School Work: The counsellor who gives students a safe space

CNA

25 Feb 202304:36

Summary

TLDRIn this video, Justin Singh, a school counselor at Holiness High School, shares his passion for counseling and the importance of building trust with students. He discusses the misconceptions about counseling, emphasizing that it's not just for troubled students but can benefit all students. Justin highlights the challenges of the job, including the emotional toll and the need for self-care. He also stresses the importance of confidentiality and the gradual process of helping students, often seeing the impact years later.

Takeaways

😀 Justin Singh is a school counselor at Holiness High School with five years of experience.
🌟 Counseling is about building trust and journeying with students, understanding their stories and feelings.
🧩 Justin's role is to create a safe and understanding environment, facilitating conversations rather than just giving advice.
🤔 There are misconceptions about counseling, such as it being a quick fix or only for troubled students, which can be challenging for counselors.
🔑 Emphasizing that help-seeking is a strength, not a weakness, is important to encourage students to seek help.
💡 Counseling aims to empower students to face challenges and make changes to cope better with their issues.
🚫 Confidentiality is a cornerstone of counseling, with exceptions for cases involving the student's safety, well-being, or health.
🔋 Counselors need to know their limits and take time for self-reflection and recharging to maintain their emotional well-being.
🤝 Active listening and empathy are crucial, but counselors must also set boundaries to avoid being overly affected by students' issues.
🌱 Patience is key, as the impact of counseling may not be immediately visible but could lead to significant changes in the future.

Q & A

What does Justin Singh enjoy most about being a school counselor?
-Justin Singh enjoys getting to know the students and being able to journey with them, being trusted with their stories, inner thoughts, and feelings.
How long has Justin been working as a school counselor?
-Justin has been working as a school counselor for about five years.
What does Justin believe is special about students?
-Justin believes that students are special because God created them.
What role does Justin see himself playing in the counseling process?
-Justin sees his role as creating an environment where students feel safe, listened to, and understood, and then facilitating a conversation with them.
Why might some students be hesitant to seek counseling according to the script?
-Some students might be hesitant to seek counseling because there are misconceptions that counseling is only for troubled or weak students, which can turn them away from seeking help.
What challenges does Justin face as a school counselor?
-Justin faces challenges such as misconceptions about the counseling process, building rapport with students, and the emotional toll of the job.
How does Justin handle the emotional demands of his job?
-Justin handles the emotional demands by knowing his limits as a counselor and intentionally spending time to reflect and recharge.
What is Justin's approach to maintaining boundaries while empathizing with students?
-Justin empathizes by placing himself in the students' shoes but also draws certain lines to avoid being too affected, which could make it difficult to work with many students with different issues.
How does Justin handle situations where students are not opening up during counseling?
-Justin handles such situations by taking a step back and knowing his limits as a counselor, understanding that he isn't there to solve all problems or perform miracles, but to help students make small steps towards progress.
What does Justin communicate to students at the start of the counseling relationship?
-At the start of the counseling relationship, Justin is transparent about what confidentiality means and explains that while most discussions remain private, he may need to involve others if it concerns their safety, well-being, or health.
How does Justin engage with parents regarding their children's progress?
-Justin engages with parents by checking in, discussing any concerns noticed at school, and updating them on actions taken, such as home visits, to support the child.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 School Counseling Insights

Justin Singh, a school counselor at Holiness High School, shares his passion for counseling, emphasizing the importance of building trust with students and journeying with them through their personal stories. He discusses his role as a facilitator of conversation, aiming to provide different perspectives and empower students to face challenges. Justin addresses misconceptions about counseling, such as the expectation of quick fixes or the belief that it's only for troubled students. He stresses the importance of creating a positive help-seeking culture and the need for self-care for counselors to maintain emotional and physical well-being. Confidentiality is a key aspect of his work, with exceptions for student safety and well-being.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Counseling

Counseling refers to the process of providing guidance and support to individuals, often in a professional setting, to help them navigate personal, social, or psychological challenges. In the video, Justin Singh, a school counselor, emphasizes the importance of counseling in creating a safe and supportive environment for students to share their thoughts and feelings. Counseling is portrayed as a journey alongside students, helping them to understand themselves better and empowering them to face challenges.

💡Trust

Trust is the firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone. In the context of the video, trust is a crucial element in the counselor-student relationship. Justin mentions being 'trusted with their stories,' highlighting that students must feel secure in sharing their inner thoughts and feelings for the counseling process to be effective.

💡Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. It is a key concept in counseling, as it allows counselors to connect with students on a deeper level. The script mentions 'being able to empathize and placing ourselves in their shoes,' which is essential for creating a supportive and understanding environment where students feel heard and validated.

💡Confidentiality

Confidentiality is the promise to keep information shared in a counseling session private, except in cases where there is a risk to the student's safety or well-being. In the video, Justin discusses the importance of being transparent about confidentiality with students, explaining that most of what they discuss will remain confidential, but there are exceptions for their safety.

💡Help-seeking

Help-seeking is the act of reaching out for assistance or support. The video addresses misconceptions about counseling, noting that it is not only for 'troubled' or 'weak' students. Instead, it promotes the idea that all students can benefit from help-seeking as a sign of strength, not weakness, and encourages a culture where seeking help is seen as positive.

💡Rapport

Rapport refers to a harmonious relationship or understanding between people. Building rapport is essential in counseling, as it takes time to establish a connection with students. The script mentions that counseling is not a 'quick fix,' implying that rapport building is a gradual process that is necessary for effective counseling.

💡Challenges

Challenges are difficulties or obstacles that one must overcome. In the video, Justin discusses the challenges faced by counselors, such as misconceptions about the counseling process and the emotional toll of the job. He also mentions the challenge of helping students who are not opening up, emphasizing the need for patience and understanding in the counseling process.

💡Self-care

Self-care is the practice of taking actions to maintain or improve one's health and well-being. The video script highlights the importance of counselors knowing their limits and taking time for self-reflection and recharging. This is crucial for maintaining emotional health and preventing burnout in a profession that can be both physically and emotionally demanding.

💡Home visit

A home visit is a visit made by a professional, such as a counselor, to a student's home to discuss their well-being and educational needs. In the script, Justin mentions making a home visit to discuss a child's stress and to work with the family to help the child return to school. This illustrates the proactive and supportive role that counselors can play in a student's life.

💡Cultural shift

Cultural shift refers to a change in attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors within a group or society. The video discusses the need for a cultural shift in the perception of counseling, from seeing it as a service for the 'troubled' to recognizing it as a valuable resource for all students. This shift is part of the broader message that help-seeking is a strength.

💡Limits

Limits refer to the boundaries or constraints within which something exists or can be effective. In the context of counseling, recognizing one's limits is important for maintaining professional boundaries and ensuring that the counselor can provide the best support possible. Justin mentions the importance of knowing one's limits to avoid becoming too affected by the issues of the students they counsel.

Highlights

Justin Singh, a school counselor at Holiness High School, emphasizes the importance of building trust with students and journeying with them through their personal stories.

Counseling is not just about giving advice but creating a safe environment for students to feel heard and understood.

Counselors aim to facilitate conversations that empower students to face challenges and make positive changes.

Misconceptions about counseling, such as expecting quick fixes or viewing it as a service for 'troubled' students, can be challenging for counselors.

Counseling is a long-term process that requires time to build rapport and work through issues.

Help-seeking is portrayed as a strength rather than a weakness, encouraging a positive help-seeking culture.

Counselors need to recognize their limits and take time for self-reflection and recharging to avoid emotional exhaustion.

Justin discusses the importance of setting boundaries to maintain professional objectivity while empathizing with students.

Confidentiality is a cornerstone of the counseling relationship, with exceptions for student safety and well-being.

Counselors often have to communicate with parents and involve them in the process to support the student's needs.

Home visits are one method counselors use to engage with students and their families in a supportive manner.

Counselors may feel frustrated when progress is slow, but they recognize the importance of patience and small steps towards change.

The long-term impact of counseling may not be immediately visible but can significantly influence a student's future.

Counseling is a multifaceted process that involves building trust, facilitating self-discovery, and advocating for student well-being.

The role of a counselor extends beyond the school environment, often requiring outreach and collaboration with families.

Counselors must balance empathy with professional detachment to effectively support students with diverse issues.

The transcript highlights the challenges and rewards of being a school counselor, emphasizing the importance of patience, empathy, and professional boundaries.