CISC Mentorship Programs
The CISC Mentorship Programs brings together members of the Canadian independent school counselling community for professional sharing. We offer two mentorship programs for our members.
The flagship Mentorship Program is for counsellors who are newer to the profession, to an independent school counselling office, and even to Canada. The Next Phase Mentorship Program is for experienced counsellors with 10+ years of experience to engage in peer coaching. The foundation of our Mentorship Programs is built on relationships, exchange of knowledge, sharing resources and networking.
Our programs are two-year programs which starts every two-years after the end of the CISC Bi-Annual Conference. The next cohorts will begin October 2025. Registration for Mentorship Programs will begin soon!
The flagship Mentorship Program is for counsellors who are newer to the profession, to an independent school counselling office, and even to Canada. The Next Phase Mentorship Program is for experienced counsellors with 10+ years of experience to engage in peer coaching. The foundation of our Mentorship Programs is built on relationships, exchange of knowledge, sharing resources and networking.
Our programs are two-year programs which starts every two-years after the end of the CISC Bi-Annual Conference. The next cohorts will begin October 2025. Registration for Mentorship Programs will begin soon!
In the CISC flagship Mentorship program, newer counsellors with less than five years of experience in their position and/or new to a counselling position within a Canadian independent school will be paired with experienced counsellors with a mimunum of five years of experience as a counsellor withinin an independent school in Canada.
Specifically, mentors will:
Program:
Specifically, mentors will:
- provide support and encouragement for counsellors transitioning into the counselling profession and/or an independent school counselling office
- provide support for professional growth and development
- share relevant resources with mentees
- be a positive, caring and reflective practitioner who shares past experiences and goals to assist mentees with their own professional goal-setting
- assist mentees in the development of their professional network, both wintin the CISC community and at-large
- promote thinking, analysis, problem-solving, and planning.
Program:
- Required Orientation Session
- Professional Growth Plan
- Monthly meetings between Mentor and Mentee
- Regular Check-ins via email
- In-Person Meeting at the Bi-Annual Conference near the end of the 2-year program
Mentors
Mentors are expected to have a minimum of five years experience as a counsellor within an independent school in Canada. Mentors will commit to mentoring their designated mentee for two years. Mentors will be selected by various criteria, including:
Mentee
The Mentorship Program is suggested for the counsellor who has:
Mentors are expected to have a minimum of five years experience as a counsellor within an independent school in Canada. Mentors will commit to mentoring their designated mentee for two years. Mentors will be selected by various criteria, including:
- School programme type (IB / AP, boarding) and size
- Geographic location (ensuring regional representation)
- Level of involvement in CISC, past CISC conferences and professional development, ingeneral
- Relative years of experience
Mentee
The Mentorship Program is suggested for the counsellor who has:
- been in their position for less than five years, or
- been limited in their professional growth and development, or
- is new to a counselling position within a Canadian independent school.
The Next Phase Mentorship Program connects experienced CISC counsellors (10+ years of experience) to engage in meaninful professional peer coaching. Like our Mentorship Program, the Next Phase is designed to be flexible to accommodate the interests of both participants while respecting their commitments to their respective jobs. In the Next Phase, counsellors will:
Program
- support peer wellness and work-life balance
- explore and encourage new professional growth and development opportunities including development of leadership and management skills
- exchange ideas and staying professionally relevant and inspired
- share helpful materials, handouts and other resources
Program
- Required Orientation Session
- Monthly meetings
- Regular Check-ins via email
- In-Person Meeting at the Bi-Annual Conference near the end of the 2-year program