...THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL COUNSELLOR AND HIS FUNCTIONS WITHIN THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. By Dr. Adeyemi Idowu ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to examine the concept of roles and functions in counselling and in so doing the writer highlights the expected roles of counsellors and their functions in Nigerian Schools. GENERAL BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF STUDY Guidance and Counselling, as an educational service and academic discipline, has received much more public attention in Nigeria than any other field of education in the last one or two decades. Speeches have been made by various public officers in education (both Federal , and State), educationists, and private individuals alike, and all have addressed the need to revamp Nigeria's educational system with a more productive and functional type that incorporates guidance and counselling. In a landmark address delivered at the 1976 launching ceremony of the Counselling Association of Nigeria (CAN), Colonel (Dr.) Ahmadu All, then Federal Commissioner of Education, stated, inter alia: Guidance and counselling is an educational innovation that enjoys my full support. Any educational system will be deficient without educational guidance. Our students' need to be helped by personal counselling, career education and vocational guidance to discover their talents, aptitudes and to make intelligent career decisions, (pp. 1-2) The Federal. Government of Nigeria also endorsed its total commitment and support to the guidance and counselling movement...
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...Trends Assoc. Prof. Dr. Quek Ai Hwa Education Faculty, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Abstract This paper extends a comprehensive presentation of career guidance and counselling in Malaysia by addressing development and trends, which may have implications for Asian counsellors. Attention is drawn on career guidance development in Malaysia which spanned over four decades of practice starting with its introduction into the educational system and progressing as a social service in the Malaysian society. Discussion proceeds onto the modernity impact of society on career guidance together with reviewing factors like policy legislation aimed at legitimising counselling practice including career counselling to-date in Malaysia. Given the prevalence of information technology (IT) and rapid changes in labour market conditions (including work culture as well as structure) brought about by science and technology (S&T) in many Asian countries including Malaysia, it is relevant to discuss some of the challenges to Asian career counsellors in general and with special reference to Malaysian counterparts. These challenges include preparedness of counsellors to handle career cases in societies which are in transition from production oriented to technology driven and knowledge economies. Accompanying these cases are associated issues (including erosion of value systems and lack of responsiveness to change) impacted by increasing leverage of S&T on individuals...
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...As a counsellor, I should always remember that I must respect my client’s integrity. I shall not disclose the information to a third party. But in this case, I have to justify on what to tell and what not to tell. I learned that revealing information that the student disclosed to me can ruin the counselling relationship. The student, John Doe is my client and I would have my responsibility to keep the conversation between John and I confidential. Firstly, I would make my decision based on my understanding about the four teachers, their history, relationship with students, and whether they are trustworthy. Next, I would consult others by asking suggestion from a professional psychologist or have a talk with school principal and a senior school counsellor. Then, I would tell them I will have to seek for John’s permission for disclosing some information about him. If I would have make a decision whether to tell or not to tell the teachers on the spot, I would keep most of the information about the John, and answer only a general question asked by them. When required to disclose confidential information without a client’s permission, school counsellors are to reveal only “essential” information (ACA, 1995). According to Phillips (2007), this ethical dilemma is “nearly a constant struggle for school counsellors and can create a dynamic tension within the educational environment, where the students’ right to confidentiality needs to be weighed against others’ needs to know”. As a school...
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...Circumstances (a) Exceptional circumstances may arise which give the counsellor goof grounds for believing that serious harm may occur to the client or to other people. In such circumstance the client’s consent to change in the agreement about confidentiality should be sought whenever possible unless there are also goof grounds for believing the client is no longer willing or able to take responsibility for his actions. Normally, the decision to break confidentiality should be discussed with the client and should be mad eonly after consultation with the counselling supervisor or if he/she not available, an experienced counsellor. (b) Any disclosure of confidential information should be restricted to relevant information, conveyed only to appropriate people and for appropriate reasons likely to alleviate the exceptional circumstances. The ethical considerations include achieving a balance between acting in the best interests of the client and the counsellor’s responsibilities under the law and to the wider community. (c) While counsellors hold different views about grounds for breaking confidentiality, such as potential self-harm, suicide, and harm to others they must also consider those put forward in this Code, as they too should imbue their practice. These views should be communicated to both clients and significant others e.g. supervisor, agency, etc. Section A.2 of ASCA’s Ethical Standards for School Counsellors deals with confidentiality. Confidentiality is the cornerstone of...
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...kinds of help given by one person to another in developing ability, making adjustments and problems that confront him in attainment of his goals” - Jones Guidance is an ‘umbrella term’ involving several functions such as publications, information, institutions, testing, counselling services, etc. Guidance is not carrying others burden, but enabling them to carry their burden themselves. Types of Guidance 1. Educational Guidance Educational guidance is aimed to help students to solve their problems related to education at different levels of education – from primary to university. Good C. V in his “Dictionary of education” regards educational guidance as ‘guidance concerned principally with matters relating to schools, courses, curricular and school life, rather than vocational social or personal matter”. Its functions are to help the students to: a. Selection of course. b. Adjustment with the institution and course. c....
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...important issue in our schools system. Since then, guidance and counseling has been a regular topic in our dailies conferences and seminars. For example, Nnadi (1984). Stressed its importance in our educational system and the priority that should be given to it in out schools because of its usefulness in transition in the various stages of education. Also, Nwabuisi (1984), emphasized on the necessity of proper guidance programme in schools if the current national policy on education is to have the desired impact. Perhaps, Durojaiye's (1972), Stand on the issue of guidance and counseling in our schools was one of the factors that influenced the formulation of the aspect of the new national policy on education that deals with guidance programme in schools today. Taking into consideration, our rapid educational and economic growth, he emphasized on the need for guidance and counseling in our educational policy. In his words; "We can see that the need for guidance and counseling in Nigeria becomes increasingly pressing as economic and educational strides are being made in the country. Each student needs to be helped to strengthen his abilities to make nice choices and to face problems encountered in society. Those who fall by the way side because of physical, intellectual or emotional inadequacy particularly need guidance"(p.72). In the above statement, Durojaiye points out clearly the fact that guidance and counseling is very important in our schools as it helps students to...
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...student to form good study habit. A student, who wants to study well, needs to choose a suitable place for his studies. Where to study is as important as what to study and how to go about studying. Productive study habits require learners to prepare personal time-table for themselves allocating a certain length of time for a particular subject, depending on how difficult each subject is. Different methods of studying are well explained here. Key Words: Counselling, Study habits, Reading habits, Education Introduction In School, high academic performance has been attributed to students‟ effective study habits. This is the reason why the teacher tries to adopt many techniques to help the students to learn. There will be a brief explanation of the topic, followed by the need for planning effective study habit programme. A description of the typology of study habits will be supported by recommendation for techniques of effective study habits. The counsellor‟s role in the formation of study habits will form the concluding section. The learner‟s Dictionary has defined study as a “mental effort to obtain knowledge “. This means that studying is an art of learning which helps the individual not only to acquire knowledge but also the skill and the habit to study. Narramore (1974) defined habit as “a pattern of activity which, through repetition, has been learned to the point that it has become automatic and can be carried on with a minimum of conscious effect”. Effective study habit...
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...student to form good study habit. A student, who wants to study well, needs to choose a suitable place for his studies. Where to study is as important as what to study and how to go about studying. Productive study habits require learners to prepare personal time-table for themselves allocating a certain length of time for a particular subject, depending on how difficult each subject is. Different methods of studying are well explained here. Key Words: Counselling, Study habits, Reading habits, Education Introduction In School, high academic performance has been attributed to students‟ effective study habits. This is the reason why the teacher tries to adopt many techniques to help the students to learn. There will be a brief explanation of the topic, followed by the need for planning effective study habit programme. A description of the typology of study habits will be supported by recommendation for techniques of effective study habits. The counsellor‟s role in the formation of study habits will form the concluding section. The learner‟s Dictionary has defined study as a “mental effort to obtain knowledge “. This means that studying is an art of learning which helps the individual not only to acquire knowledge but also the skill and the habit to study. Narramore (1974) defined habit as “a pattern of activity which, through repetition, has been learned to the point that it has become automatic and can be carried on with a minimum of conscious effect”. Effective study habit refers...
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...IN COUNSELLING Introduction In recent years, counsellors have taken important steps to develop clearer professional identity. Counsellors regard themselves as a specialised sub-group within the helping professions. A critical criterion for any professional group is the development and utilization of relevant ethical standards. Knowledge about ethical issues is important as these issues have legal implications. The topic under discussion also presents examples of issues of ethical concern, which may crop up in the course of counselling and how to deal with them. The study of this issues will enable the counsellor to: * avoid legal complications in the course of his/her work as a counsellor * deal appropriately with ethical issues * advise committee members appropriately on complications of counselling the students Ethics According to Ackummey (2003) Ethics are the dos and don’ts of a profession. They are the agreed standard or code governing the profession. Every profession such as teaching, law, medicine and nursing, has its own ethics. Counsellors are increasingly searching for professional status and as such need to satisfy the criteria for every profession. In Ghana, the counselling profession is still young and does not have any specific code of conduct like the teaching profession but there are general universal guidelines to which every counsellor is expected to conform. Guidelines Some of the guidelines a counsellor must use include the following: * believe...
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...Review on established theories in the areas of intellectual and social development A theoretical understanding of child development is essential, allowing us to fully appreciate the cognitive, emotional, physical, social and educational growth that children go through from birth and into early adulthood (Neufeld & Mate, 2005). Some of the major theories of child development are known as grand theories; they attempt to describe every aspect of development, often using a stage approach, such as, Urie Bronfenbrenner, Eric Erikson and Jean Piaget. Urie Bronfenbrenner (1979 - 2005) founded the Ecological Systems Theory which provides an understanding of how the complex relationship between the infant, the family, and society impact child development. Brofenbrenner’s theory looks at how each of the areas interplay in the development of humans and how all areas impact development instead of studying each area separately. Bronfenbrenner (1975) states that “as a child develops, the interaction within these environments becomes more complex. This complexity can arise as the child’s physical and cognitive structures grow and mature. So, given that nature continues on a given path, how does the world that surrounds the child help or hinder continued development?” Bronfenbrenner labeled five different aspects of the environment that influence children's development. These include the micro system, the mesosystem, the exosystem, the macro system, and the chronosystem. The...
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...Introduction In School, high academic performance has been attributed to students‟ effective study habits. This is the reason why the teacher tries to adopt many techniques to help the students to learn. There will be a brief explanation of the topic, followed by the need for planning effective study habit programme. A description of the typology of study habits will be supported by recommendation for techniques of effective study habits. The counsellor‟s role in the formation of study habits will form the concluding section. The learner‟s Dictionary has defined study as a “mental effort to obtain knowledge “. This means that studying is an art of learning which helps the individual not only to acquire knowledge but also the skill and the habit to study. Narramore (1974) defined habit as “a pattern of activity which, through repetition, has been learned to the point that it has become automatic and can be carried on with a minimum of conscious effect”. Effective study habit refers to a situation in which a Effective study habits in educational sector, counselling implications. Ogbodo, Rosemary Ochanya learner studies regularly to achieve maximum success in his school work. Study habit, therefore, refers to learning which leads to the achievement of a learner‟s goal, through a prescribed pattern of steady behaviour. In addition, Rastogi in Bulus (1990) defined a counsellor as “one who helps the client to explore his feelings, take appropriate decisions, and initiate new actions...
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...depressed Matthew’s story: everything is getting on top of me Laura’s story: finding the right counsellor What is counselling? Defining counselling The relationship between counselling and psychotherapy Counselling and other helping professions The diversity of theory and practice in counselling The aims of counselling Counselling as an interdisciplinary area of study A user-centred definition of counselling Conclusions Chapter summary Topics for reflection and discussion Key terms and concepts Suggested further reading Introduction Counselling is a wonderful twentieth-century invention. We live in a complex, busy, changing world. In this world, there are many different types of experience that are difficult for people to cope with. Most of the time, we get on with life, but sometimes we are stopped in our tracks by an event or situation that we do not, at that moment, have the resources to sort out. Most of the time, we find ways of dealing with such problems in living by talking to family, friends, neighbours, priests or our family doctor. But occasionally their advice is not sufficient, or we are too embarrassed or ashamed to tell them what is bothering us, or we just don’t have an appropriate 2 An introduction to counselling person to turn to. Counselling is a really useful option at these moments. In most places, counselling is available fairly quickly, and costs little or nothing. The counsellor does not diagnose or label you, but does his or her best to listen to you and work with...
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...When dealing with children or adolescents who have suffered or is suffering abuse, the role of the counsellor is extremely important, including the way the counsellor initiates the discussion of the abuse, to the environment in which the discussion is taking place. It is essential the counsellor does not lead the child into admitting something that has not actually happened, where they have been led to believe this is the answer that the counsellor, or potentially the family, wants. False memory syndrome is a vital aspect to be taken into consideration, as the child may become convinced that something has happened to them, when it fact it has not. Therefore, the counsellor should ensure that instead of insinuating that there is something occurring...
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...Ultimately, counselling is (or should be) about learning and practicing how to HELP YOURSELF. A counsellor's job or task is to help others to help themselves! A misconception among general society about counselling relates to advice giving. A counsellor should only give advice in certain or particular situations or under certain circumstances such as if somebody is pointing a dealy weapon to their own head (the counsellor could rightfully use "shoulds" then in such circumstances). Generally, for a counsellor to give advice is going against the principles of what counselling is about or intended to be (if used correctly) A core idea of counselling as a general rule of thumb is for the client (or person receiving counselling) to grow in him or...
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...developed an approach to counselling called "non-directive" (Barker, 2009 ) which is now known as client- centered counselling. Client-centered counselling involves three key concepts: empathy, genuineness and unconditional positive regard. Each play an important role in connecting with the client to help them achieve empowerment to resolve their issues. When all three of these key concepts are used, Rogers (Shebib, 2014) suggests, counselling has the best possible chance of success. This paper will define each concept, discuss the importance of each concept to the counselling relationship, and give a personal reflect view on how the three concepts relate to this writer's personal life experiences. This writer will begin with the definition of empathy. Discussion Description This writer's view of empathy, is having the ability to not judge, and to put yourself in someone else's shoes and to see experiences from their eyes and not your own. This writer found support in both the Oxford dictionary (2002) and Carl Rogers (Shebib, 2014, p. 47). They define empathy as "the ability to understand and share the feelings of another", and "being able to see the world through the eyes of the client", respectively. When a counsellor is unable to understand a client's concern, and lacks the ability to see through the eyes of the client, the counselling is unsuccessful. Client-centered counselling also involves genuineness. This writer believes it to be the ability to be authentic, real...
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