At Immanuel Lutheran College, we are dedicated to creating a nurturing and supportive environment for all students. Our Primary School counselling services are designed to address a wide range of emotional, social, and academic concerns, providing comprehensive support to students and their families.

Our counsellors offer one-on-one sessions tailored to meet the specific needs of each student. These sessions provide a confidential space for children to express their feelings, work through difficulties, and develop coping strategies.

The Primary School Counselling service at Immanuel Lutheran College work closely with teachers, administrators, parents, and all members of the community to provide holistic support. By collaborating we ensure that counselling efforts are aligned with the student’s academic and social environments, fostering a cohesive support system. We believe that the whole person is the whole point, addressing the overall well-being of each student.

At Immanuel, our secondary school counselling service plays an important role in providing support to students facing a variety of challenges. We offer dedicated assistance for issues ranging from learning difficulties to navigating peer and family relationships, as well as addressing mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, worry, or feelings of isolation.

Our counsellors are integral members of the college wellbeing team, equipped with specialised expertise in mental health. Our counselling services are designed to empower students, fostering their personal growth and academic success while addressing their unique needs with empathy and professionalism.  This enables them to effectively help young people succeed across academic, social, behavioural and emotional domains.

Students in our secondary school can take initiative by self-referring and scheduling confidential sessions with our counsellors. This approach empowers students to seek help proactively within a supportive and confidential environment that respects their privacy and individual needs.

Paul O’Reilly, serving as a College Counsellor at Immanuel, brings a wealth of experience and qualifications to support secondary school students and their families. His professional journey includes roles as a primary school teacher and extensive work as a school counsellor across various P-12 schools in New South Wales.

Paul holds full registration with the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) as a teacher and is also registered with AHPRA as a psychologist (PSY0002414014). His approach to counselling is deeply student-centered, grounded in providing unconditional positive regard for each individual. His passion lies in helping young people manage and overcome social and emotional barriers that may impede their full engagement in schooling and hinder their potential for achievement.

In his practice, Paul employs a flexible blend of therapeutic approaches tailored to the specific needs of students. These include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and Brief Solution-Focused Interventions. This multifaceted approach allows him to effectively address a wide spectrum of mental health challenges that students may face.

At Immanuel, secondary students have the option to self-refer to see Paul as their college counsellor. Additionally, Paul warmly welcomes parents and guardians to reach out to discuss any concerns they may have regarding their child’s well-being and academic journey. His collaborative and compassionate approach underscores his commitment to fostering a supportive environment where students can thrive academically, emotionally, and socially. He can be contacted on Monday to Friday, during school hours on oreillyp@immanuel.qld.edu.au or call 5477 3444.