Evolving Counselor Experiences: Navigating Pre- and Post-Pandemic Mental Health Challenges of University Students in Manila

Abstract ―​

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered mental health counseling, transforming both the delivery of services and the nature of clients' presenting issues at a university level. This research explored the counselor experience pre- and post-pandemic, focusing on the shifts in counseling modalities, the emerging mental health challenges, and the adaptation of counselors to a rapidly changing environment. Utilizing a convergent parallel mixed-method design, the researchers administered Counselor Initial Development Plan-Counselor Competency Survey and focus group discussions to 14 university counselors from a university in Manila, Philippines. The research highlights the ways counselors adapted to these challenges, including technological adoption and evolving techniques and interventions. Post-pandemic, a hybrid model of counseling has emerged, with counselors balancing both in-person and virtual sessions while addressing an ongoing increase in mental health concerns exacerbated by the long-term effects of the pandemic. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the evolving role of counselors, the challenges faced, and the innovations that emerged in response to the global health crisis.