Recent Trends in Studies on Student Counseling:

A Literature Review from 2022 to 2023

Abstract

This paper reviews research on student counseling published in Japan from 2022 to 2023, using Keino’s (2022) classification methods and the Student Counseling Handbook (2020 revised edition) for organization. Three significant findings emerged: (1) research on student understanding and support has been conducted from various perspectives, including trauma, international students, academic leave, autonomy, suicide, over-adaptation, and the impact of COVID-19; (2) remote counseling has rapidly developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and studies have examined its usefulness and effectiveness, highlighting the potential for online tools in counseling; and (3) reviews of student counseling from other countries have increased, with examples from the United States and Asia providing new perspectives for student counseling in Japan. The outlook for student counseling indicates a need for flexible, multi-faceted approaches to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student population, prompting calls for further research on the methodologies and approaches of research in the field. In addition, research on the structural issues within universities as social and educational environments should be encouraged to support organizational improvement.