The Haliburton High School Counselling Clinic

The High School Clinic is a service that is offered in Haliburton Highlands Secondary School through Point in Time.  A counsellor is available three days a week to meet with high school students who may be facing or dealing with mental health issues or other concerns, and who would benefit from speaking with a counsellor. This is a safe confidential service where young people have access to a caring professional. This clinic provides a confidential drop in service during breaks and lunch periods, as well as provides individual sessions to clients on a weekly or bi-weekly schedule. The clinic is open in the school three days a week: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30am until 3:00pm. Students are encouraged to self-refer, but parents, school personnel and other Community Partners can contact Point in Time to refer students, with the student’s consent.

Students can seek counselling for many different reasons. Some examples of how counselling can help are dealing with school stress, family stress, exam anxiety, peer pressure and social/relationship stress as well as any mental health concerns; for example, depression and anxiety. Our staff work collaboratively with school personnel to support the youth within the school environment. The clinic is primarily available for brief counselling services; however, if there is a need for long-term counselling an internal referral can be made within Point in Time to another worker. Youth over the age of 12 years can consent to their own counselling and crisis services and as a result confidentiality is highly regarded and maintained, unless the matter is serious and needs to be reported by law.