The School Counsellor's Role in Trauma-Aware Education. Issue 2 (16th December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Howard, Judith; L'Estrange, Lyra; Brown, Meegan
• Is Part Of: Journal of psychologists and counsellors in schools. Volume 32:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 243
• Page End: 253
• Publication Date: 2022-12-16
• Subjects: trauma-aware -- trauma-informed -- school counsellor; Educational counseling -- Australia -- Periodicals; Educational counseling -- Periodicals; Child psychology -- Periodicals; School children -- Psychology -- Periodicals; 155.42405
• DOI: 10.1017/jgc.2021.32
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2055-6365

Abstract

Abstract: It is not unusual for school counsellors to be involved in trauma-aware education practice; however, their role is not uniformly defined in the literature nor consistently applied in professional settings. Trauma-aware education is relatively new but rapidly growing in Australia and beyond. It involves supporting students in a neuroscience-informed manner to address the impacts of complex trauma on their capacities to feel safe, to relate, to emotionally regulate, and to learn. Twenty-six school counsellors completed questionnaires, and eight of those joined focus group discussions to explore the role of school counsellors in trauma-aware practice in Queensland, Australia. Drawing on the voices of practitioners, the present report discusses categories of practice that are prioritised by school counsellors and recommends supports to effectively undertake trauma-aware practice in school settings.