Working as a post-secondary educator and administrator, it is always exciting to me to cheer on my newest graduates as they embark on their school counselling careers. They are excited and optimistic, energetic and ready to connect with youth and their families for the betterment of society. They bring their passion and their fresh perspectives, their commitment to equity, and their hope for creating safe and supportive environments in schools. Watching them transition from students to professionals reminds me of the energy and potential this field holds—and the tremendous impact that school counsellors make. A few words for new graduates and seasoned professionals alike to consider:
- Things are never as straightforward as they seem. People are complicated creatures. You are going to hear a lot of stories. Try not to label and try not to take sides. We want to protect the vulnerable, and we want to keep kids safe, but things are never black and white. Kids have stories, families have stories, teachers have stories, and everyone is part of an interlocking system. We cannot pull one piece out and label it without recognizing that its existence impacts and is impacted by every other interlocking piece.
- Don’t police what anyone is wearing. Teachers and administrators are going to ask you to talk to kids about the appropriateness of their clothing. Whether that means hat-wearing, or cleavage-showing, or gender-bending. Don’t bite. Clothing is tied up in a complex web of socio-economic, political, cultural, and social factors. Policing what students are wearing perpetuates bias and inequity, alienates students, and undermines their sense of self-expression. Instead, have conversations about respect, individuality, and cultural sensitivity.
- You are not the smell police either. Again, teachers and administrators will ask you to have difficult conversations with kids about their hygiene. Hygiene, like clothing, is much more complicated than just asking someone to be different. It is connected to innumerable and sensitive other factors influencing a child’s life including family, and socio-economic status. Addressing hygiene issues directly can embarrass and stigmatize a child. Instead, consider how you can provide education about hygiene in a manner that is inclusive and respectful. And consider how you can create a safe counselling space where students feel comfortable sharing personal challenges with you that are connected to their health and well-being.
- Don’t counsel the staff. They’ll want you to, believe me! Adults in the building know that you’re a counsellor and they are going to seek you out, at times, for their own personal needs. Don’t fall into that trap. First of all, it’s unethical for you to provide counselling to a friend or colleague. Second, they are taking resources away from children who need your time and attention. Adults have access to their own mental health supports; encourage them to seek them out. Keep information in your office that shows them how they can contact their own employee assistance plan.
- Go slow to go fast. Solution-focused counselling is wonderful when it works. And sometimes it really doesn’t work. Build relationships. Listen to the stories. Everything has meaning.
- Spend some budget on keeping food in your office. Granola bars, Halloween candies, juice boxes… People bond over food, and having a snack together opens conversation. Even if kids just stop by to get food, you are connecting with them.
- Keep fidgets in your office. Sometimes kids need somewhere else to look while they’re talking to you.
- Go for walks with the ones that don’t like to sit in your office. Walking and talking opens all kinds of doors that you didn’t know were there.
- Self-disclosures matter. Dare to be a little vulnerable in ways that help kids see your humanity.
- Get brave and broach your differences. Ask kids what it’s like to be counselled by someone of a different gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, cultural identity, etcetera. Acknowledging your awareness of differences opens the door to talking about how these important pieces of identity impact their lives. Particularly for kids who come from nondominant or marginalized backgrounds, broaching is a signal that you aren’t blind to your own privilege or positionality in the world.
- Keep it to yourself. Teachers and administrators are going to want you to share the details of what is going on with certain kids on your caseload. Remember that you have a code of ethics that requires you to respect confidentiality. When it is in the best interest of the student to share information, ask their permission first. You can help kids see the places where sharing information can help their situation.
- Take care of yourself. School counselling can be emotionally taxing, and burnout is real. Pace yourself. Seek supervision or peer consultation when you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed.
- Set some boundaries. Boundaries are essential for maintaining professionalism, protecting your energy, and ensuring you can provide the best care for students in your care. What is your plan for a student or parent who asks for your personal contact information? What is your plan for staff members who ask you for support with their own personal crises? It can feel good (at first) to have people seeking your support. It can also present ethical challenges and drain your energy.
- Document, document, document. Accurate documentation protects you, supports your students, and ensures continuity of care. Document interventions clearly and professionally. Facts, not opinions.
- Practice transparency. Be clear with students, families, and colleagues about your role and what they can expect from you. Explain the limits of confidentiality upfront. Let them know what falls within and beyond the scope of your role. Transparency builds trust.
- Learn the policies and procedures. Every school has its own set of policies regarding things like mandatory reporting, discipline, or academic interventions. Take the time to understand these early on, as they will guide your decision-making and help you navigate complex situations effectively.
- Get comfortable with ambiguity. Many problems don’t have a clear solution. There will be times when you don’t know what to say or do, and that’s okay. Being present and showing empathy often makes a bigger impact than providing an answer. Sometimes the therapeutic relationship is the intervention.
- Create a safe and inclusive space. Make your office a space where all students and their families feel welcome, no matter their background or identity. Use inclusive language, display diverse posters or books, and be mindful of microaggressions or unintentional biases.
- Collaborate with teachers and administrators. While protecting student confidentiality is paramount, collaboration with staff is also critical. Build relationships with your colleagues and find ways to work together to support students holistically. Encourage students to let you be a liaison between staff members and share what information they are willing to share.
- Advocate for your role. Be prepared to educate others about what you do and advocate for the importance of mental health services in schools. This might mean speaking up when your time is being used for administrative tasks instead of counselling. It may mean not taking on work outside your scope.
- Stay current with evidence-based practices. Keep learning and stay updated on best practices in school counselling. Attend professional development workshops, join counselling associations, and keep reading relevant research to sharpen your skills. This keeps the job exciting and fresh.
- Prepare for the unexpected. No two days in school counselling are alike. Your list of things to do might have to be dropped when a crisis arises. Flexibility is key. It is going to be very important to learn which things must get done immediately and which things can wait.
- COMMUNICATE! If you are a new counsellor you are going to be overwhelmed by how much email you receive from students, parents, and staff members. Responding in a timely way is now part of your job, and people notice if you don’t do it. Make a habit of responding to your email within 24 hours, even if your answer is that you don’t have an answer yet. Flag items that you need to return to later. Don’t let weeks go by without communicating.
- Own your own mistakes. School counselling is a very busy job. While you try your best to follow through with everything you set out to do, sometimes you will drop a ball. Apologize. Own it. Pick it back up. Carry on.
- Celebrate small wins. Not every session will feel transformative, but small victories matter. Whether it’s a student making a healthy choice or opening up to you for the first time, recognize and celebrate progress, no matter how small it seems. Focus on strengths, not just problems. Help students see their strengths and how they can use them to overcome challenges. Highlight resilience and growth to foster hope and empowerment.
Thank you for deciding to do this important work. You are carrying a lot of responsibility, and you are very important to the school system and to society as a whole.
THE AUTHOR:
Lisa Porter, CCC, former school counsellor, current Associate Director at City University M.Ed. Academic School Counselling program
