What Does an Adult Guidance Counsellor Do?

Elena Gill is one of our Adult Guidance Counsellors in the Adult Guidance and Information Service within our Further Education and Training (FET) Service. In this blog she tells us about what her job involves and why she loves what she does. 

Adult Guidance Counsellors empower individuals to achieve their potential and reach their goals. Our focus remains client centred at all times. Counsellors who confine themselves merely to career choices or job choices are only scratching the surface.

I love the variety of my role as an Adult Guidance Counsellor: I have the opportunity to work with groups of students who are undertaking courses within Donegal ETB’s Further Education and Training (FET) Service, to watch them grow and develop. I facilitate employability workshops preparing the students for the world of work, giving them the skills and confidence to become not only reflective learners but to present themselves effectively.

Adults have so much to offer in terms of experience and transferable skills – helping them to identify these and appreciate their importance and value is at the core of my work.

The Adult Guidance and Information Service offers a confidential service; we provide information, advice, guidance and counselling on the educational options that are available locally and further afield. I love the fact that we look at all the options, the one that is a best fit for the client whether that be with the ETB or another provider.

We assess individuals learning needs, financial circumstances, life situation, caring responsibilities and so on, and match an education and training option to their current reality and to their future aspirations. There are so many options and opportunities available today and helping clients navigate these options and understand them is only one part of my role.

We are fortunate to get the opportunity to walk some of the way with people as they make decisions that can potentially impact their lives not only professionally, but personally. We are there to offer support, boost confidence and remind them of the possibilities that lie ahead and the strengths already formed: it’s not about selling anything to anyone, it’s about promoting an individual’s ability and their capacity to make good choices.

I get real satisfaction from seeing a client present, maybe feeling a little lost and confused to leaving the session with a real sense of hope and optimism.

‘The world is your oyster’ is one of my favourite quotes as I truly believe that with the right level of encouragement and support, people can achieve and work toward their hopes and dreams.

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You can find out more about our Adult Guidance and Information Service here.