Using Storytelling Tool for Student Counseling

 Challenge:

I am a faculty of a university and I have to deal with many types of psycho-social problems of the  students. Though my job is mostly academic, still being a mentor and adviser, I need to address  these issues. Students often do not open up at their first interaction. Their symptoms of disturbance  are usually expressed through their attitude in the classroom and other interactions. Some students  are irregular and remain unmindful in the class, others are ill mannered or rough in conduct. Some  students seems stressful and tired and even suffer from psychosomatic physical sickness. The  university has appointed a full time psychologist, with a separate office and facilities, who provides  Psycho-Social Counseling services for the students. But the students have some stigma regarding  communicating the psychologist as they think it will isolate them from others and they will be  considered mentally ill. Hence they sometimes share their problems with teachers and course  advisers. But the problem is teachers can listen to them with empathy and suggest some general  solutions, but they are not expert person for professional counseling. So, the challenge for the  teachers are to detect the students who need help and convince them to communicate the psycho  social counselor.

 Selection:

Just as this course resources mentioned, - through a good story, we could simply convey a message  that has logic. And also that a good story creates a cause and it ignites and unites people to solve  a bigger problem. Keeping the same spirit in mind, I have chosen storytelling as a tool to convince  the students to open up and address their need of counselling and eventually communicate the  Psycho-Social Counselor of the university for better solution of their mental anxiety.

 Application:

As a part of applying storytelling techniques, I have first tried to understand and gain some insights  of the audience, in my case, the students who seems disturbed. I built a good rapport by asking  his/her personal and academic aspects. Then I try to discuss whether the students have gone  through some kind of obstacles or any difficulties. When they share their problems that I feel  should be addressed by the professional psychologist, I suggest them to visit the psychologist of  the university. When the student feel shaky or uncomfortable, I start telling a story regarding how  some of my other students get benefitted from her counseling. I follow a clear sequence for the  purpose. I describe how one of my students could not express her willingness to her family,  regarding reading in a subject of her choice. Instead she has to carry her study in a subject, she  found difficult and not interesting at all just to keep her parent happy. She could not gather the  courage to confront her family in this matter and eventually become depressed and even physically  weak. At this point of time I try to build a suspense in the story and then ask some questions like  what would this girl do to overcome her fear and get her desired life. Then I answer that to gain  her confidence and fight back her trauma, she consult the counsellor working at the university.

And that, she eventually open up to her and found a way out to express her willingness to her father  through a written letter. At this point of time, most of the students become curious about the  outcome and this is the most powerful part of the story, where I explain how the students convinced  her father to shift her from one subject to other. And conclude with how splendid she is doing now.  Then I explain the disturbed student that his/her current status, where he/she is suffering from  problems are the worse situation ever happened. And that if he/she could cross the stigma and take  the necessary steps, this solution could be life changing and worth taking.

 Insight:

In most of the cases, I found this Storytelling Techniques effective. People tend to get influenced  by the story where they can connect themselves emotionally and spiritually. One good story can  lead them to think that if other people have gone through the same situation and could overcome  their problems why not he/she could do it. It helps them to think sequentially about what is, what  if, what wow and what works. The audience could chalk out where they stand right now, where  possibly they can go if they try, what benefit they will get and how they will reach there – all at  once. Thus, storytelling could be a good guild towards design thinking.

 Approach:

Besides the advisors, storytelling tool could be adopted by the organization as a part of their regular  communication options. The organization can develop promotional content using storytelling  techniques to influence the mindset and action of the students and other relevant audience.

Submitted By: Amal Bhai


Using Storytelling Tool for Student Counseling  Challenge : I am a faculty of a university and I have to deal with many types of psycho - social problems of the students . Though my job is mostly academic , still being a mentor and adviser , I need to address these issues . Students often do not open up at their first interaction . Their symptoms of disturbance are usually expressed through their attitude in the classroom and other interactions . Some students are irregular and remain unmindful in the class , others are ill mannered or rough in conduct . Some students seems stressful and tired and even suffer from psychosomatic physical sickness . The university has appointed a full time psychologist , with a separate office and facilities , who provides Psycho - Social Counseling services for the students . But the students have some stigma regarding communicating the psychologist as they think it will isolate them from others and they will be considered mentally ill . Hence they sometimes share their problems with teachers and course advisers . But the problem is teachers can listen to them with empathy and suggest some general solutions , but they are not expert person for professional counseling . So , the challenge for the teachers are to detect the students who need help and convince them to communicate the psycho social counselor .  Selection : Just as this course resources mentioned , - through a good story , we could simply convey a message that has logic . And also that a good story creates a cause and it ignites and unites people to solve a bigger problem . Keeping the same spirit in mind , I have chosen storytelling as a tool to convince the students to open up and address their need of counselling and eventually communicate the Psycho - Social Counselor of the university for better solution of their mental anxiety .  Application : As a part of applying storytelling techniques , I have first tried to understand and gain some insights of the audience , in my case , the students who seems disturbed . I built a good rapport by asking his / her personal and academic aspects . Then I try to discuss whether the students have gone through some kind of obstacles or any difficulties . When they share their problems that I feel should be addressed by the professional psychologist , I suggest them to visit the psychologist of the university . When the student feel shaky or uncomfortable , I start telling a story regarding how some of my other students get benefitted from her counseling . I follow a clear sequence for the purpose . I describe how one of my students could not express her willingness to her family , regarding reading in a subject of her choice . Instead she has to carry her study in a subject , she found difficult and not interesting at all just to keep her parent happy . She could not gather the courage to confront her family in this matter and eventually become depressed and even physically weak . At this point of time I try to build a suspense in the story and then ask some questions like what would this girl do to overcome her fear and get her desired life . Then I answer that to gain her confidence and fight back her trauma , she consult the counsellor working at the university . And that , she eventually open up to her and found a way out to express her willingness to her father through a written letter . At this point of time , most of the students become curious about the outcome and this is the most powerful part of the story , where I explain how the students convinced her father to shift her from one subject to other . And conclude with how splendid she is doing now . Then I explain the disturbed student that his / her current status , where he / she is suffering from problems are the worse situation ever happened . And that if he / she could cross the stigma and take the necessary steps , this solution could be life changing and worth taking .  Insight : In most of the cases , I found this Storytelling Techniques effective . People tend to get influenced by the story where they can connect themselves emotionally and spiritually . One good story can lead them to think that if other people have gone through the same situation and could overcome their problems why not he / she could do it . It helps them to think sequentially about what is , what if , what wow and what works . The audience could chalk out where they stand right now , where possibly they can go if they try , what benefit they will get and how they will reach there – all at once . Thus , storytelling could be a good guild towards design thinking .  Approach : Besides the advisors , storytelling tool could be adopted by the organization as a part of their regular communication options . The organization can develop promotional content using storytelling techniques to influence the mindset and action of the students and other relevant audience . Submitted By : Amal Bhai