THE BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES FOR SCHOOL COUNSELORS AS THAI NATIONALS AND FORMER INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WORKING IN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS IN BANGKOK
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Abstract
The study explored the perceived benefits and challenges for school counselors, who identify as host country nationals and local international school graduates, when counseling Thai nationals in international schools in Bangkok using a phenomenological qualitative approach. This study aimed to fill the gap in exploring the area of similar student-counselor membership group identities, perceived benefits and challenges these similarities have on the practicing counselors’ counseling process with their students, and how these school counselors manage the challenges they face. Participants of this study include four individuals who have currently been engaged as a school counselor in an international school in Bangkok for at least one year, were Thai nationals, had attended an international school in Bangkok for a minimum of six years, had graduated from an international school in Bangkok receiving a High School Diploma, had a minimum qualification of a master’s degree in counseling psychology, and had participated in the interview in English. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Five themes emerged: respondents’ narratives on experiences in the role, membership group identity similarities between respondents and students, perceived benefits of identity and qualifications of and by respondents in the role of a school counselor in an international school setting, challenges, and respondents’ strategies for managing challenges. This study suggests ways for new, current, and future practitioners and international schools, to consider the results of this study when working in such positions and hiring such individuals. Further exploration from the perspectives of host country students is recommended.
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