Perceptions of School-based Child and Family Counseling in Macao (SAR)

Macao maintained independence over the education system after the handover to the People’s Republic of China in 1999. Many changes have ensued in the education system in the past decade or more, most of which relates to the implementation of school counseling in the local schools. Adopting a phenomenological approach and interviews, this study focused on the perceptions of school-aged youth, parents, and teachers regarding current school-based child and family counseling in schools in Macao. The findings indicate an overall positive attitude and openness to school counseling and mental health services, and general agreement amongst informants for more professional resources and broader access to services. In view of the findings, I conclude with a recommendation for transforming school-based child and family counseling in Macao through following more integrated prevention and intervention services proposed by the School-Based Family Counseling (SBFC) model to address the most salient needs of children/youth, families, and teachers in the school setting and community.