Family-education counselors connect parents, children

Hu Hua has a video talk with one of the families she serves. (Hu Mengxue/Xinhua)

"Parental trust can make a breakthrough. Parents should believe in their children's potential to grow independently." Hu Hua, a family education counselor, just ended a video talk with one of the families she serves.

Hu Hua loves to discuss her work. Family education counselors, who connect parents and children to enhance their mutual understanding, are gradually gaining public attention thanks to their professionalism, patience, and experience.

Hu Hua, 36 years old, has worked in education for over 10 years. When she taught at school, she realized that family education was crucial for children's growth.

Practical guidance for parents helps relieve children's confusion in dealing with challenges and might yield unexpectedly positive results. With this idea in mind, Hu Hua shifted to full-time work as a family education counselor in 2016, providing families with at least three years of "immersive companionship."

Family education counselors often switch roles between guides, accompanying observers, and even "family doctors." Hu Hua says that she is usually like a mirror, allowing family members to clearly "see" the contradictions in their interaction patterns.

"Family psychological guidance involves addressing issues and challenges faced by adolescents at different growth stages," says Qu Chen, a psychology professor at South China Normal University. The guidance helps build healthy family relationships, teaching parents and children how to communicate effectively, manage emotions, and develop a sense of self-worth. In her understanding, family education counseling includes not only psychological guidance but also safety education, college choosing, and career planning.

Thanks to the implementation of the Family Education Promotion Law, the demand for family education counselors has been steadily increasing. In May of this year, Foshan city in south China's Guangdong province, employed the first group of 70 family-education counselors.

The counselor is currently a popular career choice for young people. Qu Chen pointed out that as this new profession becomes recognized by the public, society should supervise and empower family education counselors for the industry's healthy growth.

Source: Xinhua; trans-editing by Guo Yao