School counseling as a profession is in its infancy in India. Historical trends in education and counseling in India arehighlighted and set the context for contemporary, culturally relevant practice in school counseling. Challenges forschool counseling include poverty, inequality, limited national and state oversight, stigma on mental health services,and overwhelming student to counselor ratios. While Western and other models may be informative, it is essentialthat the school counseling profession grows within and in concert with the cultural nuances native to India. Continueddevelopment of school counseling in India will depend on burgeoning preparation programs, collaborative practicewith family and spiritual leaders, and advocacy for the profession in schools and nationally.


Corresponding Author
Patrick Akos, School of Education, School Counseling & Education Leadership,
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3500 USA.
Email: pta@unc.edu