MEET OUR GUIDANCE COUNSELLOR

Maryam nana
In-house guidance counsellor

I assist learners in their personal, social, and academic development.

The aim is to work towards our learners’ educational advancement.

GENERAL COUNSELLING

Addressing bullying, study habits, disabilities, substance abuse, peer pressure, low self-esteem, time management, academic performance, relationships, school adjustment, mild anxiety, behavior as well as short-term emotional and social problems.

Would this be a one on one session or group?

Counselling may be conducted for the individual learner or a small group of learners.

How will the sessions be conducted?

The guidance counsellor may only provide short- term counselling.

A learner will be referred to a psychologist or other required professional for further treatment if necessary.

CAREER GUIDANCE

Assessing learners’ aptitudes and career interests and help them to develop realistic academic and career goals

How is the assessment conducted?

The aptitude test and other career assessments may be conducted online with the express, written consent of the parent or guardian.

Which grades are the assessments conducted for?

Qurtuba Online Academy will be offering career assessment opportunities to Grade 9 learners and career guidance workshops to learners in the FET phase as well as IGCSE learners.

PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENTS

When children or adolescents have behavioral, academic, or emotional difficulties they may be referred for a psycho-educational assessment.

This assessment aims to measure an individual’s intellectual, scholastic, social-emotional development.

When would the psycho-educational assessment be necessary?

The learner is often referred for a psycho-educational assessment by a teacher or parent when:

  1. There are concerns that the learner is not performing to his or her potential, fluctuating academic performance, or shows little or no academic progress.
  2.  The learner’s teacher complains of behavioral difficulties, such as not listening, not concentrating, fidgetiness, daydreaming, causing trouble, causing social discomfort or struggles to accept discipline.
  3. The learner appears different to peers in behavior, communication, social interaction, cognitive and emotional functioning.
  4. The learner requires exam concessions or accommodations.

WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING

Plays a dual role: first, it emphasizes the learning of skills and strategies to cope with various emotional or academic challenges experienced in daily living and second, simultaneously facilitates psychological well-being.

How is the training conducted?

Psycho-education and training workshops will be conducted virtually as needed.

Service Request Form

Complete the Guidance Counsellor service request form

Email Service Request Form

Email the form to guidancecounsellor@qurtubaonline.co.za

Interview

The parent/guardian of the learner will then be contacted for an intake interview by the guidance counsellor

Sign Contract

Consent will be sought from the parent/guardian and a contract will be signed

Counselling/Assessment Begins

Only once consent is provided may counselling, support, or assessments begin

Feedback

Lastly, a feedback session will be held with the parent/guardian to explain the way forward, recommendations, or future actions to be taken

Is there a cost involved?

While certain learning support services are offered at no additional cost to the parent/guardian, there are costs applicable to other services provided by the guidance counsellor. The “Guidance counsellor service request form” details the cost incurred by the parent/guardian for particular services rendered.

What are the legalities of a guidance counsellor?

Guidance Counsellors adhere to a structured ethical framework as outlined by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). Counselling services may only be offered with the express written consent of the parent/guardian of the learner.

Online counselling sessions may only be offered to a learner if it is found to be in their best interest. The guidance counsellor would take all reasonable, precautionary efforts to protect and maintain the confidentiality of data/ information relating to their clients. Further details on maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of clients will be explained and contracted with the parent/guardian and/or learner.   

What should an individual do if they are having a mental health emergency and require immediate assistance?

You may not be able to contact the guidance counsellor for urgent assistance if she is in a session with another client, is experiencing technical difficulty or is out-of-office etc. Therefore, if you are having a mental health emergency and require immediate assistance, please contact an available mental health resource/service:

LifeLine: 0861 322 322

Childline: 0800 055 555

SADAG Mental Health Line: 011 234 4837

The Counselling Hub: 021 462 3902 / 067 235 0019 (Operating hours- Monday to Friday: 8:00 to 16:30)

Islamic Careline: 011 373 8080

(Operating hours- Monday to Thursday: 9:00-16:00 and Friday: 09:00-12:00)

Or search for :  Helplines, Suicide Hotlines, and Crisis-Lines from around the world https://www.therapyroute.com/article/helplines-suicide-hotlines-and-crisis-lines-from-around-the-world