers for the price of a local call anywhere in Ireland.