CELEBRATING NICOLA DOUGHTY
Nicola Doughty has brought warmth, wisdom, and deep care to her role as a counsellor at Crofton House School. Since joining the School four years ago, she has strengthened the counselling team’ s presence, making student well-being a visible and active part of daily life— whether in classrooms, Manrell Hall, the Senior School Library, or in passing hallway moments. She has also helped foster meaningful connections with families through Coffee Mornings and the Empowered Parent workshop series, creating supportive spaces for parents navigating the teenage years. Reflecting on her time at CHS, Ms Doughty highlights the relationships, shared values, and everyday interactions that have made the School feel like a place of warmth and belonging. Although she won’ t be on campus full-time, we are hoping to see Ms Doughty in the fall to continue to support learning opportunities for parents!
HOW HAS YOUR ROLE AND THE COUNSELLING DEPARTMENT EVOLVED DURING YOUR TENURE?
Over the four years I have been at CHS, my counselling colleagues and I have worked hard to decrease the stigma that often accompanies talking about mental health. We took the approach of increasing visibility. During our first year, we decided to appear in as many student-centred spaces as possible— classrooms, the dining hall, the library, random hallway spaces— and connect to what students needed. As a result, the evolution of our department has included a wide variety of ways in which we, as a team, integrate social-emotional learning and related aspects of positive mental health.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST REWARDING PART OF SUPPORTING STUDENTS’ PERSONAL GROWTH AND RESILIENCE OVER THE YEARS?
The most rewarding part of supporting students’ personal growth and resilience comes from the students sharing their engagement in their own lives: their newfound perspectives, strengthened confidence, and decisions to take risks by being vulnerable in new experiences or relationships. It is particularly rewarding to witness a student take something from a session together and run with it on their own.
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT OR A PROJECT YOU’ RE PARTICULARLY HAPPY TO HAVE BEEN PART OF?
I am most proud of our team’ s work to increase connection with families. Given the high attendance at our Coffee Mornings, it is clear that parents are hungry for information that helps them create deeper, positive relationships with their teens. To become a bridge for adolescents and their parents is incredibly meaningful. Facilitating the Empowered Parent workshop series meant helping to create a community of parents who know that they can find support within the CHS network in ways they may not have felt confident enough to turn to.
WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF“ COUNSELLOR WISDOM” YOU HOPE STUDENTS CARRY WITH THEM INTO THE WORLD?
Your future is important, but so is Tuesday afternoon.
Learn how to change your mind without losing yourself.
Most mistakes are survivable. A surprisingly high number will be very useful.
And remember, almost everyone is weirder, kinder, and more worried than they appear.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOUR STUDENTS AND COLLEAGUES REMEMBER MOST ABOUT THEIR TIME WITH YOU?
I hope that students and my colleagues remember that we laughed as we worked hard, and that the best part of figuring things out is doing it together.
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