Guidance Support

Confidentiality
There are a number of guidelines relating to confidentiality and practice that the Guidance Counsellors must adhere to.

Counsellors may need to talk through how best to support students. At times this could include involving someone else, but this will only occur with the student’s knowledge and permission. However, when a student or someone else is at risk, counsellors may not keep confidentiality, because their duty is to prevent harm. If at all possible they will talk this through with the student before acting.

Confidentiality Guidelines

Appointments
There are three main ways you can see a counsellor:

1. If it is urgent, students can go to Student Services and ask to see a counsellor at any time.
2. Students can fill out the self-referral form below to make an appointment, or talk to a teacher or dean, who can then make a referral.
3. A parent/ caregiver can contact the guidance counsellors directly by emailing [email protected]
   

Self Referral Form

Vicki Patton
I have been a school Guidance Counsellor for quite a few years both at Wakatipu High School and at Cromwell College.  I was a teacher before that.  I have two teenage children who have attended WHS.  I love yoga and being in the outdoors, either walking or riding.  I really appreciate the beautiful place we live in here.  I am full time here at school. 

I really enjoy the variety of all that comes from working in a high school.  It is a privilege to work with, and be trusted by, our young people at school, their whānau and the community.

Sam King
​Kia ora! I have been at Wakatipu High School since 2020, and in my time here have been a Health and Physical Education Teacher and Dean at our kura. It is an absolute privilege to work alongside and support our students, staff and whānau as a part of our awesome guidance team, and it is something I have a passion for.

I am currently working as both a teacher and member of the guidance team and am working towards completing my Master of Counselling. I take an intentional approach to counselling practice, drawing upon the Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) modality as the grounding and framework for this. 

Queenstown is an awesome place to live, and when I’m not at school I enjoy snowboarding, basketball and making the most of the beautiful place we live with my family.

Kat Denniston
I've been working part time at Wakatipu High for a few years now, but I have been working as a counsellor for a really long time. I am at WHS on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and still work as a counsellor in private practice the rest of the week. Before moving to Queenstown, I worked in the drug and alcohol and general mental health field, and did some work in the prisons. 

​I am loving being part of the school community (as both a staff member and a parent) and I really enjoy working alongside our rangatahi as they negotiate their way through the, sometimes tricky, high school years.​

Lucy Ford
I am an ex-Wakatipu High School student and ex-English teacher - so I understand our school well. I am a firm believer that 'counsellors are like shoes - it is not a one size fits all approach', so I seek to build strong, trusting relationships and to work alongside the students I support. 

As a guidance counsellor, it is my privilege to be able to work collaboratively with students to identify their strengths and build on them, while also exploring areas where they may want to make changes. My aim is to provide a supportive, safe and non-judgmental space where we can explore emotions, overcome problems and set and work towards goals, one step at a time. I also work alongside the Wellbeing Council to support schoolwide wellbeing. 

​To relax, you will find me at the beach or out for a walk in this beautiful place we call home, or on a rainy day, with my nose in a good book.