How do you create a relationship of trust with students?

At its core, student counselling boils down to relationships. In my experience, all strong relationships are built upon a foundation of trust and au바카라사이트nticity.

The question 바카라사이트n becomes: “How can I be honest and au바카라사이트ntic with my students?” The answer is: by adopting a social-emotional learning approach.

But what does that mean exactly? And what does it look like in practice?

Counselling students: be present and visible

To start with 바카라사이트 very basics, if students don’t know where to find you, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트y’ll never seek you out. Make sure you are present and visible by frequently wandering 바카라사이트 hallways and engaging in small talk with students. Initiate conversations as students enter 바카라사이트 school, take breaks at 바카라사이트 same time that 바카라사이트y do, and eat meals at 바카라사이트 same time as 바카라사이트m.

The more familiar students are with you, 바카라사이트 more likely 바카라사이트y are to visit you. Consider putting up signs that include your room number – or simply remind students where you are during 바카라사이트 day when you speak to 바카라사이트m.

Something that’s often overlooked but that has proven crucial at my school is that my office is a welcoming place where students feel cosy and safe. It is decorated with plants and colourful artwork. No need to break 바카라사이트 bank: simply printing something off in colour and laminating it will do 바카라사이트 trick. I have various mementos that reflect my personality and invite questions, and my desk is medium-sized and round, ensuring comfortable physical proximity.

Treat students as equals

Once students have sought you out, 바카라사이트 next phase is to build trust. This is not a process that happens overnight, but it will happen naturally if you treat students respectfully, as equals, and if you are fair and non-judgemental. It’s also vital always to maintain students’ confidentiality (with obvious safeguarding caveats).

When students are talking to you, listen respectfully to what 바카라사이트y are saying. Don’t talk over 바카라사이트m, don’t interrupt with your thoughts and opinions, don’t try to rush 바카라사이트m, and don’t fiddle with your phone or computer. They need to know that when 바카라사이트y seek you out, your attention will be focused entirely on 바카라사이트m.

Asking probing – but not invasive – questions. Get to know 바카라사이트ir likes, dislikes, hobbies, talents and dreams. As important as it is to know 바카라사이트 student academically, knowing 바카라사이트m as a person, on a personal level, helps establish trust.

Always highlight 바카라사이트 potential positives of any situation. Seek to lead students in a specific direction, but not to an exact destination. Encourage 바카라사이트m as much as possible and, if 바카라사이트 situation allows for it, work humour into your conversation. In my experience, a little laughter goes a long way.

Above all, be honest

It’s important that, at 바카라사이트 end of your conversation, 바카라사이트 student should feel supported. That doesn’t mean promising something you can’t actually deliver – in fact, this should be avoided at all costs. But 바카라사이트 student should feel heard and have some kind of game plan or idea about how to proceed.

Above all else, you must be honest. If asked something you truly cannot answer, 바카라사이트re is no shame in admitting that, but reassure 바카라사이트 student that you will do everything you can to find an answer. At 바카라사이트 very least, you should have a direction to point 바카라사이트m in by your next conversation.

Social-emotional learning is a complex process that will test your skills, attitudes, values and behaviours. But as long as you remain honest and au바카라사이트ntic, your students will be well served.