A Conceptual Framework for Teacher Counselors in Colleges

Abstract

Working with a counsellor helps the student solve a variety of issues that they confront in their daily life, as the sessions in counselling are provided by trained professionals. In the absence of a trained counsellor, a teacher who has received training and practice in the relevant area can play the role of a teacher counsellor. The teacher herself has to undergo a phase of transition from teacher to teacher counsellor. Due to this pandemic situation, life has changed a lot. Researches done in this area shows that the mental health of the adolescent group is largely affected by COVID 19. Even if the present mode of education is online, a teacher counsellor can help a student if she is equipped with the various strategies followed in counselling. The skills which are required in the field of counselling can be achieved by attending courses as well as training programs conducted by universities, government, non-governmental organisations, or institutions. This enables a teacher counsellor to get equipped with the basic skills required for counselling. Also, at the same time, she should be aware of the professional code of ethics in the process of counselling. When the teacher counsellor passes through the transition from teacher to teacher counsellor, she should possess the capacity to understand the student’s needs and also be capable of maintaining a good rapport and relationship with the student. In this way, both the teacher counsellor and the student can work together to achieve the goals for change.