‘It hurts to give up on a child who has already been given up’: School counsellors' perspectives on their support for children in foster care

This qualitative study examines how 17 elementary school counsellors perceive their work with out-of-home foster-care children. Three main themes emerged from the in-depth semi-structured interviews, highlighting challenges and conflicts faced by these counsellors: (1) shying away providing deep therapy but helping specific issues, (2) professional ethical dilemmas of having to report authorities about foster families' domestic neglect or abuse while maintaining positive relationships families children (3) prevailing admiration towards parents. The recommends comprehensive training for counsellors, administrators staff as well peer-support groups counsellors.