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Counsellor insight

Learn from other counsellors about how they developed in their careers and examples of best practice they use

How to make the most of counsellor fly-ins

How can we turn a free flight and a few days on campus into meaningful professional development – and make sure our school benefits, too?

Global Counsellor Award winner 2026 - Dawn Parry

Dawn Parry is this year’s recipient of the Lifetime Achievement in Counselling award. She reflects on her career to date and why counsellors should always keep learning and building their professional networks

Global Counsellor Award winner 2026 – Samantha Caras

Samantha Caras has been named this year’s Counsellor of the Year – Asia. She shares why counsellors should reflect on the values of their students and families to ensure they are providing them with the right guidance

Global Counsellor Award winner 2026 – Alexander Manners

After a decade of working in fashion and advertising, Alexander Manners pivoted to college counselling. The winner of the Rising Star of the Year Award shares how the two industries are more closely linked than we might think

Global Counsellor Awards winner 2026 – Alyssa Casallo

Alyssa Casallo is this year’s winner for Counsellor Community Support and Collaboration. Here she shares the student story that has stayed with her and why building a counselling community is so crucial

Global Counsellor Award winner 2026 – Marsha Oshima

Marsha Oshima has been named Global Counsellor of the Year for 2026. Marsha brings an abundance of experience and knowledge to the counselling community and shares why volunteering is such a valuable activity for counsellors

Global Counsellor Award winner 2026 – Farah Al-Abdallat

Farah Al-Abdallat has been named Counsellor of the Year – Middle East. Here she shares how she felt when she heard she had won and her reflections on how far the profession has come since she started in the role

Drawing of person carrying enormous pile of paper, next to desk filled with files

How to cope with a huge caseload

Working with a large number of students can leave counsellors feeling overwhelmed – but putting structured systems in place will ensure you still provide personalised support

Person wearing one high-heeled shoe and one trainer

An overview of the different types of international school

International schools come in different flavours, with different goals and values. Choosing the right one for you is just as important as helping your students find their best-fit university

Is it better to have a bad counsellor than no counsellor at all?

A lack of counselling may leave space for independent exploration – but incomplete guidance can actively narrow a student’s horizon

Man looking into box with expression of shock

Knowing the unknown unknowns of counselling

As university counsellors, we know what we know, and we know some of what we don’t know. But what about the things we don’t know we don’t know?

Welcome to the dark side of counselling

Counsellors just walk around school with coffee, laughing and joking, right? Sort of. There’s also the side of the job nobody tells you about – the things conveniently left off the job description

Guiding university choices in uncertain times

A turbulent, breakneck news cycle can colour views of study abroad destinations. Yet amid turmoil, there are ways counsellors can provide guidance that brings clarity and puts a student’s study abroad aspirations at the centre of decision-making

A woman choosing between two similar - but slightly different - objects

So you want to be a counsellor – but which kind?

There are school counsellors, university counsellors, guidance counsellors and career counsellors. What’s the difference between them – and what qualifications do you need?

Airport sign showing 'Departures' and 'Arrivals'

ɫ��ֱ��coming: how counsellors can adjust to returning home

Jim Faherty built a life – and a family – during two decades working abroad. So what would it feel like to come home again?

How is a university counsellor like an admissions rep?

An increasing number university admissions reps are moving into school counselling. How similar – and different – are the two roles?

'The last thing I wanted was to work in education': my path to the best job in the world

Jim Faherty did not plan to follow his parents into education – but a job teaching English in China set him on the (slightly winding) path to becoming a counsellor

Predictions for 2026: the counselling version

Missed deadlines, bland AI-generated personal statements and an endless supply of black tote bags – James Burnett offers predictions for counsellors in 2026

Woman lying on the floor with hands over her face, surrounded by children's toys

Why I tell my students my story of failure

Hearing counsellors’ personal stories – of success and failure – can reassure students and show them that even particularly challenging situations do not have a lasting impact

A thread with an enormous tangle in the middle, leading to an illuminated lightbulb

‘Why I always tell my students that I didn’t intend to become a counsellor’

Rachel Doell is an accidental counsellor: she actually wanted to become a doctor. But careers are not always linear – it can take time to find the right job

Tips for making the most of a university tour

University tours are a great way of getting to know universities that you might not have considered before. Here are some tips to make the most of a university tour

How Barbie can inspire school counsellors to break down barriers

How can the movie Barbie help counsellors inspire female students to transcend stereotypes and pursue male-dominated careers?

Global Counsellor Award winner - Jim Faherty

Jim Faherty won the inaugural award for Counsellor of the Year- Southeast Asia. Here he shares his journey into the profession and what he would say to encourage new counsellors into the specialism

Global Counsellor Award winner – Jenny Tassell

Counsellor of the Year – Latin America, Jenny Tassell, shares some upcoming trends in counselling that she is most excited about, including reverse admissions and studying in multiple countries

Global Counsellor Award winner – Ketevan Maghlakelidze

Winner of the award for Counsellor of the Year – Africa, Ketevan Maghlakelidze shares how counsellors can connect with each other and how counsellors can raise the profile of the profession

Global Counsellor Award Winner – Buket Ayaz

Buket Ayaz, winner of the regional Global Counsellor Award – Gulf and Central Asia, shares her career journey and what it means to be a counsellor

Global Counsellor Award winner – Ganesh Kempaiah

Ganesh Kempaiah won this year’s award for Counsellor of the Year – South Asia. Discover more about the profession in the region and his advice for new counsellors

Global Counsellor of the Year – Jeff Neill

As well as winning this year’s Global Counsellor Award, Jeff Neill is a recognisable face in the counselling profession with his technology newsletter and hosting monthly Zoom meetings with other counsellors. Learn more about his journey into the profession here

Diversity and Inclusion Champion – Phillip Wenturine

Phillip Wenturine won the first ever award for Diversity and Inclusion at this year’s Global Counsellor Awards. Here he shares how he has incorporated diversity and inclusion into his counselling and why it’s so crucial for counsellors to do so

Lifetime Achievement in Counselling winner - José Olavo de Amorim

José Olavo de Amorim won the Lifetime Achievement in Counselling award at this year’s inaugural Global Counsellor Awards. He is considered a pioneer in counselling in Brazil and outlines how he has seen the profession develop over the years

Global Counsellor Award winner – Augusto Neto

Augusto Neto won the award for Counsellor Community Support and Collaboration at this year’s inaugural Global Counsellor Awards. Find out more about his career journey and his tips for creating a community

Bridging gaps: a counsellor’s guide to thriving in international education

Counsellors will often have to move abroad and learn new languages and a new culture. These tips can help counsellors to bridge those gaps and assimilate into a new place

Talking about racism as a school counsellor – Christina McDade

School counsellor and social worker Christina McDade speaks about her openness and honesty when addressing the topic of racism within education

A global high school counselling career – Phillip Wenturine

Having travelled to 63 different countries, Phillip Wenturine is in a good position to advise students on where they could study abroad

Why we should be embracing AI – Jeff Neill

Jeff Neill, the director of College Counselling at Graded – The American School of Sao Paulo, Brazil, spoke to the editor of ɫ��ֱ�� Counsellor, Seeta Bhardwa, about why counsellors should embrace AI

Why I decided to become a high school counsellor – Buket Ayaz

A fortuitous opportunity to provide some students with university advice was the key factor in motivating Buket Ayaz to pursue a career in college counselling

Counsellor career progression

Man and woman hanging blank framed canvas on wall

‘My first counselling job was also my school’s first counselling post’

How do you set up a new counselling department when you are also new to counselling – with no experience or existing systems to draw on?

Lightbulb wearing a mortarboard and painted with an image of the world

How to set up an international counselling department in a local school

What do you do if you work in a school that follows the local curriculum and sends students to local universities – but you’ve been asked to set up an international counselling department?

Concentric circles of people holding hands

Six ways to give back to the counselling community

How can college counsellors give back to the community and grow professionally, beyond the remit of their job description?

Woman diving into deep end of swimming pool

How to cope as a counsellor with no formal training

Someone has to do the counselling job – but all too often that means counsellors start the role untrained, unprepared and unsupported

How to follow in the footsteps of a more experienced counsellor

Taking over from someone with decades’ more experience than you is a daunting prospect – but this counsellor found a solution that made everyone’s job easier

A hand choosing a happy face from a spectrum ranging from sad to happy

How satisfied are you in your current job?

What factors influence job satisfaction for a university counsellor? There isn’t yet any research on the topic – but we can reflect on our own experiences

Three parachute jumpers floating to land

What is a counsellor fly-in, and why is it useful?

A fly-in allows counsellors to visit university campuses at no cost to their school – and can be invaluable for counsellors and the students they advise

How to be an effective university counsellor with no budget

Effective college counselling can take place in offices with relatively few resources, thanks to the internet and the generous college-counselling community

How to start a new role without a formal handover

What happens when you start a new role with no structured handover or formal onboarding process? A few simple strategies can make the transition easier

How to submit a proposal for a college-counselling conference

Presenting a session at a college-counselling conference is an exciting way to progress in your career. And anyone can do it – as long as you have fresh insight to bring

People from different professions, in relevant clothes

How to be a career counsellor as well as a college counsellor

‘Career’ may not be in our official job title, but students and parents often expect counsellors to offer advice about employability, career prospects and job markets

Three versions of the same person, interacting with one another

Are you a facilitator, a guide or a seed-sower?

Each is a different type of counselling role – and it’s not unusual for counsellors to move between each of them, depending on context and time of year

Snakes and ladders: how I became a counsellor in four easy-ish steps

Few people begin with university counselling as their career objective – but nor is it the equivalent of putting a racehorse out to pasture

Woman at desk, shrugging and looking confused

What does a university counsellor actually do?

Counsellors occupy an important and unique place in school life – but what does their job actually involve?

I work in university admissions – can I become a counsellor?

Five tips to help people working in university admissions cross over to the other side and start counselling high school students

Half a red apple and half a green apple join to become a whole

Why working as a teacher can enhance your counselling

Doubling as a classroom teacher offers counsellors a range of opportunities to boost students’ university application chances by stealth

Finger pressing a button labelled "Start"

Five things I learned in my first year as a university counsellor

During her first year in the job, Cheong Yi Teng's understanding of the purpose and impact of university counselling has been completely transformed

‘How I transformed my counselling with a six-letter word’

A set of strategies contained in the acronym ‘Uplift’ enabled Adeola Arofin to manage the annual counselling cycle alongside other deadlines and responsibilities

How to set up a new counselling department from scratch

Setting up a brand new counselling department is exciting – but also potentially daunting. How do you go about it?

How to move from working with one university system to working across several

Rachel McCann used to send all her students to universities in the UK – so switching to international counselling was a significant step. Here’s how she managed it

What should you do if you’re feeling stagnant in your job?

You’ve supported cohorts of students with their applications. You’ve organised university fairs. You’ve attended conferences. What next?

Leadership: how experienced counsellors can mentor new counsellors

As counsellors progress through their careers, the way they mentor and encourage young counsellors can have a positive impact on the wider counselling team

How do I do the job of three people?

In Cameroon, counsellors are supposed to work closely with 300 pupils. But a shortage of counsellors means that they’re more likely to be working with 900

CPD: Where are the best places to find professional development opportunities for counsellors?

The right CPD enables counsellors to keep up with sector trends, enhance their knowledge and support students more effectively

Bridging gaps: a counsellor’s guide to thriving in international education

Counsellors will often have to move abroad and learn new languages and a new culture. These tips can help counsellors to bridge those gaps and assimilate into a new place

CPD: How to find and focus on your strengths

Recognising your own strengths allows counsellors to tailor CPD activities accordingly. These tools can help you identify the areas where you excel

Woman looking at airport departure board

Nine points to consider when taking a job internationally

Counsellors spend a lot of time advising students on how to find their best-fit destinations – but ‘best fit’ can apply equally to job-hunting counsellors, too

Speech bubble containing the word "Oops"

Mistakes I made as a counsellor – so you don’t have to

The path to becoming an effective university counsellor inevitably involves mistakes. What are some of the common ones?

Woman in airport, looking at departures board

Taking a job off the beaten track? Here are some tips

Working in remote or less-touristed areas can be challenging – but also exhilarating and rewarding, as long as you learn to expect the unexpected

A small shoot casting the shadow of a tall tree

How to progress in your career as a school counsellor

New and experienced counsellors alike might be looking for new challenges and the opportunity to develop new skills – but where should you begin?

Considering a career in counselling? Here’s what you need to know

Are you thinking of training to be a university counsellor? Here’s the information and resources you need to get started

Counselling isn’t about knowledge – it’s about relationships

As a counsellor, it’s easy to feel as though you’re the only person guiding students to their destinations. But is it up to you to have all the information?

A group of high-school students walking away; one turns back

Who do school counsellors work for?

In order to do our jobs to the best of our ability, school counsellors must first define who we are doing it for, says Deborah Mason Pontual

Man concentrating at computer, with notepad and pen

How school counsellors can keep learning

Counsellors should never stop learning and growing, no matter how experienced they are. David Hanna offers some tips on staying ahead of emerging trends

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How to make the most of counsellor fly-ins

Global Counsellor Award winner 2026 - Dawn Parry

Global Counsellor Award winner 2026 – Samantha Caras

Global Counsellor Award winner 2026 – Alexander Manners

Global Counsellor Awards winner 2026 – Alyssa Casallo

Global Counsellor Award winner 2026 – Marsha Oshima

Global Counsellor Award winner 2026 – Farah Al-Abdallat

How to cope with a huge caseload

An overview of the different types of international school

Is it better to have a bad counsellor than no counsellor at all?

Knowing the unknown unknowns of counselling

Welcome to the dark side of counselling

Guiding university choices in uncertain times

So you want to be a counsellor – but which kind?

ɫ��ֱ��coming: how counsellors can adjust to returning home

How is a university counsellor like an admissions rep?

'The last thing I wanted was to work in education': my path to the best job in the world

Predictions for 2026: the counselling version

Why I tell my students my story of failure

‘Why I always tell my students that I didn’t intend to become a counsellor’

Tips for making the most of a university tour

How Barbie can inspire school counsellors to break down barriers

Global Counsellor Award winner - Jim Faherty

Global Counsellor Award winner – Jenny Tassell

Global Counsellor Award winner – Ketevan Maghlakelidze

Global Counsellor Award Winner – Buket Ayaz

Global Counsellor Award winner – Ganesh Kempaiah

Global Counsellor of the Year – Jeff Neill

Diversity and Inclusion Champion – Phillip Wenturine

Lifetime Achievement in Counselling winner - José Olavo de Amorim

Global Counsellor Award winner – Augusto Neto

Bridging gaps: a counsellor’s guide to thriving in international education

Talking about racism as a school counsellor – Christina McDade

A global high school counselling career – Phillip Wenturine

Why we should be embracing AI – Jeff Neill

Why I decided to become a high school counsellor – Buket Ayaz

Counsellor career progression

‘My first counselling job was also my school’s first counselling post’

How to set up an international counselling department in a local school

Six ways to give back to the counselling community

How to cope as a counsellor with no formal training

How to follow in the footsteps of a more experienced counsellor

How satisfied are you in your current job?

What is a counsellor fly-in, and why is it useful?

How to be an effective university counsellor with no budget

How to start a new role without a formal handover

How to submit a proposal for a college-counselling conference

How to be a career counsellor as well as a college counsellor

Are you a facilitator, a guide or a seed-sower?

Snakes and ladders: how I became a counsellor in four easy-ish steps

What does a university counsellor actually do?

I work in university admissions – can I become a counsellor?

Why working as a teacher can enhance your counselling

Five things I learned in my first year as a university counsellor

‘How I transformed my counselling with a six-letter word’

How to set up a new counselling department from scratch

How to move from working with one university system to working across several

What should you do if you’re feeling stagnant in your job?

Leadership: how experienced counsellors can mentor new counsellors

How do I do the job of three people?

CPD: Where are the best places to find professional development opportunities for counsellors?

Bridging gaps: a counsellor’s guide to thriving in international education

CPD: How to find and focus on your strengths

Nine points to consider when taking a job internationally

Mistakes I made as a counsellor – so you don’t have to

Taking a job off the beaten track? Here are some tips

How to progress in your career as a school counsellor

Considering a career in counselling? Here’s what you need to know

Counselling isn’t about knowledge – it’s about relationships

Who do school counsellors work for?

How school counsellors can keep learning

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