How to help students manage university-application stressStudents’ university-application stress is not inevitable – it comes from trying to manage complexity without the necessary structure or support
Counselling activity: compassionate letter to myselfThis activity encourages students to reflect on the warmth, care and support they show their friends – and then direct that same compassion to themselves
How to support students during exam seasonWhether sitting end-of-year exams or end-of-school external exams, students are often convinced that their grades will determine their future. How can we give them some perspective?
A developmental road map for school counsellors Students are often limited by deeply ingrained beliefs and habits developed in their earlier years – but counsellors can help them overcome these
Harnessing the power of the mindsetFour types of mindset are created when two different factors interact. And the two factors matter to college counsellors, because they are curiosity and ambition
How to work with students’ vulnerabilityWe might think vulnerability belongs only to the realm of social-emotional counsellors. But vulnerability can enter our work, too – often in unexpected ways
Why students need to find their inner CEOThe executive functions are a set of cognitive skills that help us make plans, solve problems, adapt to new situations – and apply to university
How to help students overcome the fear of missing outOur students have a wide array of futures to choose from – but rejecting some options in favour of others can lead to FOMO: fear of missing out
How to combat perfectionism among studentsIt can be tempting for students to pursue perfection in the university application process – but aspiring to a non-existent ideal won’t make them happy
Cognitive dissonance: how to advise students who are set in their choicesWhy do some students choose to ignore the evidence in front of them, no matter how incontrovertible? And what can we as counsellors do about it?
How to prepare neurodivergent students for life at universityThe transition from high school to university can be difficult for all students – but is often particularly challenging for those who are neurodivergent
How to support students in the lead-up to exam seasonFinal-year school exams can shape a student’s academic future. The following strategies will help them perform at their best – even when they’re feeling under pressure
How to protect students’ self-esteem during the university application processNegative self-talk, a tendency to avoid challenge and difficulty accepting compliments can affect not only a student’s mental health but the university application process as well
How to deal with strong emotions during the university-application processStrong negative emotions can appear at every stage of the application process – it‘s helpful for students if we are able to contain these emotions for them
Campus safety: why should it matter to students (not just their parents)Safety is something that students and parents are considering more and more when choosing a university. Huron University’s Linea Dacosta shares how the university is incorporating student safety into the campus
Let’s talk mental health: the importance of supporting young people Counsellors can help students to identify universities that prioritise mental health support and individualised care
Why does applying to university feel so burdensome for students?Why do students often find the university application process so oppressive? Psychology of the self provides some insight
Why students need to understand opportunity costUnderstanding that a perfectly Instagram-able life is not real, and that everyone has to choose their priorities, is highly beneficial for students
Is university admission really a meritocracy? Intelligent and hardworking students receive the best university offers, which is only fair and right – or is it?
‘Help! I want to drop out of university’: how to advise struggling ex-studentsEven well-counselled students will occasionally run into problems at university – and may come back to their high-school counsellor for advice
Is university rejection actually a failure? Our students tend to define success according to external criteria: exam results and university offers. But what if they saw things differently?
How to use CBT strategies to support catastrophising studentsThe university-application process can invoke panic, distress and anxiety. Cognitive behavioural therapy offers counsellors some tools to help students manage these emotions
Grades are not everything. But how can we convince students of that?A student comes to you in tears: ‘My friends are all getting better grades than me and are going to go to better universities than me.’ How can you help?
How to support anxious students – tips from a former therapistWe can’t take away all the triggers of mental-health struggles for our students. But we can ensure that our guidance is not one of those triggers
Four ways to help stressed students calm downAn increasingly important part of the counsellor’s job is guiding students through moments of stress and overwhelm. These techniques may prove useful
How to be a counsellor when your students want a therapistYou've been hired to help students get into college – but you find they’re telling you their hopes, dreams and fears. How should you respond?
How to help students cope with rejectionStudents often experience rejection for the first time when applying to university. Teaching them self-compassion can help ease the pain
Four ways to support students’ emotional wellbeingIt doesn’t matter how much information and data we give students – we will only be truly successful counsellors if we cater for their emotions too
How to help your students stay safe at universityFor many students, going to university means living independently for the first time in their lives. Sarah Gratton offers some tips to help them stay safe
How to help students manage homesicknessLiving away from home in a new country or culture can be exciting – but also daunting. Here’s how to help your students prepare
Advising students on making friends at universityMoving to a new school or college brings plenty of chances to start afresh and meet new people. This guide offers some tips for advising students who are nervous about making friends at university
‘Why I tell my students, “Not right now”’You don’t have to rush to respond to every request – allowing yourself a bit of breathing space helps you to be more present for your students
How to preserve your time as a counsellorStudents don’t need a counsellor who answers every email within five minutes. They need a counsellor who is prepared, who has time to think and who is able to start – and finish – a task
Modelling self-care and well-being for studentsWhen Michelle Ray found herself in hospital, close to burnout, she learned that she can help students best when she slows down and looks after her well-being
Help! My role keeps expandingCounsellors are experiencing mission creep – now, as well as providing university guidance, we’re addressing student well-being, family dynamics, identity development and career decision-making. Often simultaneously
Feeling emotionally overwhelmed? The answer’s CLEARCarrying our students’ emotions home with us can lead to exhaustion and burnout – but this technique can help protect our emotional well-being
How to find your people in a new countryFinding your tribe and creating a sense of community around you can help you turn a new location into a place that feels like home
How to stay organised: a guide for new counsellorsAn online integrated tracking and planning system can help counsellors to maintain a comprehensive record of student interactions, progress and goals
How to find the silver lining on a cloudy dayIt's been a difficult day. You’re tired, there’s so much to do and none of it feels particularly rewarding. How do you find the silver lining that reminds you why you became a counsellor in the first place?
How to deal with information overloadReading and learning are integral parts of the university counsellor’s job. But how do you cope when there’s so much to read and learn and so little time in which to do it?
How neurodivergent counsellors can avoid feelings of overwhelmIt can be easy for neurodivergent counsellors to become overwhelmed – particularly when juggling hundreds of students’ needs. Rachel Doell offers some survival tips
How to fit moments of self-care into the busiest times of yearSelf-care can feel impossible when it’s application season and you’re working non-stop – but perhaps you just need to adjust your idea of what self-care entails
Why university counsellors need to learn about emotional labourWhen emotions run high with university applications, college counsellors need to regulate their own emotional expression. This is emotional labour – and it can take a toll
Why counsellors need to switch off over the breakWith university application deadlines in January, it can be difficult to switch off over the winter break – but here are five compelling reasons why we should do it anyway
A counsellor’s New Year’s resolutions – in songYour neighbours are having a noisy New Year’s Eve party – but there may be some counselling lessons in their choice of soundtrack
How to manage your time as a university counsellorSo much to do – so little time in which to do it. Time management can be the university counsellor’s nemesis. But there are ways to ensure you make the most of your time
How to tackle impostor syndromeIt is common for new counsellors to not feel up to the job – but there are practical strategies that can help combat impostor syndrome
Why counsellors are prone to burnout – and how to combat itIt is widely acknowleged that therapists, teachers and social workers are particularly prone to burnout – but college counsellors should be included in this list, too
Four tips for creating proper boundaries for yourselfWorking with the highs and lows of the university admissions process can be exciting – and exhausting. These tips will help prevent burnout
How to deliver university counselling in a war zoneWhen war broke out in Khartoum, international school students dispersed around the globe – but their counsellors’ job didn’t end
Counsellor resource: five ways to build bridges in a solitary professionHow can you build bridges with other counsellors in a profession that can often feel quite solitary? Jenny Tassell, head of the counselling department at the International School of Panama, shares five tips for building a strong professional network
How to survive working in a one-person departmentBeing a one-person office can feel like a non-stop race. But with the right strategies, you can reach more students and reclaim your time
How to establish boundaries as a counsellorUniversity counselling is a demanding profession – and not setting proper boundaries can lead to burnout. How can counsellors take care of themselves?
How to survive the busiest time of yearIt’s that time of year when workload increases, emotions run high and it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Stephanie Grafe offers some coping strategies
Why putting yourself first is the best thing for your studentsTo ensure that counsellors are able to help and support their students, they need to look after their own well-being. What are the best ways to do this?
