Ready to join an incredible network of international school counselors?
Counselor Training Center
What’s it all about?
International schools are unique. They operate under special circumstances and have special needs. The Counselor Training Center (CTC) strives to meet the professional development needs and provide a network for counselors and other pastoral care staff in international schools.
What learning experiences are available?
The Counselor Training Center (CTC) for international school counselors offers programs tailored to the specific skills needed to do counseling work in the international school setting. The courses are open to both practicing and aspiring counselors in international schools.
Courses are designed using the Standards for International School Counselors as the starting point.
View each course page to view the essential learnings for each course.
What can I expect?
A research-based curriculum addressing key topics for aspiring or current counselors with a focus on how to apply them to the international school setting
Experienced international school practitioners as facilitators to lead synchronous sessions and provide guidance and feedback for asynchronous discussions
A Learning Platform that is learner-friendly and provides opportunities for collaboration and networking
Through our Intensive International School Counselor Skill-building Workshop, there will be opportunities for the development and practice of key counseling skills including:
active listening and reading body language
presenting to teachers, parents and students
using open-ended questioning of difficult conversations
addressing serious concerns preemptively and responsively
identifying and addressing impact vs intent with students
What will the learning look like?
Six two-hour synchronous sessions over an eight-week time-frame, with approximately two hours of asynchronous follow-up learning after each session
Job-embedded skills to practice with your team or your students on your own time, with job-embedded reflective practices to support synthesis of your learning and the planning for next steps
Opportunities to collaborate and network with colleagues through digital tools and through break-out rooms in synchronous sessions
What Will I learn in the Program?
The Counselor Training Center program is based on three key design principles:
learning the most up-to-date practices alongside international colleagues
developing skills related to the international school counselor role
including job-embedded practice or application opportunities.
Across our five courses you will learn how to:
Support mental health and well-being concerns both proactively and responsively
Use appropriate therapeutic models when working with students to find solutions
Develop systems and structures to support the university application process
Lead culturally-responsive approaches to support all students in the school, classroom and counseling office
Craft transition programs to meet the needs of international school students
Who can also benefit from the programs?
Anyone in a pastoral role, including principals, advisors, and teachers would benefit from the content and skills in these courses.
How can I earn a Certificate of International School Counseling?
Complete any four CTC courses online during the school year OR complete any three CTC courses online during the year AND participate in our three-day in-person Intensive International School Counselor Skills Practice to earn the Certificate of International School Counseling. All courses must be taken within five years.
Certificate of Completion
Participants in all courses will receive an email after completion, giving them access to a digital certificate to be printed, added to their LinkedIn profile, and/or included as evidence of professional growth in their TIE resume, one of the components of their free one-year subscription.
Can I earn graduate credit?
Yes! You may earn 3 hours of graduate credit for each course in our counselor training center program. In addition to completing all course tasks there will be a graduate credit assignment that requires up to 10 additional hours of learning time. For more information about graduate credit, click here.
How do I register for a course?
Click the appropriate CTC registration button on the right sidebar (buttons appear only when registration is live). Registration is not complete until a payment option is selected, and payment is made online or a check/wire payment has been received by the PTC office. Space in every course is limited. Early registration is recommended. All courses that reach capacity will be closed to further enrolment and registrations received will be placed on a space-available wait list.
