Trends in Student Counseling in Japan in the 2023 Academic Year

Abstract

This article outlines trends in the student counseling field in the 2023 academic year. The article suggests future directions, based on the activities of the Japanese Association of Student Counseling and other related national organizations. The most significant topic was the decrease in the number of topics related to COVID- 19, which accounted for nearly half of the topics until last year. Restrictions on movement have been lifted and operations have been shifted to face-to-face again at each university, which is why the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted to the phase that can be called post COVID-19. In Post COVID-19, there are reflections on the experi- ences of loss as well as experiences of gain such as “being” with others, as well as keeping in operation the system established in the COVID-19 pandemic regardless of its validity. Student counselors should support students and help them to establish relationships with others through outreach or peer support programs, and help them to recover from the loss of experiences of “being” with others.