| The Prefectural Advisor (PA) system was put in place all over Japan to support JETs with living and working in Japan, and the contracting organizations that hire them. In Niigata, there are three PAs - one CIR and one Japanese PA working in the International Affairs Division at Kencho (prefectural office), and one former ALT working for the Board of Education at the Education Centre (where prefectural orientation is held). The three PAs work together to try to help resolve problems and to ensure smooth running of the Niigata JET Programme. We are here to help JETs and contracting organizations achieve their goals. The PAs have training, experience and knowledge of Japanese culture, language, workplaces and education that you can draw on to make your decisions and address problems. We are always available during work hours, and outside work hours in particularly difficult times or emergencies. You can find your current PA's contact details below. So what do PAs do? Counseling - Living and working as a foreigner in Japan can be extremely stressful at times. Problems can be exacerbated by culture shock, language difficulties and misunderstandings. The Niigata winter can also be difficult to deal with at times. Your PAs offer basic counseling services to help you overcome these difficulties if and when they arise. You can talk to us about culture shock, burnout, depression, stressful situations, major decisions such as recontracting, or whatever is on your mind! You can also be assured of confidentiality in counseling situations. Consultation - Whereas counseling can help you work through your personal problems, you can also consult your PAs when addressing problems that are work-related or arise from cultural differences, or any other practical problems that you encounter. Things that you can talk to us about include contracts, holidays, team-teaching, work relations, cultural relations, communication problems etc. Mediation - If you face a dispute with another party, your PAs can offer mediation services to ensure effective lines of communication and dialog to help address the problem constructively. We can also offer a listening ear and advice on approaching the problem. Probably, such mediation would be done over the telephone, but if necessary, we can also provide group mediation in person, if all parties agree. This would involve identifying common and individual needs, and then ways to achieve as many of them as possible. During mediation, PAs represent all parties involved and therefore cannot assure confidentiality. Crisis Response and Management - Usually, you would contact us during normal working hours, but if a crisis situation or emergency occurs, you can contact us immediately and at any time. Such situations could include medical emergencies, crime incidents, bereavement, natural disaster, physical or mental trauma and personal crises, including suicidal or violent thoughts. We will try to help you manage and deal with any such crises. *IMPORTANT: Your PAs are not professional counselors. If a situation appears to require greater expertise or commitment than can be provided by the PAs, with your permission, we can arrange for a referral to the appropriate professional. Information - Should you require information that is specific to your individual situation, your supervisor is always the best person to ask first. Information that can generally be applied to JETs can probably be found in the general information handbook, which CLAIR sent to you before you came to Japan. If the information you require cannot be obtained from either of these sources, you can contact your PAs who will try their best to give you the information you need. We also send mass e-mailings so that you can pass information to other JETs. Information that your PAs provide could include information from CLAIR and foreign embassies; from the prefectural office; legal information that affects you; information on English-speaking doctors; information on special events and information from other JETs. Outreach, Training and Capacity Building - As PAs we are continually trying to improve the Niigata JET programme, the support we provide and our services to you. This involves projects aimed at making our support more efficient, effective and above all, known. Such projects include databases and mailings, seminars and orientations, this website and the RA system. A note on limit setting: While PAs are always available during a crisis or emergency, they are only available to discuss normal issues during working hours. When you socialize with your PA or just 'bump into them', please do not try to discuss work-related problems, as you are effectively forcing them to work in their free time, which is unfair. Please respect this. All JETs will on several occasions require the assistance of their PAs. Usually, this will be for information and seminars, but please bare in mind the different services we offer should you ever need them. We are sure that you will have a great time on the JET Programme and a fun and rewarding experience in Niigata and we will always try to help you and your contracting organization achieve your goals.
A Word on Confidentiality
When you talk to your PA(s), in a professional capacity (see note below), what you say will be considered confidential. We will not tell anyone under any circumstances without your permission. Sometimes, your PA may want to discuss a situation with another PA, if they think it will help. In this case, all identifying information will be omitted. If it becomes difficult to omit this information, we will ask for your permission to disclose your identity to the other PA. You can say yes or no.
All PAs adhere to the same ethical and confidentiality guidelines, as laid down by the CLAIR Counseling System Committee. The CSC is made up of four professional mental health specialists who train and assist all PAs nationally.
In the case of mediation, PAs represent all involved parties and therefore cannot guarantee confidentiality to any one party. The emphasis is on open dialog. The only time at which confidentiality may actually be broken is if somebody presents an immediate danger to themselves or to others.
Confidentiality is taken extremely seriously by your PAs. They will only discuss an issue with the individual concerned, and only where and when appropriate. Do not try to discuss another JET's issues with your PA.
Note on dual relationships: It is highly possible that you may become friends with your PA. Therefore, when talking to your PA in a professional capacity, and in confidence, you may need to clarify this first. Your PA may also wish to clarify it.
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