Many recent conversations surrounding how to proceed with education during the era of COVID-19 have centered on how teachers have been adjusting to online practices. Teachers are integral to our education system; however, many other important faculty members are also adjusting to ensure that they can continue to support students in online environments as well, including school counselors.
Counselors can play multiple roles to students, depending on the school’s expectations, from assistance in academic planning to mental health services. Their contributions to the lives of students are just as valuable as those of their colleagues. By embracing online tools and utilizing innovative strategies, guidance counselors can continue to provide ongoing quality support to students and families even among COVID-19 restrictions.
Responsibilities of school counselors
School counselors work to support the academic success of students, as well as their social-emotional well-being. Many school counselors will assist older students in preparing for their plans post-graduation. Whether that means becoming a source of college advising or career guidance, school counselors will track goals and provide students with resources and recommendations.
In an online setting, this support could transform into counselors providing students with the tools to perform independent research into their prospective careers or post-graduate programs. Counselors could also work to provide resume-building and interview workshops.
Many counselors are now working virtually to continue to engage students in issues related to their personal, social, and mental well-being. To best do this, counselors may provide self-care resources to students or offer weekly conversational or journaling questions to prompt reflection.
In some schools, counselors may still be able to virtually meet with their students and offer support one on one as they would in a school setting. However, it’s important to maintain the legal and ethical guidelines set forth by the school district and the American School Counselor Association in all interactions with students.
How school counselors are adjusting online
It’s not easy to transfer best practices from an in-person setting to a screen. Luckily, precedents were already being set on how to make the transition long before the onset of COVID-19. With the burgeoning virtual learning opportunities in the last decade, counselors are afforded some research into how to best handle this switch.
Here are four key elements counselors can consider in the transition to virtual learning.
1. Embrace technology
To make the most of virtual learning environments, all educators have had to embrace technology and navigate new programs. Plenty of innovative online tools are transferable to the counseling world, and many counselors are using direct and indirect communication methods to stay connected with students and families, from Google Voice to video platforms like Flipgrid.
Technology can also afford students unique opportunities that are not as easily replicated in a physical setting. Technological solutions can be implemented to provide counseling services and advice to students in new and engaging ways, by creating videos or webinars and incorporating input from experts around the world that provide insight into possible career avenues. In addition, utilizing video chat services for meetings with students allows them to receive the support they need from the safety and comfort of their own homes—an asset especially valuable to counselors providing mental health services.
2. Collaboration is key
While apart, it’s important that staff, administrators, and counselors alike have constant communication and collaboration to ensure the well-being of their students. For many districts, this means developing crisis plans and clearly laying out a chain of communication.
It could also entail teaming up with a community of online counselors and local mental health professionals. As a network grows, so do the resources. Having these extensive resources allows counselors to provide outside referrals for struggling students or families.
3. Understand accessibility
While you may have unlimited access to online learning, that does not mean all your students do. Many students may have limited access to internet or devices that limits their ability to be fully logged on or present in a school setting.
It’s a counselor’s job to be mindful of this and responsive in a way that is beneficial to students. Try maintaining a static page of wellness resources for families to access as they can or create supply-free activities for students to do on their own time.
4. Student-care does not replace self-care
As we know, staying home for extended periods of time can have serious psychological impacts, and counselors are not immune to the stress of stay-at-home orders, virtual learning, and all the subsequent difficulties that might arise as a result.
To best serve students, counselors must first serve themselves. Utilize your own mental health resources, like creating a support network and prioritizing time away from your computer.
Online counseling resources
Check out these additional resources to aid in the transition to online counseling:
- American Counseling Association’s page on self-care for mental health providers
- Distance learning reflection and planning toolkit
- SREB “School Counseling from a Distance” webinars
- Search Institute: Building Developmental Relationships During the COVID-19 Crisis
With the switch to virtual learning, counselors continue to find ways to connect to students. Along the way, they ensure the academic, social, and emotional support of their community—an especially important task in times of uncertainty.
Looking to become a leader in the counseling field? Choose The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and start your journey today! Learn more about our Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision program and our Ed.S. and Psy.D. in School Psychology programs.
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