Counseling Tips

When counseling a student in need it is helpful to:

• Listen, really listen!
  (Don't rush to judgment, correction or solution)
   

• Empathize
  (Imagine yourself in this student's position)
   

• Validate
  (Confirm what the student is experiencing and feeling)
   

• Question
  (To elicit additional helpful information, but only after having listened first!)
   

• Frame
  (Restate the issue(s) for accuracy; place in context and perspective)
   

• Strategize
  (Do urgent measures need to be taken?)
  if not...
  (Where should we go from here?)
   

• Follow up
  (Set expectations and plan for accountability)