The Advising and Helping competency “addresses skills related to providing counseling and advising support, direction, feedback, critique, referral, and guidance to individuals and groups” (p. 6).

For example, in the beginner level of advising and helping, an attribute of this competency indicates professionals “know and use referral services (e.g. other offices, outside agencies, knowledge sources) and exhibit referral skills in seeking expert advice” (p. 6).

So, what if a student came to you with a roommate challenge? A potential mental health issue? Could you properly direct students to the services they need?

In the intermediate level, this competency demands that professionals “demonstrate culturally appropriate advising, helping, coaching and counseling strategies” (p. 7). This in mind, you might consider how you’d advise students in organizations with a large number of people from different backgrounds/countries.

The advanced level has a significant focus on counseling and crisis intervention. To develop skills in this area you might consider to what extent you feel confident talking a student through a difficult time in her/his life such as a family member passing, a friend’s suicide or a disaster or crisis in their hometown.

What do you need to do to increase your skill set in the advising and helping competency?