BCSCA Scope, Goals and Initiatives

The British Columbia School Counsellors Association (BCSCA), a provincial specialist association of the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF), supports the professionalism and wellbeing of school counsellors while strengthening students’ access to qualified mental‑health professionals across the province. Guided by its mission and objectives, the BCSCA advances advocacy, professional learning, resource development, and collaborative initiatives—including conferences, publications, the creation of BCSCA Chapters, intervision groups, partnerships with mental health organizations, and ongoing efforts to define and promote the role of school counsellors—to enhance the delivery of effective school counselling services in British Columbia.

​

Annually, the BCSCA elects an executive committee from its membership to implement and guide the important initiatives outlined above. While members of the executive enthusiastically promote and advance the status of school counselling within the province of BC, the BCSCA is not a regulatory body with authority to hire, provide legal advice, or suggest specific pathways for qualification as a school counsellor.

BCSCA Goals

The goals of the BC School Counsellors Association are to (1) enhance the awareness of school counsellors as qualified mental health professionals, (2) support school counsellors’ wellbeing, and (3) improve students’ access to school counsellors. These goals, which were first shared at the 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and have been re-affirmed at the 2024 and 2025 AGMs, guide the initiatives established by our team.

BCSCA Initiatives
 

• The Annual BCSCA Conference – See you October 23rd, 2026!

• BC Counsellor Magazine

• BCSCA Chapters

• The Catalyst Newsletter

• Collaboration within BCTF – e.g. Think Tank on Meaningful Inclusion

• Collaboration with government Ministries – e.g. Suicide prevention and self harm video series and resources

• Government advocacy supported by BCTF

• Intervision groups

• Outreach – e.g. exhibitions and workshops at regional conferences such as Tapestry

• Webinars – e.g. Compass workshop series

• Working groups – e.g. Suicidal Ideation under 12, Notetaking in School Counselling

• Ongoing advocacy – e.g. access to professional supports such as clinical supervision, “a counsellor for every school”, improving access and reducing barriers to school counsellor training pathways, reducing provincial school counsellor ratios.