The school counselors room for maneuver : A qualitative study of school counselors' experiences of room for maneuver, cooperation and legitimacy in the school environment

The aim of this study has been to get a better understanding of school counselors experience of their room for maneuver in a pedagogical environment. Consequently, examine the meaning of legitimacy and cooperation with other professions within the school. Our study emanates from six semi-structured qualitative interviews with school counselors that have been analyzed from a thematic analysis. The study consists mainly of three key concepts room for maneuver, cooperation and legitimacy. The result shows that there is a duality around their perception of these key concepts. School counselors find both strengths and difficulties in their profession and role at the school. Our conclusion is that school counselors need a clearer job description and support from mainly principals to enable the work more health-promoting and preventive in school. The school counselors described a desire for a central manager with an educational background more similar to theirs in order to make it easier for them to find their role at the school.