Associate Professor Dr. Huynh Van Chan, head of the Department of Psychology andEducation at Nguyen Tat Thanh University, shares his perspective on improving the capacity of the current school counseling team - Photo: TRONG NHAN
The problem of lack of school counselors
At the seminar on Applying Psychology in Life organized by Nguyen Tat Thanh University on June 19, many experts agreed on the urgent need to build a systematic, consistent and practical school psychology support system.
Dr. Do Thi Nga - Deputy Head of the Faculty of Social Work, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Ho Chi Minh City National University) - shared that currently most high schools do not have a specialized team to do psychological counseling work.
Instead, some teachers such as physical education teachers, supervisors or civics teachers are often sent to study for certificates and then work part-time.
In addition, the facilities are not guaranteed: many counseling rooms lack soundproofing and privacy, making it difficult for students to feel safe when sharing. Meanwhile, many students do not realize that they have problems, or are afraid of being discriminated against, so they hide them.
On the parents' side, according to Ms. Nga, most of them still lack understanding about mental health and are not ready to cooperate with the school.
She gave an example of an 11th grade student who was behaving strangely, repeatedly not bathing, had a bad body odor, and even stepped in dog feces and walked straight into class. The student’s teacher tried to reach out to the family for support, but the parents insisted that their child was completely normal and refused any intervention.
"It is this lack of awareness that causes many students to not receive timely support, easily falling into depression, self-isolation, and even suicide," she said. "The reality shows that the need for psychological counseling among students is currently very high."
Associate Professor Dr. Huynh Van Chan, head of the Department of Psychology and Education at Nguyen Tat Thanh University, said that the Ministry of Education and Training 's recent issuance of a training program according to professional title standards for student counselors is an important step forward.
The program focuses on practical situations such as handling situations, applying technology, supporting students with psychological problems, violence, and career orientation.
According to him, this training program can contribute to standardizing the capacity of school counselors and improving the quality of counseling in general schools, from elementary to high school, on a large scale.
Mr. Chan also emphasized that it is time to recognize that psychology is not something too distant or too academic. "Even those who major in psychology when entering practice must continuously learn, try and make mistakes, to be able to find the right application," he said.
Many fields are in need of understanding psychology.
According to experts, psychology is not only about helping students overcome mental crises, it is increasingly proving its strategic role in education, management and human resource development.
At the seminar, many speakers also outlined a broad picture of the interdisciplinary capabilities and high adaptability of this science.
Associate Professor Dr. Pham Thi Kien, lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics, said that psychology is being deeply integrated into university training programs, especially in the fields of business and administration.
She explained that in the context of a rapidly changing professional world after the pandemic and under the impact of digital transformation, students cannot only be good at finance or technical tools. "Business students in the 21st century need to learn how to 'read' people," she said.
According to her, psychology is a fundamental ability that helps students understand emotions, behaviors, and motivations, thereby being able to adapt better, work more effectively, and lead others empathetically.
This applied perspective is also shared in the field of organizational operations. MSc. Nguyen Thi Thu - founder and director of Nhan Hoa Center - introduced a human resource management and internal training model built on a psychological foundation.
For Ms. Thu, each employee in the organization is a "mature student" who needs to be motivated, guided and emotionally supported. Theories such as Maslow's hierarchy of needs, DISC index, SMART or burnout prevention therapy... will be applied immediately in the operations of many companies and organizations.
According to Mr. Chan, looking at the problem in a broader sense, he believes that there needs to be a synchronous, multidisciplinary school psychology support system, starting from preschool to university, with the participation of education, health, social work and the community. Students cannot be left alone in mental crises.
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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chuyen-gia-hoc-sinh-co-nhu-cau-duoc-tham-van-tam-ly-rat-lon-20250619120700506.htm
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