Better School Counsellors, Better Outcomes

Counsellors play an important role in the development of school children as they offer a safe and non-judgmental space for them to discuss any issues or worries they may have. A child at any age needs and thrives on having a non-biased adult's compassion and listening ear.

Adolescence, in itself, is a difficult period in any individual's life. With the world opening up more for most children in terms of easy accessibility to the internet, social media, etc., their need for guidance and the right mentor is higher than ever before. Schoolchildren will be able to trust a professional on campus who can guarantee a confidential and secure space for them to understand their thoughts and feelings on any matter.

Why are Counsellors needed at Schools?

Counsellors can enable children and young adults to handle complicated emotions better. They also have the advantage of knowing the children outside of their parental influence to know who they really are as a person. It helps them nurture and let them evolve into their own people with positive mental spaces.

School counsellors can also help children to develop problem-solving strategies, and can offer support in areas such as building self-confidence and stress management. They have the referrals and resources to fulfil their needs, facilitate discussions that are awkward with family and friends and build a healthy support system within their community.

More importantly, counsellors can help teachers understand the students' perspective better and address their issues in a way that enables teachers to provide more effective education. An open mind is often what gets through to children and young adults more so than rules and lectures.

In India, the idea of employing trained and professional counsellors is still largely dismissed. Especially in rural and semi-urban regions, teachers are often looked upon to play the role of both educators and counsellors. This not only is outside of their payroll but also a huge responsibility for which they are not trained.

Very few, highly sophisticated schools in India have resident counsellors to mentor students. It is high time this situation changed. Mental health has been a hot topic of discussion among all of us which is not specific only to older adults. Since COVID-19, all of us have been going through a lot of changes in lifestyle, health and academics. If adults cannot handle them easily enough, how can you expect the younger ones to do so without proper help?

Ways to Implement & Improve School Counselling Programs

Schools, the Department of School Education and Literacy and the Department of Higher Education should make it mandatory to hire trained and competent counsellors just like they hire teachers.

Proper counsellor-to-student ratios: It is of no use of hiring one counsellor for the whole school. It will not aid the counsellor in managing their time and caseload. There should be multiple counsellors for each grade. They will be able to provide more individualized support and attention to each student that way.

Graduate schools should train future counsellors with the skills essential to effectively help school children and teens of a specific age. Access to proper training and updating their knowledge periodically will help them offer better support.

Practices that have been proven such as cognitive-behavioural therapy, solution-focused brief therapy, and collaborative problem-solving should be involved right from the beginning among children.

Counsellors should be encouraged to actively interact and communicate with other educators and staff at school to create a more holistic and stable environment for the children.

Making the culture of well-being popular among everyone related to school including parents, physical educators, teachers and other staff will build a positive surrounding and also encourage everyone to create a better society for the future together.

Counsellors and teachers being allowed to address the social-emotional needs of children from a young age are absolutely better for the overall development and well-being of a child. This makes the child a better adult with good emotional capabilities, socially responsible and an empathetic person which is equally or in some instances, more important than being academically gifted.

In conclusion, school counsellors play an essential role in helping students achieve their full potential. However, many school counselling programs are underfunded, understaffed and in many cases non-existent, which can negatively impact counsellors' ability to effectively support students. By increasing counsellor-to-student ratios, providing more training and support for counsellors, implementing evidence-based practices, and providing more resources for students, schools can improve their counselling programs and help students achieve better outcomes.

Written By @jananiarvind

#sygnificcareers #students #counseller #connectwithus