Positive Psychology:The New 'Mantra' for School Counselors

This paper looks at the need for introducing a new dimension to the counselor's role in Indian schools - that of providing Positive psychology interventions to school students. We are witnessing increasing instances of behavioral problems and low academic standards among students in semi urban schools in India. The school authorities feel the need for effective and positive intervention programs for these students. Parents and teachers both find themselves turning to the counselors, who are not only few in number but unable to handle all the referrals. The role of the counselor, thus needs to be redefined. Apart from broadening the scope of counseling, integrated interventions that the teachers can handle are required. The paper also identifies the growing need for counseling that is preventive rather than remedial. With the parents and teachers turning into a helpless lot and looking towards the counselors to help them with managing their children, the counselors need to reframe their role. Rather than being overwhelmed by the number of referrals, they must help in the upbringing of children with positive character traits. Going by the research findings in positive psychology, this should help in bringing down the number of referrals of behavioral issues. As findings of some of the studies on Positive Psychology also suggest a cultural impact on the outcome of positive interventions, this paper makes further research suggestions of combining Indian Psychology with the western Positive Psychology methods as options for effective positive interventions for school children.