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.
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.
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.
Camryn Scott
I grew up in Australia, where I completed my training and registration as a psychologist before making the move to Queenstown at the start of 2026. What was originally planned as a one-year stint has turned into staying a bit longer - unsurprisingly, the incredible landscape and lifestyle here completely hooked me!
I love working within a school setting because it offers a unique opportunity to connect with young people who might otherwise never access counselling support. I really enjoy the challenge of working with this stage of development and being there for students during such pivotal years. My approach is grounded in evidence-based, strengths-focused modalities, with an emphasis on providing tools that are practical, accessible, and effective.
Outside of school, you’ll find me making the most of what Queenstown has to offer: snowboarding through the winter months, and spending summer hiking, camping, or swimming.
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.
