Hello everyone,
I was hoping to get some advice on becoming a guidance counselor in an IS. I would prefer getting certified remotely if possible but if I need to be somewhere for practicals then I'm willing to relocate.
My background:
-30 yo American
-Double major in psychology and philosophy
-1 year experience as learning support at US alternative school
-Teaching credential with ESOL specialization
-4 years of ELL specialist experience in ISs K-12
-TEFL certification
In my last role as an ELL specialist I did mostly 1-1 and found that I really enjoyed the dynamic, which in some ways was similar to a counseling role. As far as I am aware I would need to take more classes/enroll in a counseling program and then take exam for that state.
I would really appreciate some advice from those with experience/knowledge about these positions and how to go about getting one in the most affordable way.
Thanks for reading.
Guidance Counselors in ISs
Re: Guidance Counselors in ISs
I was also wondering if it would be worth applying for a counselor position based on my current background or if I would indeed need further qualifications. I imagine there are some ISs that would hire me and provide PD to get fully certified.
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shadowjack
- Posts: 2140
- Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2012 9:49 am
Re: Guidance Counselors in ISs
Not any school that I would ever teach at. Sorry, they wouldn't even look at your CV once they scanned the first page.
That said, would some horrible school somewhere be desperate enough to hire you? Maybe. But your lack of qualifications would disqualify you from China, for instance, unless the school had guanxi (connections). Similar to the Middle East, where getting your there as a counsellor would require scrutiny by the authorities, unless the school had wasta.
My advice is to get certified, do two years in the US, with college counselling and socio-emotional counselling, and THEN apply. You will get looked at by much much better schools....
That said, would some horrible school somewhere be desperate enough to hire you? Maybe. But your lack of qualifications would disqualify you from China, for instance, unless the school had guanxi (connections). Similar to the Middle East, where getting your there as a counsellor would require scrutiny by the authorities, unless the school had wasta.
My advice is to get certified, do two years in the US, with college counselling and socio-emotional counselling, and THEN apply. You will get looked at by much much better schools....
Re: Guidance Counselors in ISs
I have to disagree with Shadowjack. I think your future looks bright - as long as you are single female with nothing holding you back who is also down for a good time and up for giving head's what they want! With that combination, I see Western Europe in your future. If those characteristics don't apply to you, try an MA in school counseling at Cappella - the doctoral alma mater of many a sleazy heads from Africa to Asia, which is important because you don't want degrees from schools that are real if the heads have degrees from schools that are fake. They will not stand for being out-shined, out-maneuvered, or out-smarted by high quality educators/counselors. Good luck.
Re: Guidance Counselors in ISs
Having the credential would be the best pathway for a career in counseling. More international schools are looking for counselors than in the past and it is a developing role.
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eion_padraig
- Posts: 408
- Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2010 8:18 pm
Re: Guidance Counselors in ISs
First, a question about what age level you want to work with? That may determine how easy/hard it will be to get a position and what further experience you'd need. Often high school counselors need background in college counseling. There are ways to get trained so you would have the basic skills/knowledge needed beyond counseling. There are some positions out there for high school counselors that are solely focused on grades 9/10 or places that have separate college counselors where that isn't an issue.
I would suggest that you find a larger school or a school in a larger city where there is more support for you as a counselor starting off if you don't get a few years working back in your home country first. Some cities have really good networks of counselors sharing information and working together. Some don't.
I someone who did a counseling degree overseas from University of West Georgia. I'm pretty sure they were CACREP accredited. Lehigh has a program, but it's expensive.
I think you might be able to find a job as a counselor with your experience, but I don't think it would be a great idea. Earning the degree is going to open up a lot more doors at much better places. You'll be able to find positions without the two years of experience though. The better schools will want 2 - 4 years of experience though. School counselors are in short supply though.
Good luck.
I would suggest that you find a larger school or a school in a larger city where there is more support for you as a counselor starting off if you don't get a few years working back in your home country first. Some cities have really good networks of counselors sharing information and working together. Some don't.
I someone who did a counseling degree overseas from University of West Georgia. I'm pretty sure they were CACREP accredited. Lehigh has a program, but it's expensive.
I think you might be able to find a job as a counselor with your experience, but I don't think it would be a great idea. Earning the degree is going to open up a lot more doors at much better places. You'll be able to find positions without the two years of experience though. The better schools will want 2 - 4 years of experience though. School counselors are in short supply though.
Good luck.
Response
I am not aware of any IS that would pay for or provide as part of a comp package a certification or licensing program to be a counselor. Some will pay for a teacher credential as part of a Uni program.
You dont have a strong or heavy enough resume for an IS to consider you as a counselor, you could spin your resume but with out firm experience as a counselor or a credential or even a Masters, ISs arent going to be too excited about your application or candidacy. Your best path aside from a traditional one, is to find a lower tier (bottom tier) IS that doesnt have a counselor and start off in ESOL, and then as the IS grows and develops be ina position to pitch yourself into moving into a new counselor position within the IS. There are plenty of counselors (pastoral care, etc) who arent credentialed, but they have an 'in'.
In Counseling there are two very distinct pathways. Mental Health (MH) and Career/Uni. Credentialing programs int he US and the UK primarily focus on the MH aspect, with little if any attention to the career/Uni counseling tasking. Some Unis particularly in CA have certificate programs in Uni/Career Counseling. Otherwise the only real way to get trained at Uni/Career counseling is to work in a Uni admissions or career services department. While the vast majority of Unis train in the MH aspect, its a very minor role for a school counselor. Mostly the position in an IS is a student management one and liaison role between leadership and the students and community. You will spend more time in a week attending to morning coffee mixers with parents and the PTA then you will managing a case load of student cases.
I wouldnt overly focus on @eion_padraig recommendation, you will want to focus on the DC credential, which essentially does not require a practicum or and field work as you can substitute two years of teaching experience in place of field work. The degree can be in school counseling or any counseling program that contains graduate coursework in the 7 stipulated courses, this makes it a LOT easier to find an online or distance education program.
You dont have a strong or heavy enough resume for an IS to consider you as a counselor, you could spin your resume but with out firm experience as a counselor or a credential or even a Masters, ISs arent going to be too excited about your application or candidacy. Your best path aside from a traditional one, is to find a lower tier (bottom tier) IS that doesnt have a counselor and start off in ESOL, and then as the IS grows and develops be ina position to pitch yourself into moving into a new counselor position within the IS. There are plenty of counselors (pastoral care, etc) who arent credentialed, but they have an 'in'.
In Counseling there are two very distinct pathways. Mental Health (MH) and Career/Uni. Credentialing programs int he US and the UK primarily focus on the MH aspect, with little if any attention to the career/Uni counseling tasking. Some Unis particularly in CA have certificate programs in Uni/Career Counseling. Otherwise the only real way to get trained at Uni/Career counseling is to work in a Uni admissions or career services department. While the vast majority of Unis train in the MH aspect, its a very minor role for a school counselor. Mostly the position in an IS is a student management one and liaison role between leadership and the students and community. You will spend more time in a week attending to morning coffee mixers with parents and the PTA then you will managing a case load of student cases.
I wouldnt overly focus on @eion_padraig recommendation, you will want to focus on the DC credential, which essentially does not require a practicum or and field work as you can substitute two years of teaching experience in place of field work. The degree can be in school counseling or any counseling program that contains graduate coursework in the 7 stipulated courses, this makes it a LOT easier to find an online or distance education program.
Re: Guidance Counselors in ISs
Thank you for your responses, everyone. Some really great advice here. Would love to get more input from you guys!
It seems like my credentials aren't relevant enough for getting into decent schools as a counselor, and I am not interested in haphazardly working my way into the role at a bottom tier school. The only reason I asked if my credentials were already good enough to get in was contingent upon the idea that the school would potentially offer support for certification while on the job, hence any school offering that sort of support would presumably be a mid/top-tier school.
I have already spent a lot of money on my education so far and don't have a lot of money saved, and going through a certification program or getting my masters is a possibility if I can find something very affordable or perhaps find my way into a scholarship or work/study role. I'd like to avoid getting another school loan. It seems that a career counseling program would be most suitable for someone that wants to be a high school counselor in international schools based on some of your comments. This is an appealing route to take as it would open doors to working in colleges/universities, or perhaps even do freelance counseling.
To be honest, I'm just burnt out with ESOL and I'd like to take on a role doing something I'm more passionate about. I really love working in international schools and the freedom and flexibility it provides me, and it's rewarding to be a part of a community and make a tangible difference in young lives every day. If I don't go the counseling route, maybe I'd be more inclined to apply for roles as a psychology/TOK teacher. The only problem with this is that I have read that teachers usually don't only teach these subjects, so I'd probably be stuck doing mostly ESOL again.
Thanks for reading. Hope to hear from you guys soon. I really appreciate your guidance.
It seems like my credentials aren't relevant enough for getting into decent schools as a counselor, and I am not interested in haphazardly working my way into the role at a bottom tier school. The only reason I asked if my credentials were already good enough to get in was contingent upon the idea that the school would potentially offer support for certification while on the job, hence any school offering that sort of support would presumably be a mid/top-tier school.
I have already spent a lot of money on my education so far and don't have a lot of money saved, and going through a certification program or getting my masters is a possibility if I can find something very affordable or perhaps find my way into a scholarship or work/study role. I'd like to avoid getting another school loan. It seems that a career counseling program would be most suitable for someone that wants to be a high school counselor in international schools based on some of your comments. This is an appealing route to take as it would open doors to working in colleges/universities, or perhaps even do freelance counseling.
To be honest, I'm just burnt out with ESOL and I'd like to take on a role doing something I'm more passionate about. I really love working in international schools and the freedom and flexibility it provides me, and it's rewarding to be a part of a community and make a tangible difference in young lives every day. If I don't go the counseling route, maybe I'd be more inclined to apply for roles as a psychology/TOK teacher. The only problem with this is that I have read that teachers usually don't only teach these subjects, so I'd probably be stuck doing mostly ESOL again.
Thanks for reading. Hope to hear from you guys soon. I really appreciate your guidance.
Re: Response
PsyGuy wrote:
> I am not aware of any IS that would pay for or provide as part of a comp
> package a certification or licensing program to be a counselor. Some will
> pay for a teacher credential as part of a Uni program.
>
> You dont have a strong or heavy enough resume for an IS to consider you as
> a counselor, you could spin your resume but with out firm experience as a
> counselor or a credential or even a Masters, ISs arent going to be too
> excited about your application or candidacy. Your best path aside from a
> traditional one, is to find a lower tier (bottom tier) IS that doesnt have
> a counselor and start off in ESOL, and then as the IS grows and develops be
> ina position to pitch yourself into moving into a new counselor position
> within the IS. There are plenty of counselors (pastoral care, etc) who
> arent credentialed, but they have an 'in'.
>
> In Counseling there are two very distinct pathways. Mental Health (MH) and
> Career/Uni. Credentialing programs int he US and the UK primarily focus on
> the MH aspect, with little if any attention to the career/Uni counseling
> tasking. Some Unis particularly in CA have certificate programs in
> Uni/Career Counseling. Otherwise the only real way to get trained at
> Uni/Career counseling is to work in a Uni admissions or career services
> department. While the vast majority of Unis train in the MH aspect, its a
> very minor role for a school counselor. Mostly the position in an IS is a
> student management one and liaison role between leadership and the students
> and community. You will spend more time in a week attending to morning
> coffee mixers with parents and the PTA then you will managing a case load
> of student cases.
>
> I wouldnt overly focus on @eion_padraig recommendation, you will want to
> focus on the DC credential, which essentially does not require a practicum
> or and field work as you can substitute two years of teaching experience in
> place of field work. The degree can be in school counseling or any
> counseling program that contains graduate coursework in the 7 stipulated
> courses, this makes it a LOT easier to find an online or distance education
> program.
A few questions for you PsyGuy. Hope you don't mind answering.
1) What exactly is the "DC credential"? Could you please elaborate on what DC stands for as well as what this would entail?
2) Also what are the "7 stipulated courses"?
3) Lastly, could you please confirm whether the career counseling path is indeed the most practical for someone that wants to be a counselor in international schools?
> I am not aware of any IS that would pay for or provide as part of a comp
> package a certification or licensing program to be a counselor. Some will
> pay for a teacher credential as part of a Uni program.
>
> You dont have a strong or heavy enough resume for an IS to consider you as
> a counselor, you could spin your resume but with out firm experience as a
> counselor or a credential or even a Masters, ISs arent going to be too
> excited about your application or candidacy. Your best path aside from a
> traditional one, is to find a lower tier (bottom tier) IS that doesnt have
> a counselor and start off in ESOL, and then as the IS grows and develops be
> ina position to pitch yourself into moving into a new counselor position
> within the IS. There are plenty of counselors (pastoral care, etc) who
> arent credentialed, but they have an 'in'.
>
> In Counseling there are two very distinct pathways. Mental Health (MH) and
> Career/Uni. Credentialing programs int he US and the UK primarily focus on
> the MH aspect, with little if any attention to the career/Uni counseling
> tasking. Some Unis particularly in CA have certificate programs in
> Uni/Career Counseling. Otherwise the only real way to get trained at
> Uni/Career counseling is to work in a Uni admissions or career services
> department. While the vast majority of Unis train in the MH aspect, its a
> very minor role for a school counselor. Mostly the position in an IS is a
> student management one and liaison role between leadership and the students
> and community. You will spend more time in a week attending to morning
> coffee mixers with parents and the PTA then you will managing a case load
> of student cases.
>
> I wouldnt overly focus on @eion_padraig recommendation, you will want to
> focus on the DC credential, which essentially does not require a practicum
> or and field work as you can substitute two years of teaching experience in
> place of field work. The degree can be in school counseling or any
> counseling program that contains graduate coursework in the 7 stipulated
> courses, this makes it a LOT easier to find an online or distance education
> program.
A few questions for you PsyGuy. Hope you don't mind answering.
1) What exactly is the "DC credential"? Could you please elaborate on what DC stands for as well as what this would entail?
2) Also what are the "7 stipulated courses"?
3) Lastly, could you please confirm whether the career counseling path is indeed the most practical for someone that wants to be a counselor in international schools?
Last edited by typ123 on Thu Aug 30, 2018 6:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reply
@typ123
Upper tier ISs as you describe dont have to offer training to get fully credentialed and qualified counselors. They typically get more than enough applications that they dont have to compromise. So you wont find upper tier ISs, offering that type of incentive.
There really arent any career/Uni counselor Masters credentialing programs. They almost all universally in the US and UK designed to meet local training requirements for a counselor, meaning a focus on mental health (MH). Most career counselors their got the experience for the job on the side while doing the MH role or they worked in Uni admissions, enrollment management or career services departments. By certification programs, in this context refers to programs that are a handful of courses and the Uni gives you a certificate and a notation on a transcript, its not a credential.
Its difficult to make a FTE appointment on just SLL Psychology, you need a fairly large student population. Understand that not every SLL or upper secondary student wants to take psychology. As for TOK all DIP students have to take it, but the only way to really get qualified in it is to break into it by teaching it. You would need a lot more IB experience to make that a reasonable option.
Upper tier ISs as you describe dont have to offer training to get fully credentialed and qualified counselors. They typically get more than enough applications that they dont have to compromise. So you wont find upper tier ISs, offering that type of incentive.
There really arent any career/Uni counselor Masters credentialing programs. They almost all universally in the US and UK designed to meet local training requirements for a counselor, meaning a focus on mental health (MH). Most career counselors their got the experience for the job on the side while doing the MH role or they worked in Uni admissions, enrollment management or career services departments. By certification programs, in this context refers to programs that are a handful of courses and the Uni gives you a certificate and a notation on a transcript, its not a credential.
Its difficult to make a FTE appointment on just SLL Psychology, you need a fairly large student population. Understand that not every SLL or upper secondary student wants to take psychology. As for TOK all DIP students have to take it, but the only way to really get qualified in it is to break into it by teaching it. You would need a lot more IB experience to make that a reasonable option.
Reply
@typ123
1) DC refers to the District of Columbia. Essentially the regulating authority (OSSE) for DC provides a route to a standard (professional level) counselor credential that does not specifically require field experience/internship hours. You can substitute classroom teaching experience (2 years). You dont need a school counselor program, they type typically aligned with a state EPP/ITT program for training school counselors, you can do any counselor type of program that contains the 7 required courses.
2) You can find the link here: http://osse.dc.gov/page/school-service- ... tification
Counseling children and adolescents
Multicultural counseling
Counseling students with exceptionalities
Crisis and trauma counseling and interventions
Career development and vocational education counseling
Testing assessments and measurements
Legal and ethical issues for school counselors
3) College and career counseling is the most in demand, because its much more difficult to qualify in it. Every school counselor program does the mental health aspect. As I wrote above there arent really any professional credentialing Masters programs in Uni Counseling.
1) DC refers to the District of Columbia. Essentially the regulating authority (OSSE) for DC provides a route to a standard (professional level) counselor credential that does not specifically require field experience/internship hours. You can substitute classroom teaching experience (2 years). You dont need a school counselor program, they type typically aligned with a state EPP/ITT program for training school counselors, you can do any counselor type of program that contains the 7 required courses.
2) You can find the link here: http://osse.dc.gov/page/school-service- ... tification
Counseling children and adolescents
Multicultural counseling
Counseling students with exceptionalities
Crisis and trauma counseling and interventions
Career development and vocational education counseling
Testing assessments and measurements
Legal and ethical issues for school counselors
3) College and career counseling is the most in demand, because its much more difficult to qualify in it. Every school counselor program does the mental health aspect. As I wrote above there arent really any professional credentialing Masters programs in Uni Counseling.
Re: Reply
PsyGuy wrote:
> @typ123
>
> 1) DC refers to the District of Columbia. Essentially the regulating
> authority (OSSE) for DC provides a route to a standard (professional level)
> counselor credential that does not specifically require field
> experience/internship hours. You can substitute classroom teaching
> experience (2 years). You dont need a school counselor program, they type
> typically aligned with a state EPP/ITT program for training school
> counselors, you can do any counselor type of program that contains the 7
> required courses.
>
> 2) You can find the link here:
> http://osse.dc.gov/page/school-service- ... tification
> Counseling children and adolescents
> Multicultural counseling
> Counseling students with exceptionalities
> Crisis and trauma counseling and interventions
> Career development and vocational education counseling
> Testing assessments and measurements
> Legal and ethical issues for school counselors
>
> 3) College and career counseling is the most in demand, because its much
> more difficult to qualify in it. Every school counselor program does the
> mental health aspect. As I wrote above there arent really any professional
> credentialing Masters programs in Uni Counseling.
Excellent information. Really appreciate it. Would like to follow up with you if you don't mind.
1) So you're saying that the school counseling program is more aligned with what would be required in international schools, right? As opposed to the school psychology route.
2) Would this transfer over into working in community colleges and perhaps private practice? Or is it strictly recognized for K-12 school systems only?
3) I'm wondering if I apply to work in an admissions department somewhere and do an internship if I can get a work/study deal and save money on getting certified. That would take away the ability to study remotely, but I'd do that if there was a program like that. Are you aware of any?
> @typ123
>
> 1) DC refers to the District of Columbia. Essentially the regulating
> authority (OSSE) for DC provides a route to a standard (professional level)
> counselor credential that does not specifically require field
> experience/internship hours. You can substitute classroom teaching
> experience (2 years). You dont need a school counselor program, they type
> typically aligned with a state EPP/ITT program for training school
> counselors, you can do any counselor type of program that contains the 7
> required courses.
>
> 2) You can find the link here:
> http://osse.dc.gov/page/school-service- ... tification
> Counseling children and adolescents
> Multicultural counseling
> Counseling students with exceptionalities
> Crisis and trauma counseling and interventions
> Career development and vocational education counseling
> Testing assessments and measurements
> Legal and ethical issues for school counselors
>
> 3) College and career counseling is the most in demand, because its much
> more difficult to qualify in it. Every school counselor program does the
> mental health aspect. As I wrote above there arent really any professional
> credentialing Masters programs in Uni Counseling.
Excellent information. Really appreciate it. Would like to follow up with you if you don't mind.
1) So you're saying that the school counseling program is more aligned with what would be required in international schools, right? As opposed to the school psychology route.
2) Would this transfer over into working in community colleges and perhaps private practice? Or is it strictly recognized for K-12 school systems only?
3) I'm wondering if I apply to work in an admissions department somewhere and do an internship if I can get a work/study deal and save money on getting certified. That would take away the ability to study remotely, but I'd do that if there was a program like that. Are you aware of any?
-
shadowjack
- Posts: 2140
- Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2012 9:49 am
Re: Guidance Counselors in ISs
Most international schools are not looking for career counsellors as much as college counsellors. Most parents at decent ISs want doctor lawyer business engineer in any order. Anything else is not worth it.
Reply
@typ123
To start, I concur with @SJ, its Uni counseling not career counseling in IE that matters, parents arent paying the fees and tuition so their child can be a server. Its prestige careers, and everyone is essentially Uni bound. Youre just not going to get a student that pos into your office wanting to be a carpenter, and asking how to get into an apprenticeship (in the scenarios you do see that, its mostly ITs who are working in municipal Dss that have an academy program)
There are almost no Psy.Ss (School Psychologists) in IE, there are exceptions and there are Psy.Ss that have transitioned to the role of a Counselor. There just isnt all that much MH in IE for 4 reasons:
1) Language Barrier; unless your at an IS thats predominately other westerners (an elite tier IS) most of the student body in lower and mid tier ISs is local host nationals. Neither you nor them likely have a congruent language capacity to really get into the weeds about issues.
2) Cultural Issues; outside of the west people dont tell strangers their problems. They talk to a friend or family member, and they certainly dont go to mental health professionals and end up with things going into records.
3) Affluence; Counselors and Psy.S fill a gap in MH services in western cultures because of the affordability of MH services. In IE parents have coin, and if there is a real problem they are going to send their child to a real MH professional outside of the IS. The MH SOP in IE is crises intervention (are you, okay, are you going to hurt yourself or others, call parents, make referral).
4) Professional Status; your not really a MH clinician or practitioner. Your state credential/license has no legal effect outside of the jurisdiction of the regulating authority that issued it. Your just a somebody an IS hired and gave an office and a business card too.
Its an issue of licensing and there is little crossover. Its why I recommend the DC pathway, because you can get a counseling degree and a license to practice as an LPC/MFT etc. and then have those classes outlined as either part of the EPP/ITT program or separately and bridge into school counselor. Of course there are states anyone can hang out a shingle, and you need no credentials or license or degree whatever to call yourself a life coach.
Well you could do that but youd be poorer. Most graduate assistantships pay between USD$9K-USD$12K/yr in addition to the tuition waiver. You could get work study but Unis typically only pay minimum wage, and youd have to pay tuition. The cheapest pathway would be to find a Uni with a program you like, apply for a FTE position assuming they give employees free tuition.
From my position however you dont really want to be a School Counselor in IE. Its a student management position but a very hands off one. You talk to kids more as a IT than you will as a counselor, which mostly involves social and liaison activities, while going to meetings with the occasional seminar and intervention thrown in. I would suggest two different pathways:
1) Learning Support: If you want that one to one interaction with students look into LS/SEN/SPED, you will have more time with individual students or small groups and part of providing them adaptations and modifications as part of learning support is discovering and exploring the cause of their need for learning support. LS is a LOT easier to get into, all you would really need to do is take a certification exam and apply for a suitable LS/SEN/SPED credential. Then just spin your ESOL experience as learning support (that had a language acquisition component) and combined with your UG/1st degree in psychology you dont need to do much more.
2) Leadership: Its a lot easier to find a Ed.Ld Masters and they are a lot cheaper. Counselors are Junior Leadership appointments, whereas you can move into an AP/VP/DP position that could be student resources/services, dean of students, pastoral, etc. which is Senior Leadership. You get better comp, and then the counselor is your subordinate and you can take whatever cases you want from the counselor, by just telling them, and setting an internal policy or by written directive. You can pick and choose the student cases you want to handle and dump the rest, and the grunt work (and those chatty morning coffee mixers with parents and PTA) on the counselor. Of course the top skill of a successful counselor is schmoozing so the counselor will happily be all smiles and supportive. Their only real goal is to do shopping on their computer in their office with as few interruptions as possible.
To start, I concur with @SJ, its Uni counseling not career counseling in IE that matters, parents arent paying the fees and tuition so their child can be a server. Its prestige careers, and everyone is essentially Uni bound. Youre just not going to get a student that pos into your office wanting to be a carpenter, and asking how to get into an apprenticeship (in the scenarios you do see that, its mostly ITs who are working in municipal Dss that have an academy program)
There are almost no Psy.Ss (School Psychologists) in IE, there are exceptions and there are Psy.Ss that have transitioned to the role of a Counselor. There just isnt all that much MH in IE for 4 reasons:
1) Language Barrier; unless your at an IS thats predominately other westerners (an elite tier IS) most of the student body in lower and mid tier ISs is local host nationals. Neither you nor them likely have a congruent language capacity to really get into the weeds about issues.
2) Cultural Issues; outside of the west people dont tell strangers their problems. They talk to a friend or family member, and they certainly dont go to mental health professionals and end up with things going into records.
3) Affluence; Counselors and Psy.S fill a gap in MH services in western cultures because of the affordability of MH services. In IE parents have coin, and if there is a real problem they are going to send their child to a real MH professional outside of the IS. The MH SOP in IE is crises intervention (are you, okay, are you going to hurt yourself or others, call parents, make referral).
4) Professional Status; your not really a MH clinician or practitioner. Your state credential/license has no legal effect outside of the jurisdiction of the regulating authority that issued it. Your just a somebody an IS hired and gave an office and a business card too.
Its an issue of licensing and there is little crossover. Its why I recommend the DC pathway, because you can get a counseling degree and a license to practice as an LPC/MFT etc. and then have those classes outlined as either part of the EPP/ITT program or separately and bridge into school counselor. Of course there are states anyone can hang out a shingle, and you need no credentials or license or degree whatever to call yourself a life coach.
Well you could do that but youd be poorer. Most graduate assistantships pay between USD$9K-USD$12K/yr in addition to the tuition waiver. You could get work study but Unis typically only pay minimum wage, and youd have to pay tuition. The cheapest pathway would be to find a Uni with a program you like, apply for a FTE position assuming they give employees free tuition.
From my position however you dont really want to be a School Counselor in IE. Its a student management position but a very hands off one. You talk to kids more as a IT than you will as a counselor, which mostly involves social and liaison activities, while going to meetings with the occasional seminar and intervention thrown in. I would suggest two different pathways:
1) Learning Support: If you want that one to one interaction with students look into LS/SEN/SPED, you will have more time with individual students or small groups and part of providing them adaptations and modifications as part of learning support is discovering and exploring the cause of their need for learning support. LS is a LOT easier to get into, all you would really need to do is take a certification exam and apply for a suitable LS/SEN/SPED credential. Then just spin your ESOL experience as learning support (that had a language acquisition component) and combined with your UG/1st degree in psychology you dont need to do much more.
2) Leadership: Its a lot easier to find a Ed.Ld Masters and they are a lot cheaper. Counselors are Junior Leadership appointments, whereas you can move into an AP/VP/DP position that could be student resources/services, dean of students, pastoral, etc. which is Senior Leadership. You get better comp, and then the counselor is your subordinate and you can take whatever cases you want from the counselor, by just telling them, and setting an internal policy or by written directive. You can pick and choose the student cases you want to handle and dump the rest, and the grunt work (and those chatty morning coffee mixers with parents and PTA) on the counselor. Of course the top skill of a successful counselor is schmoozing so the counselor will happily be all smiles and supportive. Their only real goal is to do shopping on their computer in their office with as few interruptions as possible.
Re: Guidance Counselors in ISs
Thanks a lot Psyguy for your courtesy. I really appreciate your advice.
1) Learning Support: If you want that one to one interaction with students look into LS/SEN/SPED, you will have more time with individual students or small groups and part of providing them adaptations and modifications as part of learning support is discovering and exploring the cause of their need for learning support. LS is a LOT easier to get into, all you would really need to do is take a certification exam and apply for a suitable LS/SEN/SPED credential. Then just spin your ESOL experience as learning support (that had a language acquisition component) and combined with your UG/1st degree in psychology you dont need to do much more.
I feel like this is the best option for me based on everything discussed so far. I already have a year of experience working as a learning support provider at a psychiatric day facility/alternative school for SEN/SPED children/teenagers in the states.
In my last role, although it was ELL, I found myself drawn to help SEN/SPED students and figure out what was wrong with them. The students themselves and other staff noticed and I ended up taking their cases so to speak, and working along with the counselor.
I am licensed to work in Florida so I’ll have a look at some options available for me as far as getting certified. You reckon all I’ll need to do is hunker down, study, and take an exam?
1) Learning Support: If you want that one to one interaction with students look into LS/SEN/SPED, you will have more time with individual students or small groups and part of providing them adaptations and modifications as part of learning support is discovering and exploring the cause of their need for learning support. LS is a LOT easier to get into, all you would really need to do is take a certification exam and apply for a suitable LS/SEN/SPED credential. Then just spin your ESOL experience as learning support (that had a language acquisition component) and combined with your UG/1st degree in psychology you dont need to do much more.
I feel like this is the best option for me based on everything discussed so far. I already have a year of experience working as a learning support provider at a psychiatric day facility/alternative school for SEN/SPED children/teenagers in the states.
In my last role, although it was ELL, I found myself drawn to help SEN/SPED students and figure out what was wrong with them. The students themselves and other staff noticed and I ended up taking their cases so to speak, and working along with the counselor.
I am licensed to work in Florida so I’ll have a look at some options available for me as far as getting certified. You reckon all I’ll need to do is hunker down, study, and take an exam?