School Counsellors’ Perceptions of Student Sexting Behaviour

Authors

  • Courtney N. Cribb Memorial University of Newfoundland
  • Gregory E. Harris Memorial University of Newfoundland

Abstract

Sexting is a relatively recent phenomenon that involves sending, receiving, or forwarding sexually explicit digital messages (Pew Research Center, 2009; Ringrose et al., 2012; Walrave et al., 2015). Research has demonstrated that sexting behaviour is occurring among youth and that this behaviour affects schools and school professionals (Barrense-Dias et al., 2022; Dodaj & Sesar, 2023; Lemke & Rogers, 2020; Parti et al., 2022). The present study was designed to explore school counsellors’ perceptions on their experiences with student sexting. A qualitative study was utilized, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with five participants. The results were organized into three major themes: prevention and preparation; school counsellors’ roles, responsibilities, and introspection; and school counsellors’ perspectives on specific aspects of student sexting. The position of school counsellors is highly advantageous in providing student support. Further research is necessary to confirm effective sexting prevention and intervention strategies for students and to establish proper training for school counsellors, school staff, and parents.

Author Biographies

  • Courtney N. Cribb, Memorial University of Newfoundland

    Courtney N. Cribb is a graduate of Memorial University. She is a school counsellor, a Canadian certified counsellor, and a registered counselling therapist in the province of Nova Scotia. Her research interests focus on exploring behaviour within a compassionate, developmentally grounded framework that integrates emotional and contextual factors. Her work focuses on empowering individuals to build resilience, deepen self-understanding, and foster meaningful personal growth.

  • Gregory E. Harris, Memorial University of Newfoundland

    Gregory E. Harris is a professor in the Faculty of Education at Memorial University. He is a registered psychologist in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. His research interests focus on prevention of HIV, understanding and preventing risk behaviour, therapeutic applications of positive psychology (e.g., hope, empowerment), as well as practice, conceptualization, and training considerations associated with counselling, especially in K–12 school contexts.

Downloads

Published

2026-05-11

Issue

Vol. 60 No. 1 (2026): Regular issue

Section

Articles/ Articles

License

Copyright is retained by the Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy.