Management of Psychological Counseling for High School Students

Abstract

Psychological counseling for students is an important activity in high schools today. The article presents the results of a recent study that assessed the current situation of the implementation and management of psychological counseling for students in some high schools in Ho Chi Minh City and Hau Giang Province, Vietnam. The content of the survey on the current situation is based on the theoretical basis of the elements of psychological counselling activities for students (objectives, content, methods, supportive conditions for activities) and the implementation of the management function of high school principals towards that activity. Comments and assessments on the situation are based on a survey with 1,127 respondents who are managers, high school teachers, and parents. The assessment of the current situation includes objectives, content, methods, conditions supporting psychological counseling activities and the implementation of management functions of the principal in psychological counseling activities for students in high schools. A mixed approach is applied, based on the analysis of survey data obtained to make quantitative assessments and combined with research on secondary data such as evaluation reports from educational management levels, local scientific research to make qualitative assessments. The results were organized according to the strengths and weaknesses identified in managing psychological counseling activities for students in high schools. Based on these strengths and weaknesses, the article proposes some measures to manage psychological counseling for high school students in Vietnam in the post-COVID-19 social context, when the issue of psychological counseling for students is being urgently raised.