Lecture 10

Guidance & Counselling

 Definition & Principles of Guidance & Counselling

 Approaches to Guidance & Counselling
 Issues in the School Counselling Programme

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Guidance
 Guidance is a concept as well as a process.
 As a concept guidance is concerned with the optimal
development of the individual.
 As a process guidance helps the individual in self
understanding (understanding one‘s strengths, limitations, and
other resources) and in self-direction (ability to solve
problems, make choices and decision on one‘s own).
 Guidance is a term which is broader than counseling and it
includes counseling as one of its services.

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Educational guidance

 Refers to a set of services and practices aimed at helping

students make informed decisions about their education and
future careers.
 It involves providing support and resources for academic
planning, career exploration, personal development, and
addressing any challenges students may face.

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Counseling
 Counseling is a professional service offered to a client who
needs help to solve a problem, make a decision or even to
understand themself better.
 Professional assistance in coping with personal problems,
including emotional, behavioral, vocational, marital/
relationship, educational, rehabilitation, and life-stage (e.g.,
adolescent, retirement) problems.
 The counselor makes use of such techniques as active
listening, guidance, advice, discussion, clarification, and the
administration of tests
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Guidance and counseling
 The process of helping individuals discover and develop
their educational, vocational, and psychological
potentialities and thereby to achieve an optimal level of
personal happiness and social usefulness.
 A school guidance and counseling programme is a
comprehensive developmental programme designed to
assist students in making and implementing informed
educational and occupational choices and enhancing
personal/ social/emotional development and adjustment.

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5 Responsibilities of the School Counselor
 Counsel Students
 Liaise with Teachers and Parents
 Refer Students to External Agencies
 Participate in Student Welfare and Learning Support
 Committees Evaluate and Improve the Counseling Program

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Educational/Academic G&C
 Educational/ Academic guidance programme enables students to

develop skills that will assist them in adjustment to the schools’

curriculum and school life in general.
 The assistance given to the individual to understand his/her

potentialities; have a clear idea of the different educational opportunities

and their requirements; to make wise choices as regards to school,
colleges, the course : curricular and extra curricular.

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Con……
 The counsellor, through classroom guidance activities and individual and

group counselling can assist students in applying effective study skills,

setting goals, academic motivation, learning effectively, and gaining test
taking skills.
 Counsellors may also focus on note taking, time management, memory

techniques, relaxation technique, overcoming test anxiety, and

developing listening skills.

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Vocational/career guidance & counseling

 Help students choose careers and plan for college.

 A process of assisting the individual to choose an

occupation, prepare for it, enter upon it and progress in it.

 It is concerned primarily with helping individuals make

decisions and choices involved in planning a future and

building a career.

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Personal/Social guidance & counseling
 Students face many personal problems related to themselves, their

parents and family, friends and teachers, etc.

 Students some time may face problems in adjustment and social

relationship.
 Personal/Social G&C enables students to acquire an understanding of,

and respect for self and others, and the skills to be responsible citizens.
 The objectives of personal guidance are to help the individual in his/her

physical, emotional, social, and spiritual development.

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Approaches to Guidance & Counselling
 Individual counseling: Treatment of psychological problems that is
conducted on a one-to-one basis.
 One therapist sees one client at a time, tailoring the process to his or her
unique needs in the exploration of contributory factors and alleviation of
symptoms.
 Group counseling: Treatment of psychological problems in which two
or more participants interact with each other on both an emotional and a
cognitive level in the presence of one or more psychotherapists who
serve as catalysts, facilitators, or interpreters.
 a method of providing guidance and support for clients organized as a
group, as opposed to individual counseling.
 Group counseling can be used, for example, to assist high school
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students in choosing a college or career.
Role School Guidance & Counseling
 a) Service- helping the individual to develop in the right direction.
 b) Preventive-helping prevent self-damaging lifestyles. For example,
drug taking, sexual risk taking.
 c) Peer counseling – mentorship.
 d) Intervention- helping those already in problems e.g. Pregnancy, drug
addicts, family crisis, sickness etc.
 e) Referrals- there are problems that a school counselor can identify but
cannot deal with them alone. Need attention of other specialists. E.g.,
drug addiction, criminal behaviors, mental health and delinquency.

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Key areas of guidance and counseling in
schools
 Guidance and counseling play an important role in the lives of
students in school.
 It consists of the various components such as:
 a) Service- helping the individual to develop in the right
direction;
 b) Preventive-helping prevent self-damaging lifestyles. For
example, drug taking, sexual risk taking;
 c) Peer counseling;
 d) Intervention- helping those already in problems e.g.
Pregnancy, drug addicts, family crisis, sickness etc.;
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Con….
 e) Referrals- there are problems that a counselor can identify
but cannot deal with them alone.
 There are problems that need attention from other specialists.
For example drug addiction, criminal behaviors mental
instability and delinquency.
 Guidance and counseling cover many areas of the individual’s
life such as; educational/academic, vocational/career
guidance, vocational /leisure, social, moral, health, personal
guidance, marital guidance and finances.

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Issues in the School Counselling Programme
 Relationship with peers, family and Parents.
 Addiction to screen/ phonography/ Drugs & Substance Abuse
 Decisions-making about subject to study for their future careers.
 Failing grades.
 Anger management/ Stress management.
 Time management
 Cyber bullying
 Other issues include; Anxiety and panic, Body image, Grief and loss,
Lack of motivation, change of school, Self-esteem, Suicidal thoughts etc
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 SKILLS IN GUIDANCE AND
COUNSELING
 1. Active Listening
 Description: The ability to listen attentively and
empathetically to students without interrupting or jumping to
conclusions.
 Why it's important: Active listening builds trust and shows
students that their concerns are taken seriously, which can
help them feel understood and supported.

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 2. Empathy
 Description: Understanding and sharing the feelings of
others.
 Why it's important: When teachers show empathy, they
create a safe environment where students feel comfortable
expressing their emotions and challenges.
 3. Effective Communication
 Description: Being clear, respectful, and open when talking
with students, parents, and colleagues.
 Why it's important: Good communication ensures that
students feel heard and helps the teacher provide appropriate
guidance.
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4. Problem-Solving Skills
 Description: Helping students identify solutions to their
problems by guiding them through a process of evaluating
options.
 Why it's important: Teachers can help students build critical
thinking skills while fostering independence and resilience.
5. Confidentiality
 Description: Respecting the privacy of students by keeping
sensitive information confidential, unless there’s a need for
intervention (e.g., abuse, safety concerns).
 Why it's important: Maintaining confidentiality builds trust
with students and encourages them to open up about
personal issues. 18
6. Building Rapport
 Description: Establishing a trusting and positive relationship
with students.
 Why it's important: A strong rapport enables students to feel
comfortable seeking advice or help from their teacher.
7. Cultural Sensitivity
 Description: Understanding and respecting the diverse
backgrounds and experiences of students.
 Why it's important: Teachers with cultural sensitivity can
better address the unique needs of each student, fostering an
inclusive environment.

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8. Patience
 Description: Being patient when students are dealing with
personal or academic struggles.
 Why it's important: Patience helps create a supportive
environment where students can take their time to process
and work through issues.
9. Conflict Resolution
 Description: Mediating disputes and helping students find
peaceful solutions to conflicts.
 Why it's important: Teaching students how to resolve
conflicts in a constructive way helps build emotional
intelligence and reduces bullying.
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Qualities of A Good Teacher Counsellor
 Maturity of character, warm, understanding, dependable
and cheerful
 Hardworking and has a genuine interest in his students
 Good tempered
 Aware of his strengths and limitations
 Relates well with others as well as with his students
 Well informed and updated on developments in educational,
psychological and social aspects of his work
 Good administrator, proper record keeping, capable of
confidentiality and good analytical skill.
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