Investigating guidance counselors’ perceived sense of preparedness and support in carrying out their job

Abstract

Guidance Counsellors play a critical role in the education and psycho-emotional well-being of students. They work in schools to promote and advocate for students' social, emotional, and cognitive needs. This cross-sectional research sought to investigate Guidance Counsellors perceived sense of preparedness and the support they received in carrying out their roles and responsibilities. The research utilized quota sampling to collect data from 131 Guidance Counsellors across four Caribbean countries: Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago. The results revealed that Guidance Counsellors are satisfied with their preparedness and the support they receive. In addition, Guidance Counsellors who are prepared are also very likely to receive professional and social support. There is no difference in the support received and preparedness for their job based on school type and location. The findings suggest that Guidance Counsellors are prepared and receive the necessary social and professional support to effectively and efficiently deal with the challenges they face. Keywords: Caribbean; counseling; guidance; guidance counselors; preparedness; support.