What is Educational counselling and it's significance

By S Adeeb Mujtaba Ali

Educational counseling entails assisting and guiding students in making the best possible, educational decisions, including educational plans, job goals, stream and specialization options, and college or university placement based on their desires and priorities. In instructional settings, an Educational Counselor deals mostly with students in high school and college. Many schools have their own educational counselors to assist students in finding the right career and making educated decisions in their studies, especially for special needs students, and educational counselors often assist students in coping with personal problems that could be affecting their academic journey. In order to address those difficulties, an Educational Counsellor works with the student's parents, guardians, or teachers to assist them with determining the right solutions to the student's concerns.

There are three core types of Educational Counselling:

1) Educational Guidance and Counselling

2) Vocational Counselling

3) Career Counselling

1) Educational Guidance and Counselling

Guidance and Counseling focuses on giving students the correct advice for their academic needs, whether it's choosing the correct major or finding the best college and course after high school. Educational counsellors can be used in classrooms and universities, and educational counseling programs can also help you find the best mentorship for your learning journey. Educational Counselor Addresses Concerns more than just schooling is looked after by an Educational Counsellor. Some issues that Educational Counselors must address include:

Issues concerning the family

Questions about puberty

Educative and job guidance

Giving help to the family

Problems of transport

Grade-related concerns

Fighting or Bullying?

2) Vocational Counselling

Similar to occupational counseling, vocational counseling focuses on choosing the best profession or employment opportunities for an employee based on their needs and demands in the field or business they want to work in.

3) Career Counselling

Career counseling is something of a holistic blend of career and occupational counseling since it relies on both students and working adults, providing them with the best mentorship they need at any stage of their college and professional journeys.

Educational Counseling's Advantages

We always find ourselves in a quandary when it comes to choosing a profession because of the variety of courses and subject combinations available. At this point, educational counseling is critical. So, if you're wondering why educational therapy is important for students, here are a few reasons to think about it:

It aids in the realization of passions and skills.

You learn about your flaws and strengths by using a SWOT analysis. It increases your self-assurance and helps you make better choices. It enables you to anticipate and plan for the problems that will inevitably arise. Counseling helps people see more clearly and eliminates the tension they experience at work.

It allows you to change your behavior by assisting you in identifying undesirable characteristics.

Lene Sovold: The strategies we adopt to deal with the situation is going to determine our resilience as human species!!!

 By S Adeeb Mujtaba Ali

In one of the article published in WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM, Clinical psychologist and mental health advisor from Norway, Lene Sovold has explained in detail that the COVID_19 pandemic is functioning as an effective method for social change and giving new alternatives to many urgent global problems, depending on the coping mechanisms we have been using in response to this emergency situation. 

From his clinical practice and general observation, Lene Sovold mentioned that different people react to a situation in different ways to cope with it and has categorized them into four categories, they are 

1. Negativity due to external stimuli:  The behavioral changes (not following covid_19 guidelines), curiosity to explore negative theories, etc observed due to continuous exposure to social media or destructive external expressions.

2. Positive or proactive external expressions: A very constructive state of mind, helping people in and around their vicinity, upskilling themselves, getting involved in physical activities, etc. 

3. Negative or destructive internal expressions: A complete negative outlook, worrying around about the future, like small kids they too have worry dragons which they couldn't tame. They exhibit panic attacks, anxiety, depression, etc. 

4. Positive or proactive internal expressions: These individuals have demonstrated the real meaning of crisis management through their actions. They not only take care of themselves, and their family but also contribute to society. Best example: Pandemic frontliners. 

From his experiences through online consultations during the pandemic crisis, he concludes that 

1) Like all other sectors even healthcare will witness digitalization in the form of online consultations and engaging patients on virtual platforms in coping with mental health-related side effects pandemic is creating 

2) It is important to become more proactive and adaptive to cope up with the crisis.

3) The strategies we adopt to deal with the situation is going to determine our resilience as human species

Excerpt credits:

Lene Søvold, Clinical psychologist and mental health advisor, Norway

Prediction on psychometric tools during COVID_19

By S Adeeb Mujtaba Ali

In the current COVID-19 setting, where everyone is talking about or picking up on a variety of topics, one has piqued my interest.

Presenting an excerpt from the same 

In a culture where employees and businesses meet by video conference and selection and recruitment monitored online with no face-to-face interactions, search consultants can offer precise and predictive assessments and useful insights into finding the right executive and non-executive talent. With the help of psychometric testing.

What is psychometric testing?

They are questionnaires used for personality evaluations. Psychometrics allows one to quantify personality characteristics, behaviors, emotional reactions, and psychiatric effects objectively in both study and practice.

Psychometric testing instruments are appropriate for a variety of uses and results and help you determine which assessments are suitable for your business. There are four major clusters or groupings of characteristics that psychometric evaluations evaluate: aptitude, behavior, appearance, and emotional intelligence.

An Australian-based Challis & Company (www.challis.co), with Hannah Challis (Executive director and Organisational psychologist), firmly believes that psychometric testing can be predicted to be an essential tool to perform structured and organized virtual interviews and recruitment. 

The reports generated from the psychometric tools will give insights into the personality trait (behavior, decision-making ability, competency, nature, etc) of the applicants (individually) and a window for improvement with the development plans created by the tool.

Through this type of recruitment procedure, it not only becomes easy for the clients to onboard best fit, but also candidates receive valuable development plans and insights whether or not they are selected for the job.

The effect of COVID-19 highlights the importance of research. Challis & Company works closely with boards of directors and CEOs who are making recruiting decisions without getting the ability to meet applicants in person. Psychometric assessment is much more important in this situation.

Relational distancing has resulted in organizations and persons living under altered employment conditions, which could last for a long time. Psychometric testing may reveal how individuals and groups respond to the effects of physical separation, social alienation, and remote working. Hannah says, broader understanding of an individual’s fundamental beliefs and form of character proves to be helpful. It allows leaders to be more empathetic to a wide variety of reactions, challenges, and desires at these periods, as well as implement successful working conditions and the correct community.

Excerpt credits:

Contact: Hannah Challis - hchallis@challis.co

Website: https://www.challis.co/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahchallis/

Website - Melbourne: https://agiliumworldwide.com/melbourne-challis-company

Website - Sydney: https://agiliumworldwide.com/global-locations/asia-pacific/sydney-challis-company

Covid_19 Awareness: Most important activities through out 2020

By S Adeeb Mujtaba Ali

Welcome to Revisiting session

Isolation  the state of being in a place or situation that is separate from others Merriam Webster 

Physical distancing: the tendency to avoid close contact with others

Body language exposes our relationship to others. There is the confident demeanor of the self-assured, the plodding gait of the downhearted and the physical distancing that characterizes fear.

— Marcia Manna

… JFK was notable for his physical distancing—part of his immense, glamorous reserve. He hated crowds—of course, with good reason—while expertly playing them like a grand piano.

— Robert Whitcomb

specifically, medical

: the practice of maintaining a greater than usual physical space between oneself and other people or of avoiding direct contact with people or objects in public places during the outbreak of a contagious disease in order to minimize exposure and reduce the transmission of infection : SOCIAL DISTANCING

The main thing that we can all do, is what is called social distancing. I like to use the phrase 'physical distancing.' … Now you're going to be spending much more time in your house, spending time away from people … to limit transmission of the COVID virus. Physical distancing takes away the idea we can still talk to loved ones …

— Adam Rosh

The WHO added that they were now using the term "physical distancing" rather than "social distancing" to describe the importance of maintaining space between people in order to avoid the spread of the virus.

— Manon Da

Merriam Webster

Quarantine: a state, period, or place of isolation in which people or animals that have arrived from elsewhere or been exposed to infectious or contagious disease are placed.

Oxford language

Know that medication except for vaccination and anti-viral drugs would not work against a virus.

It is not important that drugs or remedies which worked for one person will work on another person, since we all are individual with specific body type and body requirements.

Corona virus is found to be mutating rapidly therefore a single vaccine or its single dose won't suffice.

Please say no to other drugs specially steroids they will worsen the situation.

Instead of panicking, work on building your immunity. 

Eat healthy, excercise, stay fit, follow covid norms. 

Do not travel to places where more covid cases are reported.

A healthy immune system can only be trusted in the present times.

What is immunity and immune system?

In simple terms, immunity is the ability of our body which fights with disease causing agents.

 Immune system comprises of all the tools which builds up immunity.

If each one of us do our bit sincerely, we can make a difference and overcome the situation.

COVID_19 - Lockdown - Education.

 By S Adeeb Mujtaba Ali 

Offline and Hybrid courses were taken online

A herculean task which was implemented overnight by managing and collaborating educators, learners and the functional resources (online platforms). 

Pro's

Interactive teaching - learning process, student centred, flexible, convenient.

Con's

Not suitable for all the learner's, dependable on internet and electronic devices (Desktop, Laptop, Smartphone, Tablet etc)

Realisation of significance of  new-age skills to work on online platform 

Several Edtech are collaborating with schools, college and universities for continued and smooth flow of teaching-and-learning process.

Pro's 

Good interpretation and delivery of data. Pre recorded or pre loaded courses and course material. 

Con's

Neither all the educators nor all the learner's have knowledge of the technology. A major drawback. 

Individuals investment for self up-skilling or learning.

Individuals who wants to equip themselves with more degrees, certificates and qualification will invest on their own. No enforcement of rules.

Pro's

Freedom to choose the courses based on type kind and duration. No strict deadlines or any other kind of restrictions.

Con's

Only the previlaged sections of society will have access to higher education, the tech savvy individuals can grasp things faster than slow technology learner's. 

Change in Learning formats based on different segments of learner's.

A basic orientation followed by EdTech is they are student centred. Based on the learning requirements, ability and liking of learner's the courses are curated.

Pro's

Revolves around the need, requirements and liking of the learner's. Learner enjoy the sessions. Flexible and convenient.

Con's

Their will be a huge gap created between the learner's based on the courses opted. Since it's student centred, their is a high level of specificity and options are narrow in terms of job.

In conclusion, their could be many pro's and con's about edtech, a root fact we should not forget is, edtech and non traditional education model was our saviour during the pandemic crisis. Hence, instead of being critical or having opinions and if's and but's we should accept and adapt to the change gracefully.

COVID_19 and elderly mental health

By S Adeeb Mujtaba Ali

The World Health Organization announced coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) viral infection as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. India is a nation with a large population of over 1.3 billion population, on January 30, 2020, India, announced its (covid-19) first occurrence. The Government of India has decided to impose a countrywide lockdown beginning March 25, 2020, for a period of three weeks until April 14, 2020, social connections and mobility were restricted. In this sense, older adults faced difficulties such as a lack of attendants to assist them with everyday activities, difficulty in obtaining medical assistance, and fear of an adverse path in current morbidity.

Many who are elderly and live in a typical joint family arrangement were able to enlist the help of other family members to cope with new challenges. Since four to five people live under one roof in a typical Indian family. In certain households, one or more individuals over the age of 60 are found, one under the age of 18, and two others in the middle age groups. Three generations are mostly seen living together, with 75% of them sharing the same house. This setup increases the risk of infection through aerosols. It was also reported that neighbors were accomodating the younger adults to quarantine in their premises to protect and save the elderly from infection.

However, the percentage of older people who live alone is steadily rising because their children moved to another city or country to earn a livelihood or to have better standards of living. This senior citizens rely on contracted housekeepers and primary care doctors in their communities for their everyday needs.

According to media reports, the number of individuals seeking support for mental health problems rose by 20% during the first week of the three-week lockdown.

Many Indians are stigmatized by mental disorders, and many tend to pursue treatment by herbal medicine. Multiple national and international actors have participated in mental health advocacy programs, openly announcing their mental illnesses and the benefits of psychotropic drugs, resulting in increased social recognition of mental health services in India.

 The latest COVID-19 virus pandemic has resulted in a surge in demand for psychiatric assistance. There are approximately 8000 mental health practitioners in India, the majority of whom work in cities. Mental health professionals are not readily available to aging people. They are prone to feelings of isolation and powerlessness. And if they survive the pandemic, they worry that the social order will be disrupted. 

In this scenario, the measures taken up by the governments and non-government bodies are commendable like moderating the news, crime cases, arrangement of virtual communication platforms for the elderly on zoom and Whatsapp calls, counseling helplines created by a cohort of mental health professionals, etc. 

Such online measures,  prove to be fruitful, especially for the aged, those with mobility problems, anxiety, and depression, those who lack access to healthcare, and those who live in rural areas. When harnessed, internet access for older adults will assist in the formation of online community groups, video therapy, and the development of medical and rehabilitation resources. The COVID-19 pandemic may thus turn out to be a blessing in disguise, hastening the deterioration of healthcare resources and access for India's population, especially the elderly.

Reference:

• Vahia, V. N., & Shah, A. B. (2020). COVID-19 pandemic and mental health care of older adults in India. International psychogeriatrics, 32(10), 1125–1127. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610220001441

COVID_19 and child anxiety

By, S Adeeb Mujtaba Ali

In the present article I would like to cover a topic which holds high significance. It is Covid_19 and children. Ever since  2020 commenced, children were exposed to many global issues, and no physical access to school was a huge addition to build up anxiety. Counselors have been doing their very best to help families and children steer through this distasteful situation in their best capacity.

A dive into strategies employed by Counselors to help children:

Fair, open and clear communication

Children by nature are curious about the happenings around them. They absorb from their surroundings and try to act accordingly. Plus they also need some one around with whom they can continue to share and exchange information. By keeping a window open for exchange of information with Children and explain them things clearly along with understanding the situation is always helpful. 

It is better to explain a child about existence of virus in the environment, that can cause infection through teaching learning aids, making them understand the sensitivity of the situation, importance of social distancing by self practicing, is the best model. Than compared to shutting them and enforcing  to do something without explanation is harsh and unwarranted. In this closed communication model child might not learn the actuals of COVID_19. Therefore have a clear communication it will help.

Worry Train your child: 

Yes, train your child to not to worry. A person (a child) see a worry as a dragon, so better teach your child to how to tame the dragon? An approach suggested by Jane Garland and Sandra Clark in their book -Taming Worry Dragons: A Manual for Children, Parents and Other Coaches.

Some of the skills suggested by senior child Counselors are:

Schedule, get involved in some creative activities and have a me time/ family time routine.

1) Schedule:

Teach your child to have a 'worry time' to think of all the negative possibilities. After this worry time, they are not suppose to worry rest of the time. 

This is a proven formula and suggested by experienced children counselors. One of the way the worry dragon can be tamed.

2) Involve in creative activities

Make them draw, write, play with colors, or make illustration of their worry dragons. This is again a very constructive activity to help your child open up and express themselves in a better way.

3) A routine

 Have a routine, family time, me time where child can feel and sense harmony. To feel protected and secure. A very warm and comfortable approach against the worry dragon. 

These are some of the strategies which helps in combating worries and anxiety in children.

It helps them to stay calm and composed, informed and grounded when they loose a loved one due to COVID_19.

Excerpt credits

Celine Cluff is a registered clinical counselor practicing in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. She holds a master’s degree in psychoanalytic studies from Middlesex University in London and is currently completing her doctorate in occupational psychology. Her private practice focuses on family therapy, couples therapy and parenting challenges. Contact her at celine.cluff@yahoo.com.

Victoria Kress is a professor at Youngstown State University in Ohio. She is a licensed professional clinical counselor and supervisor, national certified counselor and certified clinical mental health counselor. She has published extensively on many topics related to counselor practice. Contact her at victoriaEkress@gmail.com.