While we encourage educators to facilitate all activities (which range from 25 to 50 minutes to complete), we do understand that making the time can be difficult. There is thus no obligation to have completed any or all the activities before participating in a session with the counsellor. Prior to your session, if you let us know that you were unable to complete the lessons, we can direct you to shorter resources (a tip sheet, for example) that you can use to prepare the class so that you can still make the most of your time with the counsellor. You are also welcome to use any of the activities as a follow-up instead!
Are you an educator? Check out Counsellor in the Classroom!
Kids Help Phone’s Counsellor in the Classroom Program promotes the discussion of mental health and well-being among young people. It’s available to students in Grades 4 through 12 across Canada. Classes that participate will learn about mental health, Kids Help Phone’s services and how / where to seek support. If you’re an educator for students in Grades 4 through 12 in Canada, keep reading for more information about the program and register today!
I absolutely loved the program and the teaching materials. The students found the content enjoyable and we had many great discussions as a class within each lesson. I have recommended this service to many other educators and I appreciate all the information provided.
— Participating educator, June 2023
What are the goals of the Counsellor in the Classroom Program?
The program is divided into two parts. The first part includes classroom activities led by the educator. The second part includes a 45-minute phone or video call conversation between the class and one of Kids Help Phone’s professional counsellors. The program goals will help students:
- gain a better understanding of mental health
- identify how / where they can seek support
- make a plan for how they can get help if they need it
- feel more confident in seeking support
The students were really engaged with the counsellor in the classroom. I think it helped that they were able to ask a lot of questions and understand how the whole process works, what types of calls they get and things like that. They all said that they would feel comfortable calling after our sessions with the counsellor.
— Participating educator, January 2023
What happens after I register for the program?
Upon a confirmed registration in the program, educators will be invited to select a session date for their call with the counsellor and will receive a digital program package including:
- an educational resource booklet for the appropriate grade, including:
- lesson plans
- preparation activities on mental health, seeking support and addressing barriers
- optional extension activities
- debrief suggestions (e.g. what to do after the call with a counsellor, etc.)
- a glossary of terms for young people
- worksheets for youth
- an overview of Kids Help Phone’s services
- digital promotional materials
[…] being from a small, rural school, the students were amazed that they were able to connect with someone a province away, and in a huge city. The counsellor answered all of their questions, no matter how big or small, and I feel like the students felt valued.
— Participating educator, May 2023
What happens during the phone call with a counsellor?
Here’s what you and your students can expect during the session with a counsellor:
- The counsellor will begin by talking about Kids Help Phone, our services and the youth we support.
- The counsellor will prompt a conversation about why it’s hard to seek help sometimes, especially about an emotional or mental health issue.
- The counsellor may speak to common questions they’ve been asked by young people in previous sessions.
- The call will be opened up to the classroom for questions.
Where can I register for the Counsellor in the Classroom Program?
Thank you for your interest in Kids Help Phone’s Counsellor in the Classroom Program! Kids Help Phone is able to offer this program to public schools and communities across Canada through the generous support of funders. The program is best suited to students in Grades 4 through 12, and there are a limited number of sessions each year. Registration doesn’t always guarantee a session, as we depend on funding and availability.
Please note your class may be placed on a waitlist. Once you’ve completed your registration form, a member of the Counsellor in the Classroom Team will be in touch to confirm availability. Thank you!
You can fill out the form below to submit a registration for the Counsellor in the Classroom Program!
Frequently Asked Questions
Kids Help Phone’s Counsellor in the Classroom program promotes the discussion of mental health and well-being among young people. It is a free program available to students in Grades 4 through 12 across Canada!
Curriculum & Resources
Students are free to ask any questions about Kids Help Phone, how to find resources, how they can go about asking for help, what it’s like to be a counsellor and any questions about mental health, well-being and self-care. The only reminder we ask educators to share with their students is that while students will be meeting with a counsellor, this is not a counselling session; so, to protect their privacy, the questions cannot be personal to the student or include any sensitive information. When brainstorming questions, educators are asked to explain to students that the questions should be broad (for example, instead of asking about one’s own anxiety attacks, students can phrase it to be a general inquiry about resources for those who have anxiety). Should students want to discuss specific, personal issues, they should be encouraged to connect with a trusted adult in their school / community and/or to call / text Kids Help Phone themselves.
Technology & Logistics
It is best for you to set up the video conference link yourself and share it with us, as there may be school board and school-specific restrictions with certain videoconference platforms that can make schools unable to join the session if the counsellor is the host of the meeting. For that reason, we ask you to set up the meeting link through your accounts and platforms to ensure a seamless connection and session.
The best set-up for your class would be one where the students can both see and hear the counsellor AND the counsellor can both see and hear your class (for example, with the counsellor projected on to a screen and the camera / microphone on your class). When the counsellor can see and hear the students, it makes it easier for them to gauge how engaged the students are and helps them adapt to your students’ needs. Importantly, testing the set-up for your class prior to the session would be beneficial to ensure that there are no last-minute connectivity or technical problems. Of course, if this is not possible, our counsellors are flexible and great sessions can also happen over the phone!
Scheduling
We have a limit of 50 students per session. Due to the nature of mental health conversations, it is best for the number of students to be smaller, both so that the students feel more comfortable asking questions and speaking openly, and so that the counsellor has the time to hear and answer their questions. Because of this, we do not offer one session for the entire school, but we’re happy to set-up multiple sessions (either by grade, or by class depending on student body size) so that everyone can benefit and have a chance to speak with the counsellor.
Absolutely! We strive to make sure that the program materials and sessions are welcoming and inclusive, and so we would be more than happy to hear about any student(s) and accommodation to make adjustments, if possible. The counsellor who facilitates the session for your students will also be informed so that the class discussion and call take into consideration your students’ needs.
For any questions, concerns, or last-minute adjustments, please connect with the Counsellor in the Classroom team via email: [email protected]
