Primary & EYFS School Counsellor at Varee Chiangmai International School in Chiang Mai 50000

Varee Chiangmai International School is seeking a dedicated and child-centred School Counsellor to join its Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Primary School team in Chiang Mai, Thailand. This is a full-time role at the heart of the school community, where wellbeing is woven into everyday school life — not confined to a counselling room.

Job Description

The School Counsellor will be a visible, trusted and proactive member of the EYFS and Primary team, supporting the emotional wellbeing, mental health and personal development of young learners. Key responsibilities span several areas:

• Deliver individual and small-group counselling sessions tailored to pupils’ age, developmental stage and presenting needs.
• Support children navigating anxiety, friendship difficulties, family changes, behavioural concerns and other personal challenges.
• Build emotional literacy, resilience, self-regulation and positive coping strategies through structured and informal interactions.
• Plan and lead age-appropriate wellbeing programmes, workshops and whole-school initiatives — including Anti-Bullying Week, Mental Health awareness campaigns, Healthy Lifestyle Week and Spirit Week.
• Be actively present during transitions, break times and daily routines, including Early Years settling and nap-time support.
• Communicate professionally with parents and carers regarding pastoral and wellbeing matters, attending consultations and offering practical guidance on supporting children at home.
• Maintain accurate, confidential records of counselling sessions, interventions and outcomes in line with school policy.
• Contribute to SEND discussions, pupil support plans and relevant pastoral meetings alongside class teachers and the Senior Leadership Team.
• Uphold and champion the school’s safeguarding and child protection policies at all times, responding appropriately to any disclosures or concerns and reporting promptly to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
• Lead or support extracurricular activities (ECAs) that foster pupils’ social development, confidence and positive relationships.

Requirements

The school is looking for a warm, flexible and professionally grounded individual. The following are essential:

• A relevant qualification in counselling, psychology, child psychology, mental health, school counselling or a closely related discipline (desirable but strongly preferred).
• Demonstrable experience working with children, ideally within an Early Years or Primary school setting.
• Sound knowledge of child development and the social, emotional and behavioural needs of young and primary-aged children.
• Familiarity with appropriate therapeutic approaches for children’s emotional wellbeing.
• A clear understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and child protection procedures.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills — able to engage sensitively with children, colleagues and families from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Strong organisational ability, with experience maintaining secure and confidential records.
• A proactive, collaborative and flexible approach to the varied demands of international school life.

Personal qualities that will help you thrive in this role: child-centredness, empathy, cultural sensitivity, creativity in designing wellbeing activities, professional discretion and a genuine commitment to safeguarding.

Benefits

• Competitive local salary, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• A supportive and collaborative international school community.
• Ongoing professional development opportunities, including mandatory safeguarding training.
• The opportunity to make a meaningful, day-to-day impact on children’s lives within an established international school environment.

Safeguarding

Varee Chiangmai International School is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children and young people. All appointments are subject to the school’s safer recruitment procedures, including identity checks, criminal background checks, qualification verification and a minimum of three satisfactory employment references. Candidates will be required to provide a police clearance certificate from their country of residence. Interviews for candidates based outside Chiang Mai will be conducted via Zoom.