Wellbeing

Wellbeing

Guiding students for today and tomorrow

We understand the importance of supporting the whole child, not only to achieve results academically, but also for social, emotional and physical wellbeing.

Supporting students' social and emotional needs is vital to ensuring long-term self-esteem and confidence in themselves. 

Through individual and group sessions, ISB guides students to make friendships, work in teams, deal with conflict, regulate emotions, develop empathy, compete fairly, respect others and value diversity. These are essential skills that will help them through their school years and beyond. 

Mental Health Awareness Week

 

Our Grade 10 students are engaging in a rotation of activities during PHE/Wellbeing lessons during Mental Health Awareness Week. 

Activities include:

  • Find your Flow
  • Chill Zone
  • Health-First Workshop
  • Counselor FAQs

Find out More

AGE-APPROPRIATE APPROACHES

focus areas

Meet our counsellors

A dedicated team of School Counsellors support the social and emotional wellbeing needs of all our students.

Steven Ayling

Steven Ayling

Titles: Middle School Counsellor
Locations: Fiechten
Biography:

Steve Ayling, originally from Birmingham, UK, earned his B.Ed. (Hons) in 1999 from Exeter University and his Masters (MSc) from the State University of New York in 2010.

He earned his Certification of International School Counselling through the Counsellor Training Center (CTC) Program and spent fifteen years at IS Manila, Philippines in both ES and MS classrooms prior to successfully transitioning into High School and then Junior School counselling.

Rebecca Bower

Rebecca Bower

Titles: Junior School Counsellor
Locations: Aesch
Biography:

Dr. Becca Bower is a UK trained Clinical Psychologist, who is registered to work with individuals experiencing mild - severe mental health difficulties across the lifespan.

Becca specialises in working with children, young people and their families, but has previously worked as a Clinical Psychologist in the UK National Health Service (NHS) within Maternity and Neonatal, Adult Mental Health and Intellectual Disability services.

Becca enjoys connecting with children and families, using a range of evidence based interventions to support wellbeing within a proactive early intervention framework.

Jillian Dingrando

Jillian Dingrando

Titles: Junior School Counsellor
Locations: Aesch
Biography:

Jillian has lived abroad for the last 14 years and is originally from Michigan, USA. She has 15 years of experience working in schools. She worked at International School Manila for 13 years where she was a Classroom Teacher and Grade Level Program Leader, certified EAL Teacher, and Wellbeing Teacher. Jillian found her ultimate passion to be student wellbeing and decided to pursue counseling.

Last year, her family moved to Basel, and after spending the past year settling her family, she is ecstatic to be joining the ISB Counselling team, part-time. Please feel free to contact her or pop by to introduce yourself! Ms. Jillian is looking forward to building relationships with students, parents, and teachers at ISB and supporting individuals across the community.

Emma Marchal-Jones

Emma Marchal-Jones

Titles: Senior School Counsellor
Locations: Reinach
Biography:

Emma is a qualified psychologist and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist. She has worked at the University of Basel psychotherapy clinic for the last 10 years, supporting adolescents and their families from international communities in the area. Emma has recently graduated with a PhD in psychological interventions. Her research focuses on TCK well-being.

Emma is established with her family which includes her husband, three children and two dogs, just across the border in France.

Hayley Milner

Hayley Milner

Titles: Drama Teacher | Middle School Counsellor
Locations: Aesch
Biography:

Hayley Milner has been working for the past fifteen years in schools across Australia, Thailand and Switzerland. Her education background includes a BA in Applied Theatre, a graduate degree in Education (Secondary Drama & English) and Masters in Counselling. 

Her passion lies in the development of the whole child ensuring their health and well-being in and outside of the classroom. She is looking forward to building relationships with students, parents and community while collaborating with Steve Ayling to support our middle school students. 

Jo Storrar

Jo Storrar

Titles: Senior School Counsellor
Locations: Reinach
Biography:

Jo is a Child and Adolescent Psychologist who brings over 12 years of experience working in community mental health services (CAMHS) in Scotland. She has a solid reputation of building relationships with young people and their families and is trained in many therapeutic interventions and international parenting programmes. She has lectured at a number of Scottish Universities on child and adolescent development and psychological theory.

Additionally, Jo is a yoga teacher and fitness instructor, passionate about considering individuals holistically and contributing to their overall resilience and well-being.

Latest News

Zones of Regulation

"Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it". Everyone experiences big emotions- and at ISB we believe this is okay! To help our students develop helpful coping strategies to manage these big emotions, we introduce the four "Zones of Regulation". 

Read More about Zones of Regulation
Happy New Year

Our counsellors wish you a happy new year and give a warm welcome to our new and returning families at ISB.

And suddenly, you just know it’s time to start something new and trust the magic of new beginnings” ...what will be your guiding words for 2022?

Read More about Happy New Year
College Counselling

 

College and Career Counselling

ISB has three well-qualified and experienced College and Career Counsellors to support Grade 9 – 12 students in Senior School.

Students receive regular and targeted information and advice about career and college/university choices, including opportunities for mentoring and interview preparation. 

Learn More