School Work: The counsellor who gives students a safe space

Summary

In 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.