Counselling
How to adopt a social-emotional learning approach to being an effective counsellor for students.
Counselling career progression
How to advise cross-cultural students
Cross-cultural kids, who move between multiple education systems and cultural expectations,…
The games people play (when counselling students)
Many students don’t know what they want to study, or where. So, how to start the process of…
‘Walk with me’: why we should counsel students on the move
Walking around the school and having casual conversations with students allows for a more…
How to guide Year 11 students through their subject choices
Whether students are choosing A levels, DP subjects in the IB programme or APs, the…
Rock solid career choice: what your students need to know about studying geology
Geology encompasses a variety of degree courses and career options. Find out more here
Why volunteering is good for counsellors – and their students
Counsellors can play a transformative role in people's lives – so why not use your skills to…
Why middle school students should receive university counselling
Offering university and career counselling to middle school students can provide them with…
Counselling activity: ‘Guess Where?’ – a study abroad game
Remember the classic game, ‘Guess Who?’ This counselling version allows students to consider…
Why financial best fit is as important as academic best fit
We can use the language of academic best fit to help students find their reach, target and …
How to manage IB predicted grades
Everyone in school – students, subject teachers, school leaders and parents – has something to…
How to organise a university campus visit for the first time
Yein Oh recently took students on a university campus visit for the first time. Here are her …
Early birds: how to support younger students with an interest in medicine
Students as young as Year 9 can already show an interest in studying medicine – which gives…
‘I’ll have a bit of both, please’: when students can’t choose between subjects
Choosing a degree course is like ordering from a menu: some students will know exactly what…
How university partnerships can offer hands-on experience for students
By partnering with universities, counsellors can give students a taste of academic life – and …
How to set up a structured alumni programme
As counsellors, we want students to realise their academic and career ambitions – and a formal…
Counsellor resource: developing an elective module for university prep
A school in Brazil has created an elective module for students to prepare them to apply …
Why we should rethink the term ‘safety schools’
Students typically categorise their university choices into ‘reach’, ‘match’ and ‘safety‘ – but …
How to set up a work-experience programme
Work experience provides students with practical experience, bridging the gap …
‘I want to be a doctor, but I don’t have the grades’: how to advise students
Your student’s heart is set on a career as a doctor but their grades don’t match their…
Counselling activity: “Me in 10 Years’ Time”
This counselling activity asks students to close their eyes and imagine themselves in a …
Counselling activity: University preparation week
A university preparation week for Year 12 students can cover everything from managing…
How the liberal arts can help with career readiness
Looking to help your students find their competitive edge in a complex job market?…
How to create a values-based careers day
Rather than championing conventional career success, a pathways and possibilities day …
Counselling activity: the hero’s journey
This counselling activity helps students to identify patterns and themes in their life, and …
Why understanding a student’s context matters
Our students all grow up in different environments – and are formed by those…
How to plan a careers fair: a step-by-step guide
Careers fairs are a useful way to educate students and to involve parents and local…
Debunking the Gen Z myth: a guide for school counsellors
Gen Z students are often misunderstood, but a new report from Duolingo reveals their true…
Applying to study occupational therapy in the UK: a comprehensive guide
Many students won’t have heard of occupational therapy – but it’s a competitive course, so in…
How to help SEND students with university applications
For students with special educational needs and disabilities, the university application process…
Counselling activity: how to run counselling sessions as mock interviews
Mock interviews are a useful way to prepare for forthcoming university interviews – but they …
Why counsellors should prepare students for life after high school
Counsellors help students with academic planning, essay writing and choice of …
How to help students plan a meaningful gap year
Meaningful, structured gap years are periods of time designated for exploration and personal…
Counselling activity: best fit is a two-way street
This interactive group activity encourages students to think about what they want from…
Why psychology might not be the subject of students’ dreams
There is often a need to unravel with students how studying psychology at university differs…
Counsellor resource: how guided journalling can focus students’ thoughts
Guided journalling can encourage students to think about what matters to them about going …
Archaeology, anthropology and Classics: what your students need to know
Archaeology, anthropology and Classics can lead to a range of careers – but inconsistency …
‘I started a new job mid-year, and had to write recommendations for students I hadn’t met’
Starting at a new school mid-year can be challenging – especially when faced with tasks…
How to create a future pathways programme
As counsellors are increasingly referring to themselves are future pathways coordinators,…
Counsellor resource: a journey of self-discovery
Integrating online career exploration platforms into regular counselling sessions and one-to-…
Counsellor resource: using Universal Design to make learning accessible to all
Counsellors can use the principles of Universal Design to ensure that their lessons and…
‘Why I always tell my students that I didn’t intend to become a counsellor’
Rachel Doell is an accidental counsellor: she actually wanted to become a doctor. But …
How climbing a mountain can help students apply to university
Taking students on a challenging outdoor adventure is not just a physical journey, but …
Counsellor resource: effective communication with parents
Using these techniques to effectively communicate with parents and other…
Exploring the art of counselling and mentoring
Counsellors are uniquely positioned to help students fulfil their potential by identifying…
Counsellor resource: how to be a mapmaker when there is no map
These three steps can be adapted to help counsellors in any advising scenario
Architecture: scrapping the seven-year myth
Yes, training to practise as an architect can take seven years – but plenty of jobs are available …
Why counsellors need to take care of business
As university counsellors, we often hear our students say they want to study ‘business’ – but…
Supporting HALI students in Togo
A programme in Togo provides high-achieving, low-income students with the resources and…
Money makes the world go around – but it won’t motivate your students
Being a counsellor is not just about the short-term goal of getting students into university – …
Counsellor resource: Empowering the community for a cohesive goal
School counsellors can connect with the school and local community to ensure that all …
Counsellor resource: How to help students identify their ‘why’
Too often, students are asked ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’, but perhaps that isn…
Why are students so reluctant to consider engineering degrees?
Students are often interested in the work that engineers do – but find the E-word offputting.…
Key career theories – and how counsellors can use them
Career-development and guidance theories underpin much of the work that counsellors do…
Four ways to incorporate university careers services into your counselling toolkit
Counsellors can look to university careers services when helping students choose…
Counselling activity: remember to duck
What can origami paper ducks teach students about future career options? Rather a lot, it …
Are personality tests a helpful tool for counsellors?
As counsellors, one of our responsibilities is to get to know our students. Could these…
Applying for art and design courses: what counsellors need to know
Working with students on applications for art and design courses can be enjoyable and…
College counselling: the Netflix series
High school counselling can be like the unfolding plot of a Netflix series. So what are …
What’s the value of a history degree? Debunking the myths and misconceptions
Many students believe that a history degree will limit them to a teaching career on graduation.…
Counselling resource: “Finding Fit” class activity
Samantha Caras uses her “Finding Fit” activity to help students better understand the concept …
A guide to essential statistics for counsellors
The university application process is filled with data. In order to provide informed guidance,…
Applying to study law: what your students need to know
Law is a highly transferable, sought-after degree – but applying to study law involves more than…
Counselling activity: Career Exploration Day
Career Exploration Day is a classroom activity designed to help students fuse multiple…
Is a university degree necessary for future success?
Students assume that apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships are for the less…
Why it’s OK for students not to know what they want to do
Generalists tend to explore widely, take on failure and gain confidence in who they are – …
Help your students follow their passion – and find their ikigai
The Japanese concept of ikigai refers to something that gives a person value, joy and a…
How to plan student visits to university campuses
With nearly 30,000 universities around the world, it can be difficult for students to know…
Big city? Beach town? How to help students find the right university
Just as wearing a poorly fitting pair of shoes is an uncomfortable experience, so students will …
Four steps to creating a community-based work-shadowing programme
Preparing students for the professional world is crucial – and where better to start than with …
How the psychology of decision making can help students choose universities
Choosing which universities to apply to is one of the biggest decisions of our students’ lives. …
Six tips for implementing a social-emotional learning approach
One of the best ways to be an effective counsellor is to implement a social-emotional…
What is the purpose of higher education?
Counsellors, students and parents can have very different ideas about what higher education…
How can you help students find their best-fit university?
The vast array of university options can leave students afraid of making the wrong decision.…
Why are university visits necessary?
University visits involve welcoming representatives from colleges and universities …
How to help third-culture kids set down roots
Students whose passport country is different from their country of residence often have…
How to futureproof your students’ choices
Increasing students’ awareness of the skills they will need for their future careers helps to…
Why your students should consider the road less travelled
Most students follow a well-trodden path – but there are alternative routes that may be better…
How to incorporate sustainability into your counselling conversations
Climate change will have an impact on the skills required in the future and will lead to the…
How to submit a proposal for a college-counselling conference
Presenting a session at a college-counselling conference is an…
How to be a career counsellor as well as a college counsellor
‘Career’ may not be in our official job title, but students and parents…
Are you a facilitator, a guide or a seed-sower?
Each is a different type of counselling role – and it’s not…
Snakes and ladders: how I became a counsellor in four easy-ish steps
Few people begin with university counselling as their career…
What does a university counsellor actually do?
Counsellors occupy an important and unique place in school life – …
I work in university admissions – can I become a counsellor?
Five tips to help people working in university admissions cross over …
'The last thing I wanted was to work in education': my path to the best job in the world
Jim Faherty did not plan to follow his parents into education – but a…
Why working as a teacher can enhance your counselling
Doubling as a classroom teacher offers counsellors a range of…
Five things I learned in my first year as a university counsellor
During her first year in the job, Cheong Yi Teng's understanding …
‘How I transformed my counselling with a six-letter word’
A set of strategies contained in the acronym ‘Uplift’ enabled Adeola…
How to set up a new counselling department from scratch
Setting up a brand new counselling department is exciting – but also…
How to move from working with one university system to working across several
Rachel McCann used to send all her students to universities in the UK …
What should you do if you’re feeling stagnant in your job?
You’ve supported cohorts of students with their applications.…
Leadership: how experienced counsellors can mentor new counsellors
As counsellors progress through their careers, the way they …
How do I do the job of three people?
In Cameroon, counsellors are supposed to work closely with …
CPD: Where are the best places to find professional development opportunities …
The right CPD enables counsellors to keep up with sector trends,…
Bridging gaps: a counsellor’s guide to thriving in international education
Counsellors will often have to move abroad and learn new languages…
CPD: How to find and focus on your strengths
Recognising your own strengths allows counsellors to tailor CPD…
Nine points to consider when taking a job internationally
Counsellors spend a lot of time advising students on how to find…
Mistakes I made as a counsellor – so you don’t have to
The path to becoming an effective university counsellor inevitably…
Taking a job off the beaten track? Here are some tips
Working in remote or less-touristed areas can be challenging – but …
How to progress in your career as a school counsellor
New and experienced counsellors alike might be looking for new…
Considering a career in counselling? Here’s what you need to know
Are you thinking of training to be a university counsellor? Here’s the…
Counselling isn’t about knowledge – it’s about relationships
As a counsellor, it’s easy to feel as though you’re the only person…
Who do school counsellors work for?
In order to do our jobs to the best of our ability, school counsellors …
How school counsellors can keep learning
Counsellors should never stop learning and growing, no matter…
