The role of the Guidance Counsellor is to engage in personal, educational, and vocational counselling with clients throughout the lifespan, in the particular circumstances of their life.

The seven areas of professional practice of the Guidance Counsellor are as follows: 

Ethical Principles & Professional

Practice

Counselling Skills

Information

& Resource Management

Managing of Guidance Service & Programme

Delivery

Equality & Diversity

Labour Market Education &

Training

The practice of Personal Education & Vocational

Guidance throughout the lifespan

Guidance Counsellor

The Guidance Counsellor has thecompetency:

To facilitate career/life choices through the lifespan

To facilitate educational choices through the lifespan

To facilitate personal choices through the lifespan

To assess through the lifespan

Facilitation of career/life choices through theLifespan

The Guidance Counsellor will have knowledge of the major vocational guidance theories, understand the theoretical origins of career development work, and use a theoretical framework, through which to understand individual career development.

The Guidance Counsellor will demonstrate the ability to:

Describe change and transition in the context of lifespan career development

Help individuals adapt to and manage change and transition

Help individuals understand and accept that change and transition are normal parts of life

The Guidance Counsellor will demonstrate the ability to describe

work/life balance in the context of lifespan career development

Understand the need to balance the multiple roles assumed

by individuals throughout their career development Understand and integrate into practice that making a living is

only one component of one’s identity Understand that individuals, their values and the environment

are interdependent Can foster career management strategies by helping

individuals develop the skills to effectively manage their careers

Helping individuals understand that career management is a lifelong process

Helping individuals understand how societal trends play a major role in career management

Promoting individuals’ independence and self-confidence Increasing individuals’ awareness of opportunities and options Understanding and agreeing on possible outcomes Working out steps needed to make and implement a decision

so individuals achieve goals

Can refer individuals to the appropriate sources by;

Assisting clients in selecting services and resources to meet their needs

Helping individuals to develop skills for research Assisting individuals in obtaining services outside the

boundaries of the Counsellor’s expertise Facilitating case management

Can conduct a needs assessment by;

Assisting individuals identify their career development needs holistically in the context of their lives

Determining whether individuals’ needs are within the scope of practice of the Counsellor and, if not, determine appropriate referral

Providing a context for the career development service Assisting the Counsellor and individual to negotiate and

contract the service to be provided Assisting individuals to identify their work-related interests,

skills, knowledge and values Helping individuals to become self confident, self reliant,

resilient, enterprising, and prepared to match the demands of knowledge based economies and fluid societal change.

Facilitation of Educational choices through the lifespan

This requires the ability to:

Foster an appreciation of the value of, and a commitment to engage in, Life Long Learning (that is) supportive of life/work goals.

Guide individuals and groups of individuals to develop educational plans.

Create and maintain a developmentally appropriate ‘Personal Profile’ and ‘Education Portfolio’.

Assist individuals in their decision making process. Assist individuals to build and maintain a positive self-

image. Assist individuals to improve their self-awareness and

self-knowledge. Guide individuals in their educational course selection. Assist individuals to overcome learning difficulties. Motivate and help individuals to see the benefit of

taking part in international exchange programs.

When working with young people, have the

ability to:

Consult and collaborate with parents in relation to their children’s educational progress and development.

Where appropriate to assist teachers/tutors to enhance their formal and non-formal methodologies in the use of guidance resources in a school/adult setting.

Facilitate teaching colleagues in implementing appropriate aspects of guidance programme within the curriculum.

When working with adult clients:

Facilitate their successful engagement, with appropriate education/training.

Support the individual in long term planning and the guidance of a personal portfolio.

Provide continuity of support across modules and tutors / trainers.

Facilitate Adult Education Colleagues to implement appropriate aspects of guidance within the adult education programme.

Facilitation of Personal Choices through the lifespan

The guidance Counsellor is involved in Personal/Social Guidance.This requires the capacity to:   Assist clients to develop self-awareness of their personal

values, attitudes, beliefs and those of others. Help clients identify strategies for building self-esteem and

that of others. Facilitate clients in identifying and expanding existing coping

strategies. Assist clients to understand the importance of emotional

expression and develop appropriate ways to express feelings in different contexts.

Assist clients develop their communications skills Help clients in understanding the importance of positive

thinking and help clients develop the ability to use this life skill effectively.

Assist clients in understanding the impact of stress on emotional and social health and assist them in developing personal skills for managing stress.

Assessment

Assessment involves the integration and evaluation of data inventories, tests, interviews, scales, and other techniques, which measure an individual’s abilities, aptitudes, barriers, life roles, interests, personality, values, attitudes, educational achievements, skills, and other relevant information.

The Guidance Counsellor identifies when the use of an assessment is appropriate, which test instrument to use, test interpretation, which is, interpreting, and explaining to a client the results of an assessment and the implications thereof.

The one to one personal interview is a necessary first step in attempting to establish an understanding of the client’s present circumstances, as well as an appreciation of his/her personality, values, attitudes, interests, ambitions, motivations and barriers or perceived. The interview will also afford an opportunity to establish information as to client’s educational achievements to date.

The guidance counsellor is responsible for the maintenance of professional standards in the administration, interpretation, and dissemination of tests and results.

The guidance and counselling processaims to help clients to grow in selfknowledge and self-esteem by

assistingthem to:

Understand personal emotions, abilities, interests and special aptitudes

Acquire information about education and career opportunities within a changing society

Make and carry out appropriate life choices and plans and achieve satisfactory adjustments in life