EDUC 5551: Introduction to Secondary School Counselling

• Conceptualize the role and function of secondary school counsellors within the student support team design according to resources as well as needs of schools.
• Learn to assess as well as provide service delivery within the areas of social emotional, educational, and career development for students within secondary guidance and counselling services.
• Explore the dimensions and scope of practice of high-school counsellors in service delivery.
• Recognize and maintain ethical boundaries and legal limitations related to privacy legislation and the Public Schools Act of BC.
• Learn, reflect upon, and implement best practices in relation to cultural competence, trauma-informed care, Indigenous principles of learning, and practices supporting diversity and inclusion.
• Assess and recognize interventions in relation to social emotional student issues, e.g., mental health, substance use/abuse, self-harm, digital saturation, relational conflict, etc.
• Utilize technology, assessments, and resourcing to support students in post-secondary preparation as well as goal acquisition.
• Explore sustainability and growth in the secondary high-school counselling role around self-care, boundaries, and communication while supporting students, families, administration, staff, and community stakeholders. 

• Week 1: What Is High-School Counselling?
• Week 2: Why Do Youth Need Support? Lifespan Development and Identity Achievement
• Week 3: Presenting Issues in Youth—Mental Health, Substance Use/Abuse, Self-Harm, Digital Saturation, Relational Conflict, and Crisis Stabilization
• Week 4: Progressive Practices Part I
• Week 5: Progressive Practices Part II
• Week 6: Cultural Considerations and Integrating Indigenous Perspectives in High-School Counselling Service Delivery
• Week 7: Practices for Preparation—Student Post-Secondary Planning and Goal Acquisition
• Week 8: The Practices and Implications of Social Media Culture for Youth
• Week 9 High-School Counsellor Sustainability and Self-Care
• Week 10: Maintaining Supportive Relationships with Students, Families, Administration, Teachers, Staff, and Community Stakeholders
• Week 11: Supporting Evolving Social Pressures, Trends, and Complexity of Dynamics for Youth in School Systems
• Week 12: Resourcing High Schools and Personal Growth Plan

Online MEd students are responsible for sourcing and/or ordering their own books. Please see the list of required textbooks here: https://www.tru.ca/distance/courses/MEd_Textbook_List.pdf

If students have any questions about obtaining the correct textbook, please contact OLMaterials@tru.ca.

To successfully complete this course, students must achieve a passing grade of 70% or higher on the overall course, and 50% or higher on the final mandatory project.

An Open Learning Faculty Member is available to assist students. Students will receive the necessary contact information at the start of the course.