I believe counselling is primarily a specialist role, as it requires professional training and expertise to support learners effectively and safely. However, teachers do play an important part in creating a supportive environment, listening to learners, and referring them to appropriate services when needed.

There are risks if teachers take on counselling without proper training—for example, giving advice that may unintentionally cause harm, or blurring boundaries between teaching and therapeutic support. That said, teachers can still provide emotional support through empathy, active listening, and building trust.

In my school, formal counselling is not yet fully established, though teachers often provide informal support. To strengthen this, we would benefit from further training in basic counselling skills, as well as clear referral pathways to professional counsellors. This would ensure learners receive the right kind of help while teachers continue to focus on their educational role.