School Guidance Counsellors: Indifference or a Few Bad Eggs?
I'm not throwing all high school guidance counsellors under the bus. I am calling out some that have no right to call themselves guidance counsellors and say they care about the well-being of their students. This goes back to when we asked for student volunteers for our How Are You Feeling research project. When we had students register, as a courtesy, I would call the school guidance department to ensure they supported our volunteer project. We had several students register from one particular high school. I reached out on three separate occasions by email and twice by phone to this specific guidance counsellor. I expressly communicated the purpose of contacting them and that several of their students had registered for our program. I hoped they would embrace and endorse our program similarly to many other high schools in the area. I did not receive a reply to any of my messages. This happened at one particular North Toronto public high school and a North Toronto private school. Ironically, both schools have a history of kids with mental health challenges and suicides. The other schools I contacted responded promptly and enthusiastically applauded our program.
The Role of Guidance Counsellors
School guidance counsellors occupy a unique and vital role in the education system. They are responsible for counselling students on academic, personal and career matters. However, there is growing concern over the quality of guidance counselling services in schools. This applies to both the public and private school sectors. Some critics say that guidance counsellors are often fearful or indifferent to their students, while others claim that a few bad eggs have given the profession a negative reputation.
Parents and Guidance Counsellors
Parents entrust their children to guidance counsellors with the hope that they will receive support and direction as they navigate the often overwhelming world of higher education. Unfortunately, many parents feel that their child's guidance counsellor has failed to live up to their expectations. A significant source of frustration for parents is the lack of career counselling services most guidance counsellors offer. With the ever-changing job market, few students know what career path they want to pursue after graduation. As a result, many parents feel their child is not receiving the necessary guidance to make informed decisions about their future. In addition, parents also express concern about the mental health advocacy services provided by guidance counsellors. With rising rates of anxiety and depression among young adults, many parents feel that their child's counsellor is not doing enough to promote mental wellness. As a result, parents often feel frustrated and powerless when seeking guidance for their child.
The Gap Between Schools' Well-Being Programs is Widening
Most guidance counsellors I talked to genuinely care about their students and provide individual counselling for those who need it. They embraced our program and wanted to be involved with its implementation. Many were interested in our pilot programs for their schools' well-being programs. Interestingly, the schools that had the most defined and robust well-being programs were the ones that embraced our program the most. Similarly, those schools with the least defined well-being programs, at least according to many parents I talked to, were the quickest to dismiss our program.
Most Schools Mental Health Checklist
The most profound and candid conversations came with those who felt a gap between parents' expectations and the schools' deliverables around mental health. Many admitted to only checking the boxes surrounding mental health, but few had a comprehensive mental health plan. Others we talked to had a robust strategy and constantly wanted to improve their offering. They saw our program as a great way to enhance what they currently offer students.
There Will Always Be a Few Bad Eggs
There's no doubt that guidance counsellors play an essential role in schools. They help to ensure that students are on track academically and provide valuable information about career options and post-secondary education. They also play an important role in supporting mental health and providing referrals to outside agencies when necessary. However, a few rotten eggs give all guidance counsellors a lousy name. These individuals often lack the training and expertise needed to be effective career counsellors, and they may inadvertently do more harm than good regarding mental health advocacy. As a result, it's vital to be selective when choosing a guidance counsellor. Talk to other parents, teachers, and administrators to get recommendations, and don't hesitate to switch counsellors if you're not getting the support you need.
Alternatives to Guidance Counselling
Career counselling, social workers, and personality profile tests are alternatives to guidance counselling. Career counselling is when your career is evaluated, and you are given guidance on what job or career would be best for you. Social workers help with personal problems and can guide what resources are available to solve the problem. Personality profile tests test for likes, dislikes, and values to help narrow career choices. All of these alternatives can help someone struggling with direction in their life. They provide different perspectives and tools to help decide what path to take. Unfortunately, these services can come with a considerable expense.
Conclusion
After countless hours of talking to guidance counsellors, I can say that most counsellors do their best to help students. There are tremendous resources available, and most counsellors take advantage of these resources. The biggest intangible is a genuine desire to help kids. When you walk into a guidance office and feel the warmth of someone who wants to see you succeed, it changes everything. As much as I became frustrated with the apathy exuded by some guidance counsellors, most prioritize the guidance and direction that they give to kids to impact their future positively. So if your children have received invaluable advice and direction from their school-based guidance counsellor, be thankful!