A Survey of Teacher-counsellors’ Competence in Using Selected Grief Counselling Approaches in Public Secondary Schools in Kisii County, Kenya

Dr. Grace Atemi Ondieki & Dr. Zacharia O. Mokua
Kisii University, Kenya
Corresponding Author: gatemi@kisiiuniversity.com

Received July 26, 2020; Revised July 28, 2020; Accepted July 30, 2020

Abstract: Grief is an occurrence which is emotive both to the client and the therapist. If it is not given a suitable approach, the client may be hurt instead of getting psychologically healed. This study was therefore carried out to survey teachercounsellors’ competence in using selected grief counselling approaches in public secondary schools in Kisii County. KüblerRoss Elisabeth (1969) Stage Theory and mixed methods design, specifically a convergent parallel blueprint were utilized. Data was obtained through a questionnaire and interview guide. A sample of 196 respondents composed of 181 who provided quantitative data and selected through simple random sampling and 15 who provided qualitative data and purposively selected was utilized. Quantitative and qualitative data that was obtained was analyzed through univariate statistics and thematic method respectively. The study found that most of the respondents had competence in encouraging grieving students share their experience with those who had been bereaved. It was established that teacher-counsellors’ high level of competence on sharing their personal experience was a therapy on their part as they could pour out their concealed pain as they identified with the grieving. The study recommended that teacher-counsellors be acquainted with various grief counselling approaches as there are diverse students who present with grief in different ways and therefore may need to be approached differently.