Navigating the ‘Next’ for Transgender Students

A school counselor is an important resource for any student, especially in getting assistance when dealing with mental health issues. Already, mental health is a rising concern for college students and also for high school students – a problem that only worsened during the pandemic. A recent CDC survey found that 37% of high school students reported experiencing mental health challenges during the COVID-19 outbreak.

High school students who are gay, lesbian or bisexual were especially likely to have mental health struggles.

Dr. Jon Borland spent several years working as a school counselor before entering a Ph.D. program at the University of Central Florida. Now, he is a faculty member at East Tennessee State University where he prepares students who want to become school counselors.

Through his experience as a counselor and as a university teacher, he has seen this problem firsthand, and he emphasizes another population who is at tremendous risk.

“Transgender and gender-expansive (TGE) students face multiple challenges, such as having lower grade point averages and experiencing stress related to their minority status,” Borland said. “Unfortunately, data show that TGE students are less likely to pursue post-secondary education, lack career decision-making skills and have less access to support and guidance related to college and career readiness.

“School counselors are likely to see transgender students who are struggling with these issues and may have already experienced discrimination in employee settings,” he added.

Borland wants to equip counselors and other practitioners with tools to help transgender individuals to develop positive approaches to post-secondary education and with the workforce. He recently developed a new model for school counselors to use to better assist TGE students.

This group curriculum provides information on understanding the career development challenges that are unique to TGE students, as well as tools to help them be successful.

“These students are navigating some pretty significant issues – how to apply for housing, or how to address questions when their name on their college application is not the same on their driver’s license. They need guidance on how – or if – they should introduce themselves in new settings such as the job market or school. School counselors can play an impactful and meaningful role in preparing students for those situations.”

Borland hopes to pilot the model in future research studies.