Through the lens of a global pandemic: the evolution of the multidimensional role of a school counsellor

We explored the experiences of high school counsellors during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Western Cape, South Africa. Nine school-based mental health professionals were recruited from private high schools, using a combination of purposive, convenience, and volunteer sampling methods. Participants were interviewed online between April and August 2023. Interviews were recorded, transcribed thematically, and analysed with the assistance of ATLAS.ti, version 24 software. Data analysis and interpretation were guided by Biddle’s Role Theory and Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory, which underpinned the conceptual framework of this study. During reflexive thematic analysis, the following three main themes emerged: (1) the multifaceted role of school counsellors, (2) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the roles and responsibilities of school counsellors, and (3) the challenges and opportunities arising from the pandemic. The study revealed that school-based mental health professionals did not experience major changes in their roles. Rather, the methods used to execute their roles were adapted to ensure service continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic. School-based mental health professionals’ multidimensional roles are an inevitable reality in most South African schools. Therefore, redefining the scope of practice of school-based mental health professionals and restructuring the tertiary training of counsellors to meet the contextual needs of schools will equip them to execute their roles more effectively.