Studying counselling to support young people

Larissa Jay is a teacher studying counselling, thanks to HealthCarePlus and its Grants for Good program, which is helping her support young people in new ways.

For Larissa Jay, the decision to study counselling was a natural progression after years in teaching. She’s now pursuing a counselling qualification that will enable her to support young people in the way her experience has been telling her they need.

A primary and secondary-trained teacher currently working with intermediate-aged students in Lincoln, near Ōtautahi Christchurch, Larissa is studying towards a Master’s in Counselling part-time through the University of Canterbury, with the support of HealthCarePlus and its Grants for Good program. Larissa has been drawn to this field of study for many years.

“Throughout my teaching career, building strong relationships with students has always been at the heart of my practice,” she says.

Over the years, students have shared their experiences, challenges and sometimes trauma, and so supporting their wellbeing gradually moved to the centre of how Larissa saw her role.

“As a teacher you have to refer these cases on, but I always thought, I wish I could help more,” she says. “Studying counselling is allowing me to develop the skills needed to provide that support in a more specialised way.”

Her studies this year have focused on motivation, behaviour change and the therapeutic approach of motivational interviewing. Discovering this evidence-based counselling modality was a turning point for Larissa. “I was fascinated by how Motivational Interviewing empowers people to find their own reasons for change,” she says. 

Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative, person-centred approach that helps individuals explore and resolve ambivalence about change through empathetic and purposeful conversations. The approach aligns closely with Larissa’s values, reinforcing the importance of active and reflective listening, and recognising that lasting change is most effective when it comes from within. “It takes a lot of practice,” she says. “You need to listen deeply and carefully, paying attention to what is being said as well as what may be sitting beneath the surface.”

That classroom-to-counselling thread now runs through everything she does. Alongside her studies and teaching, Larissa volunteers with Youthline as a manaaki connector, where she visits a local high school and supports rangatahi through connection and wellbeing initiatives. This practical experience complements her coursework and keeps her close to the young people she’s training to help.

By easing the financial pressure of university study, the HealthCarePlus Grants for Good program has freed Larissa to focus more fully on learning and professional growth while continuing to give back. “This grant represents opportunity,” she says. “It has reinforced my belief that investing in people creates positive outcomes for entire communities.”

Larissa’s long-term goal is to complete the Master’s degree in Counselling and find a role as a school counsellor, hence bringing her teaching experience and counselling qualification together.

“I hope this will make a meaningful difference in schools and communities, helping tamariki and rangatahi build resilience, navigate challenges and reach their full potential. I want to provide a safe space where they feel heard, valued and supported through life’s challenges.”  

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