Mrs. Mercy N. Njue

OFFICE OF THE STUDENTS COUNSELLOR

Message From The Head Of Section
While University education provides a great platform for growth in academic, social and career aspects of life it comes with its fair share of challenges as students try to adjust to a new life different from Secondary School life. The transition stage can be stressful and overwhelming to students. Students in the University hail from different social-economic and ethnic backgrounds. They face many challenges ranging from financial, social issues, emotional distress emanating from their upbringing and various changes happening in their lives, adjustment issues among other issues. As students try to adjust to their new environment and find ways of utilizing their newly found freedom, sometimes they get into wrong company due to peer pressure which leads them into such vices as drug addiction, irresponsible sexual behaviour, toxic relationships, among other issues. Counselling services play a key role in helping students deal with these challenges. This has prompted establishment of various productive measures to help open up new perspectives and approaches to deal with these challenges so as to promote a conducive learning environment for students and significant others in line with the mission and vision of Bomet University College.

COUNSELLING SERVICES AVAILABLE AT BUC

Individual counselling

Among issues handled through individual counselling include: Loss and grief, trauma, relationship issues, depression, low self-esteem, anger management issues, anxiety, substance abuse, relationships, adjustment issues, sexual assault, academic challenges among other issues

Group Counselling

Group Counselling involves meeting up with group of people who share similar concerns in a safe and comfortable place with an aim of discussing issues, sharing experiences, interacting and exploring issues so as to come up with lasting solutions. Group counselling is effective when addressing issues like:
  • Drugs and substance abuse
  • Loss and grief
  • Relationship issues

Awareness creation and Sensitization forums

These forums play a key role in educating students on emerging issues and advocating for appropriate strategies and mechanisms for effective and efficient ways of dealing with maladaptive behaviour and unhealthy relationships. These forums are also geared towards promoting awareness on availability of counselling services in the University College, services offered and importance of seeking these services. This is achieved through organizing such events as:
  • Counselling Services Awareness Day
  • Drugs and substance abuse, HIV & Aids sensitization
  • Mental health Awareness
  • Disability Awareness
  • Peer Counsellors’ Open Day

Psychosocial Education and Training

Psychosocial Education and Training forums aims at enlightening students on wide range of issues in our society that affect them and provide a deeper understanding of the same. Through these educative forums, life skills training and personal development training, students are able to acquire social skills and other coping skills which are necessary for academic, career growth, social, emotional and psychological competency skills. Among the topics addressed are: Promoting Positive Mental Health, Drugs and substance Abuse, Sexual Reproductive Health, Good nutrition, Career growth and Development, Time management, Emotional Intelligence, Decision Making, Attitude, Resilience building, Assertiveness, Interpersonal Skills, Peaceful coexistence, Anger Management, Self-concept/Self-Awareness, Communication skills and Dealing with rejection

Online Counselling

Student Counselling Services provides counselling services through internet for instance via Live Chats, Video Conferencing, Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram which enhance consumption of counselling services by a larger population of students.

Partnership and Networking

Counselling Services Section encourages collaborations with other stakeholders to be able to provide better services to students and enhance identification and referral of students who need individual counselling. These partners play a key role in mentoring students under various mentorship programmes. Student counselling services works in liaison with
  • Non-teaching staff
  • Faculties
  • Medical centre staff
  • Hostels Owners
  • ICL Africa and other relevant stake holders
  • Chaplaincy
  • Career Services Office