The School Counsellor, who is a qualified teacher with a BA Honours degree in Education and an Honours degree in Psychology, is employed to provide a broad range of services including individual counselling and a group-based Life Orientation programme. He is assisted in the latter component by a dedicated member of the teaching staff.

Every class group in the school has at least one timetabled Life Orientation Lesson in each ten-day cycle. The content of the programme is guided by the IEB Life Orientation Syllabus, but its delivery is flexible and varies both according to need and a group's developmental level. It is designed to give boys an opportunity to discuss matters of concern to them and also to explore important contemporary issues.

Each boy in the school is also assigned a Home Room teacher who meets with the boys daily to discuss a variety of issues and to touch base during the school day. The Counselling department provides oversight and guidance for a portion of this time.

Individual counselling and support forms an integral part of the school's team approach to pupil support. Parents are partners in this process and are encouraged to make direct contact with the School Counsellor whenever they feel the need to do so. While boys normally book counselling appointments in advance, an 'open door' policy allows for intervention at almost any time should the need arise. In addition to self-referral, boys are frequently referred to the School Counsellor by the Rector, Housemasters, other members of staff and parents. A local psychological practice, with which the School Counsellor has regular interaction, is also utilised in order to provide additional support when necessary.

Each year a variety of talks and workshops are organized for parents by the School Counsellor. The two foremost of these in recent years are "Strong Mothers-Strong Sons" for Mums and "The Courage to Connect" which is held for Dads and their sons together.

A significant part of the School Counsellor's time is given over to helping senior boys, particularly those in Matric, to explore possibilities for the immediate post-school phase of their lives. In this process most will be assisted to finalise plans for tertiary education. The processing of all tertiary applications is also handled by the School Counsellor who has regular contact with liaison persons from the most popular universities. In addition, assistance is also given in applying to universities abroad. Further careers guidance counseling is also available on request from outside psychologists who visit the school for this purpose on a weekly basis.

As an extension of Life Orientation education, the School Counsellor arranges for regular talks by representatives from the majority of tertiary institutions at which Michaelhouse boys enroll. In addition a wide variety of enrichment speakers are arranged to talk to the boys. These talks are almost always uplifting, inspiring and a good way for our boys to gain a perspective of life outside of their immediate experience.