Profession educational counsellor

Educational counsellors provide practical and emotional support to students in a educational institution, either in small groups, classrooms, or individually. They function as an accessible school official whom students may contact for a wide variety of issues. Educational counsellors may provide advice on personal problems such as social integration and behavioural issues, and on school-related matters such as composing adequate curriculum schedules, discussing test scores, and informing students on further education options. They may work closely with a school social worker and/or school psychologist and make referrals to other support services if necessary.

Would you like to know what kind of career and professions suit you best? Take our free Holland code career test and find out.

Personality Type

Related professions consultancy, coaching

  • Education advisor
  • Education methods specialist
  • Philosopher

Knowledge

  • Learning difficulties

    The learning disorders some students face in an academic context, especially Specific Learning Difficulties such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and concentration deficit disorders.

  • Crisis intervention

    Coping strategies in crisis cases which allow individuals to overcome their problems or fears and avoid psychological distress and breakdown.

  • Adolescent psychological development

    Understand the developments and the development needs of children and young persons, observing the behaviour and the attachment relationships in order to detect developmental delay.

  • Counselling methods

    Counselling techniques used in different settings and with various groups and individuals, especially concerning methods of supervision and mediation in the counselling process.

  • Client-centred counselling

    Practice that encourages clients to concentrate on how they feel at the present moment during the counseling session in order to search for the most appropriate solutions.

  • Learning needs analysis

    The process of analysing a student's learning needs through observation and testing, potentially followed by the diagnosis of a learning disorder and a plan for additional support.

Skills

  • Perform educational testing

    Carry out psychological and educational tests on the personal interests, personality, cognitive capabilities, or language or mathematic skills of a student.

  • Communicate with youth

    Use verbal and non-verbal communication and communicate through writing, electronic means, or drawing. Adapt your communication to children and young people`s age, needs, characteristics, abilities, preferences, and culture.

  • Consult student's support system

    Communicate with multiple parties, including teachers and the family of the student, to discuss the student's behaviour or academic performance.

  • Liaise with educational staff

    Communicate with the school staff such as teachers, teaching assistants, academic advisors, and the principal on issues relating to students' well-being. In the context of a university, liaise with the technical and research staff to discuss research projects and courses-related matters.

  • Counsel students

    Provide assistance to students with educational, career-related or personal issues such as course selection, school adjustment en social integration, career exploration and planning, and family problems.

  • Identify education needs

    Identify the needs of students, organisations and companies in terms of provision of education in order to aid in the development of curricula and education policies.

  • Support children's wellbeing

    Provide an environment that supports and values children and helps them to manage their own feelings and relationships with others.

  • Tackle issues that block academic progress

    Address the issues that can block a pupil`s school progress, such as social, psychological, emotional or physical difficulties, through counselling and intervention methods.

  • Monitor educational developments

    Monitor the changes in educational policies, methodologies and research by reviewing relevant literature and liaising with education officials and institutions.

  • Communicate on the youth's well-being

    Communicate on the youth's behaviour and welfare with parents, schools and other people in charge of the youth's upbringing and education.

  • Listen actively

    Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, clients, passengers, service users or others, and provide solutions accordingly.

  • Liaise with educational institutions

    Communication and cooperation for the supply of study materials (e.g. books) to educational institutions.

  • Monitor student's behaviour

    Supervise the student's social behaviour to discover anything unusual. Help solve any issues if necessary.

Optional knowledge and skills

apply crisis intervention assist in the organisation of school events liaise with educational support staff assessment processes conduct educational activities provide information on study programmes maintain relations with children's parents inspect education institutions community education show consideration for student's situation psychology developmental psychology establish educational network school psychology oversee extra-curricular activities cooperate with education professionals provide career counselling bakery ingredients behavioural disorders assist students in their learning guarantee students' safety psychological counselling methods work in vocational school bakery production methods secondary school procedures primary school procedures adult education provide information on education financing advise on learning methods post-secondary school procedures education law

Source: Sisyphus ODB