This qualitative study explores the work of school counselors in

preventing and managing problematic school absenteeism among students in

grades 7–9. The purpose of the study is to highlight the strategies and methods

employed by school counselors to address absenteeism, as well as their

experiences regarding the effectiveness of their work and collaboration with social

services. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with six school

counselors in Sk.ne and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings reveal

that school counselors use various strategies, such as preventive measures and

individual counseling, to combat absenteeism. They perceive their work as vital

for student attendance but face structural and organizational barriers, such as time

constraints and lack of resources, which limit their scope of action. Furthermore,

the study identifies challenges in collaboration with social services, where

communication and confidentiality regulations sometimes hinder effective

cooperation. The study emphasizes the important role of school counselors within

the student health team and their contribution to managing absenteeism but also

highlights the need for more resources and clearer guidelines to improve the

efficiency of their work.