The professional identity of school counsellors in East and Southeast Asia

Abstract

A strong counsellor professional identity is associated with the provision of more effective school counselling programmes. However, many school counsellors in East and Southeast Asia carry out wide-ranging and poorly defined roles, occupy marginalised positions in schools, and have limited access to communities of practice and professional development. To provide more effective support for children’s well-being, a greater focus on the professional identity of school counsellors in the region is needed. A significant task for professional school counselling organisations is the promotion of counselling in schools as an important and distinct professional role.