The experiences of school counsellors in Hong Kong: implications for policy innovation

ABSTRACT

School counsellors in Hong Kong constitute an underutilised resource in supporting the wellbeing of young people. We investigated how counsellors working in local and international schools perceived their roles and professional status. Counsellors were both surveyed and interviewed. Findings indicate that local school counsellors have a low professional status and an unclear identity compared to their international counterparts. As a group, they are marginalised and disempowered within their own school settings, reducing their effectiveness, and limiting the benefits they can provide to students. Policy innovation at school level is needed to better utilise school counsellors. Professional organisations have an important role to play in educating the community about school counselling and advocating for policy change at school and government levels.

KEYWORDS:

• Counsellors
• school counselling
• Hong Kong
• international school
• local school
• policy

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to some data containing information that could compromise the privacy of research participants.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mark G. Harrison

Mark Harrison is a Lecturer in the Department of International Education at the Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. His research interests are in school counselling and wellbeing in an educational context. He worked in secondary schools in Hong Kong and the UK for many years, holding several positions of senior leadership. He is also a registered counsellor.

Fu Wai

Fu Wai is an Associate Professor in the Department of Counselling and Psychology at Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Hong Kong. He is also the research coordinator for the Doctor of Psychology in Counselling Psychology programme at the university. His research interests include the history of counselling in Hong Kong, identity development of counsellors and counselling psychologists, and qualitative research methodology.

Jacky K. F. Cheung

Jacky Cheung King Fai is the President of the Hong Kong General Union of School Counselling Professionals. His research interests are in school counselling, child development, parenting, child and adolescent counselling, and counselling students with special educational needs. He is a registered counselling psychologist (Hong Kong Psychological Society) and a registered clinical supervisor and registered counsellor (Asian Professional Counselling and Psychology Association).