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University of Nigeria Research Publications
OKOYE, Ngozi J.
Aut
hor
PG/PGD./98/24961
Title
Counseling in Nigerian Contemporary Society
Facu
lty
Social Science
Dep
artm
ent
Psychology
Dat
e
October, 1999
Sign
atur
e
. TITLE PAGE
T
C O U N S E L L I N G IN NIGERIAN CONTEMPORARY S O C IETY
OKOYE N G O Z I . J. ~G/~G~p/98/24961
D E P A R T K Z N T OF PSYCHOLOGY UNIVERSITY ,OF NIGERIA
NSUKKA
OCTOBER, 1999
COUNSELLING I N NIGERIAN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY
A LONG ESSAY PRESENTED TO THE DEPARTMENT O F PSYCHOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF N I G E R I A , NSUKKA, I N PARTIAL FULFILMENT O F THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD O F POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA I N PSYCHOLOGY
OKOYE NGOZI J U S T 1
P R O J E C T SUPERVISOR: PROFESSOR 3.6:~. OZIOKO
DEPARTMENT O F PSYCHOLOGY UNIVERSITY O F N I G E R I A
NSUkKA
DEDICATION
Thia work is dedicated to my
younger brother Anayo G.A. Okoya.
DEDICATION
,.;t ;*j T h i s work i s dedicated to my '. .
younger brother Anayo G . A . Okoye.
iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
My f i r s t acknowledgement g o e s t o t h e Almigh ty
God f o r h i s migh ty g u i d a n c e and p r o t e c t i o n and for
g i v i n g m e t h e s t r e n g h t t o t r i u m p h i n t h i s r e s e a r c h
p r o d u c t i o n ,
I w i s h t o e x p r e s s my s i n c e r e g r a t i t u d e t o my
S u p e r v i s o r , P r o f e s s o r J.0.C. Oz ioko - t h e Head of
Depar tment of Psycho logy f o r a p p r o v i n g t h i s t o p i c
for my Long-essay, Most i m p o r t a n t l y I a p p r e c i a t e
h i s u s e f u l a d v i c e on c o n t i n u a l b a s i s w i t h i n s i g h t f u l
encouragemen t t h r o u g h o u t t h e p e r i o d of t h i s work.
B i g t h a n k s a l s o g o t o my p a r e n t s , b r o t h e r s and
sisters who f o r t h e i r encouragemen t , mora l and
m a t e r i a l s u p p o r t e n a b l e m e a c h i e v e d s u c c e s s ,
S p e c i a l t h a n k s a l s o g o t o M r . P.O.K. Amuji who
i n s p i t e o f a l l engagements t o o k p a i n s i n a f f o r d i n g
u s e f u l a s s i s t a n c e t o m e t h r o u g h o u t t h e d u r a t i o n of
t h i s work,
F i n a l l y , I am a p p r e c i a t i v e t o a l l my c o l l e g u e s
e s p e c i a l l y Rev. G O O o Madubuke and ~ i s s Ugo ~ a l u Ndul
who i n o n e way or t h e o t h e r h a v e c o n t r i b u t e d t o makc
t h i s s t u d y a s u c e s s .
May t h e ~ l m i g h t y ~ o d reward you a l l immensely
i n J e s u s name. Amen.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pages
Title Page: ..........,.................. i Dedicati~n:.............~................ ii Ackn~wledgernent:..,.....~................ iii Table o f content^:..............^....,. v
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTf ON
D e f i n i t i o n and Concep t o f C o u n s e l l i n g 2 The I n g r e d i e n t s o f Counsell ing:. . . . . 5 Types of Counselling,............... 8
CHAPTER TWO: CCUNSELLING NEEDS I N NIGERIA 16
The P r o s p e c t s o f C o u n s e l l i n g ( G e n e r a l ) 16 S p e c i f i c C o u n s e l l i n g Needs I n Contemporary K i g e r i a n Society........ 2 1 C a r e e r Counselling:.................. 23 Socio-Fersonal:~.m................... 25 A d o l e s c e n t Developmenta l Problems: . . . 26
CHAPTER THREE: THE PROBLEMS O F COUNSELLING 29
Endogenous Factors.................., C u l t u r a l Issues:................,..., C~nfidentiality:,....~............... R e l i g i o u s E e l i e f and Ethics:......... The Exogenous Factors:............,,. Fund and Adequa te Faci l i t ies : . . . . . . . . P e e r and P a r e n t a l I n f l u e n c e : . . . . . . ,, . S o c i a l V a l u e and Demand:.............
CHAPTER FOUR: CONCLUSIONS A N D RECOMMENDATIONS 38
REFERENCES
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
C o u n s e l l i n g h a s been known to h a v e r a n g e of
p r o c e d u r e s i n c l u d i n g g i v i n g a d v i c e , s u p p o r t i n
t i m e of t r o u b l e or n e e d s , encouragemen t ,
i n f o r m a t i o n g i v e n a s w e l l a s test i n t e r p r e t a t i o n ,
C o u n s e l l i n g a s a h e l p i n g s i t u a t i o n i s an a c t i v i t y
t h a t i s i n i t i a t e d i n o n e way or t h e o t h e r by a
f r i e n d , r e l a t i o n or n e i g h b o u r who s u d d e n l y realises
a p e r s o n a l p roblem, s t r e s s f u l c o n d i t i o n or o t h e r
a r e a s t h a t i s of p e r s o n a l c o n c e r n which a g o n i s e s him,
The p e r s o n may sometimes becomes moody and sometimes
c r y i n g , C o u n s e l l i n g s e s s i o n i s c o n c e r n e d w i t h c l e a r
l i s t e n i n g by t h e c o u n s e l l o r , A t t h e end o f t h e
i n t e r a c t i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p , t h e c o u n s e l l e e w i l l be t h e
same a g a i n ,
Accord ing t o B a r t (1974), a r e l a t i o n s h i p may be
termed p l a n n e d and s p o n t a n o u s . By t h i s i t i m p l i e s
t h a t n o t e v e r y r e l a t i o n s h i p may be r e f e r e d t o as
c o u n s e l l i n g , Mere a d v i c e i s d i f f e r e n t f rom c o u n s e l l i i
T h i s i s b e c a u s e t h e r u d i m e n t and c o u n s e l l i n g s k i l l s
a r e a b s e n t . C o u n s e l l i n g i s d i f f i c u l t t o d e f i n e ,
T h i s i s b e c a u s e i t seems t o be a component of
s e v e r a l p r o f e s s i o n s , and n o t a s i n g l e a c t i v i t y . The
term i s muddled b y i t s u s e by p r o f e s s i o n a l s n o t
r e a l l y engaged i n c o u n s e l l i n g s u c h a s r u g - c o u n s e l l o r s ,
c o u n s e l o r s - a t - l a w , p o l i c e c o u n s e l o r s , p e s t - c o n t r o l
c o u n s e l o r s , f i n a n c i a l c o u n s e l o r s and camp c o u n s e l o r s
( P i e t r o f e s a , J o h n , and S p l e t e , Harward, 1978).
I n c o n t r a s t , c o u n s e l l i n g p s y c h o l o g y i s more of a
p l a n n e d d e l i b r a t e a c t i v i t y and i t ' s d e f i n i t i o n of
terms s p e l l s o u t t h e d i s t i n c t i o n be tween p l a n n e d
and s p o n t a n o u s e v e n t i n t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p . B a r t o p i n e d
t h a t p e o p l e become engaged i n c o u n s e l l i n g when a pe r so l
o c c u p y i n g r e g u l a r l y or t e m p o r a r l y t h e role of c o u n s e l 1 1
o f f e r t i m e , a t t e n t i on and r e s p e c t t o a n o t h e r p e r s o n
t e m p o r a r i l y i n t h e ro le of c l i e n t ( B a r t , 1974).
D e f i n i t i o n and Concep t of C o u n s e l l i n q :
The d e f i n i t i o n o f c o u n s e l l i n g is n e c e s s a r y t o
p r o v i d e framework or r e f e r e n c e a round which f u r t h e r
d i s c u s s i o n on t h e n a t u r e , r a n g e and p r a c t i c e of
c o u n s e l l i n g s h o u l d be b a s e d , Accord ing t o P e r r y (1955),
c o u n s e l l i n g i s a h e l p i n g r e l a t i o n where i n d i v f d u a l s
3
l e a r n new ways o f d e a l i n g and a d j u s t i n g t o l i f e
s i t u a t i o n . I t i s a p r o c e s s th rough which p e o p l e
a r e h e l p e d to d e v e l o p sound d e c i s i o n - making
p r o c e s s e i t h e r i n an i n d i v i d u a l o r g r o u p s e t t i n g .
C o u n s e l l i n g does n o t a t t e m p t t o r e s t r u c t u r e
p e r s o n a l i t y b u t to d e v e l o p what a l r e a d y e x i s t (p.15).
I t i s a h e l p i n g s i t u a t i o n u n d e r p s y c h o l o g i c a l problem.
I t may b e symptomic, t h a t i s , i t may b e a d i s t u r b i n g
s o c i a l or i n t e r p e r s o n a l , or i t may b e symptom f r e e ,
where o n l y t h e i n d i v i d u a l s u f f e r i n g knows where and
how o r t h e p a i n s o f t h e problem. I n h e l p i n g t h e
c l i e n t , Langs (1980) s t a t e d t h a t t h e c o u n s e l l o r i s
d i r e c t e d i n h e l p i n g c l i e n t d e a l w i t h h i s o r h e r
immedia t e p rob lems and improve h i s / h e r l i f e s i t u a t i o n
and a l s o t h e a t t i t u d e o f t h e c o u n s e l l o r is t h a t o f t h e
i n d i v i d u a l i n t e r a c t i n g w i t h a n o t h e r on more or-less
e q u a l f o o t i n g .
Thomsen & Poppen ( 1 9 8 2 ) see c o u n s e l l i n g a s a
p e r s o n - t o p e r s o n r e l a t i o n s h i p i n which one p e r s o n
h e l p s t h e o t h e r t o r e s o l v e h i s problem. The h e l p e r
i n t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p i s b y v i r t u r e o f h i s t r a i n i n g and
4
e x p e r i e n c e , a c o u n s e l l o r who a t t e m p t s to a s s i s t
t h e c l i e n t i n becoming an i n d e p e n d e n t p e r s o n
c a p a b l e o f r e s o l v i n g h i s / h e r c o n f l i c t s w i t h self
or o t h e r s . The c o n f l i c t may be i n form of l a c k of
i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t s e l f or e n v i r o n m e n t , or l a c k of
s k i l l r e q u i r e d f o r p e r s o n a l a c h i e v e m e n t , or
p o s s i b l y l a c k o f f a c t s r e l a t i n g t o c h o i c e , p l a n or
a d j u s t m e n t ,
I n h i s own p e r c e p t i o n , B l o c h e r (1966) d e f i n e s
c o u n s e l l i n g , a s h e l p i n g an i n d i v i d u a l become aware
o f h i m s e l f and t h e way i n which h e i s r e a c t i n g t o
t h e b e h a v i o u r a l i n f l u e n c e o f h i s env i ronmen t . The
r e l a t i o n s h i p r e s u l t s i n e s t a b l i s h i n g some p e r s o n a l
meaning f o r h i s b e h a v i o u r and to d e v e l o p ways of
becoming i n d e p e n d e n t t o be a b l e t o h a n d l e f u t u r e
d i f f i c u l t i e s ,
T y l e r (1969) s a y s t h a t t h e p u r p o s e of c o u n s e l l i l
i s t o f a c i l i t a t e w i s e c h o i c e and c e r t a i n k i n d of
d e c i s i o n on which a p e r s o n ' s l a t e r deve lopmen t
depends , Thus , t h e c e n t r a l message o f c o u n s e l l i n g i s
to a s s i s t an i n d i v i d u a l t o e x p l o r e and p a r t i c i p a t e
5
i n h i s own development towards becoming p u r p o s e f u l l y
s e l f - d i r e c t e d i n c h a n g i n g s o c i e t y , h a v i n g f u l l
r e s p e c t for t h e wor th and d i g n i t y o f self and o t h e r s ,
and t h e r e f o r e becoming t h e p e r s o n whom h e d e s i r e s t o
become. C o u n s e l l i n g psycho logy a s may be d i s t i n g u i s h e d
from o t h e r adhoc c o u n s e l l i n g r e l a t i o n i s
c h a r a c t e r i s e d by f i v e b a s i c i n d i c e s .
F i r s t l y , i t is a p r o f e s s i o n a l s e r v i c e o f f e r e d b y
a compe ten t c o u n s e l l o r . T h i s i m p l i e s t h a t c o u n s e l l i n g
d e n o t e s p r o f e s s i o n a l r e l a t i o n s h i p and n o t a c a u s a l
r e l a t i o n s h i p or i n c i d e n t d e s i g n e d t o " a d j u s t u o r
s t r a i g h t e n o u t c l i e n t ( P i e t r o f e s a , John J ; Leonard ,
G.E; Van Hoose; Wi l l i am H. 1971) .
The I n g r e d i e n t s of C o u n s e l l i n q :
The major e l e m e n t of c o u n s e l l i n g t h e n i s t h a t t h e
c o u n s e l l o r h a s a p a r t i c u l a r e x p e r t i s e n o t t o b e found
i n o r d i n a r y man t o man r e l a t i o n , such a s i n a g e n e r a l
s o c i a l c o n v e r s a t i o n s or "a f r i e n d l e n d i n g a n e a r w .
Second ly , i t is a p r o c e s s i n which t h e c o u n s e l l o r - c l i e
r e l a t i o n s h i p is b a s i c . According t o Rogers (1952) " t h e
p r o c e s s by which t h e s t r u c t u r e of t h e self i s r e l a x e d
6
i n t h e s a f e t y o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e
t h e r a p i s t and t h e p r e v i o u s l y d e n i e d e x p e r i e n c e s a r e
p e r c e i v e d and i n t e g r a t e d i n t o an a l t e r e d s e l f n .
(p . 66-74).
T h e r e f o r e c o u n s e l l i n g d o e s o t t a k e p l a c e i n a F- c a u s a l r e l a t i o n h i p where exchange o f words a r e
s u p e r f i c i a l to b e meanirgful.
T h i r d l y , c o u n s e l l i n g is c o n c e r n e d w i t h d e c i s i o n -
making s k i l l and problem s o l v i n g . C o u n s e l l o r a i d s
h i s c l i e n t i n d e c i s i o n making b y h e l p i n g t h e c l i e n t
expand t h e r a n g e of a l t e r n a t i v e s o r o p t i o n s open t o
him i n mod i fy ing h i s b e h a v i o u r i n a d e s i r e d d i r e c t i o n
(Wrenn, 1970 p.33). I t i s a p r o c e s s whereby t h e
c o u n s e l l o r h e l p s t h e c o u n s e l l e e t o make i n t e r p r e t a t i o n
of f a c t r e l a t i n g t o c h o i c e , p l a n , or a d j u s t m e n t which
h e n e e d s t o make. Accord ing t o Smi th ( 1 9 5 5 ) t h e
c l i e n t c a n make and a p p l y s k i l l s o u t s i d e c o u n s e l l i n g
i n a s i t u a t i o n s i m i l a r t o t h e s o l u t i o n advanced b y
c o u n s e l l o r o r a s i t u a t i o n n o t d i s c u s s e d w i t h t h e
c o u n s e l l o r . W i t h o u t t h e deve lopmen t o f d e c i s i o n making
t o o l s , t h e c l i e n t w i l l b e d e p e n d e n t upon t h e counse l101
7
i n d e f i n i t e l y ,
F o u r t h l y , c o u n s e l l i n g i s a m u t u a l i n t e r p r i s e ,
b a s e d on t h e r e s p e c t f o r i n d i v i d u a l on t h e p a r t
of c o u n s e l l o r and c l i e n t , B e c a u s e b o t h a r e i n v o l v e d
i n t h e c o u n s e l l i n g p r o c e s s , g o a l s a r e s e l e c t e d and
r e f i n e by b o t h , "It is t h e p e r s o n f o r whom
c o u n s e l l i n g i s i n t e n d e d who d e t e r m i n e wha t i s more
r e w a r d i n g f o r him ( D e l a n e y & E i s e n b e r g , 1972).
A s t h e c o u n s e l l o r a i d s t h e c l i e n t , t h e a s s i s t a n c e
t h a t t h e p r o c e s s is a b l e t o o f f e r i s d e t e r m i n e d b y
t h e c o u n s e l l o r , The c o u n s e l l o r r s e x p e r t i s e d o e s n o t
aim a t c h o o s i n g g o a l f o r t h e c l i e n t , r a t h e r h e h e l ~
t h e c l i e n t t o a c c o m p l i s h w h a t e v e r e n d t h a t i s choc
L a s t l y , c o u n s e l l i n g is a way of l i f e ( P i e t r o f l
J.J. & S p l e t e , H.H.; 1972) w r i t e , c o u n s e l l i n g f u r t
more becomes a way o f l i f e f o r t h e c o u n s e l l o r and
h e i s n o t t u r n e d on or t u r n e d off l i k e k i t c h e n fat
H e a c t s i n a f a c i l i t a t i v e manner , and i n c o n t r a s t
wha t some may t h i n k , a manner t h a t i s u n p r e d i c t a b
s i n c e i t is a u t h e n t i c and n o t c o n t r i v e d f f ( p . 2 6 ) .
W h i l e i t may be u n p r e d i c t a b l e , i t fosters g rowth
o t h e r s .
We h a v e s e e n t h a t c o u n s e l l o r s p e r f o r m t h e i r
d u t i e s and v a r i o u s a c t i v i t i e s u n d e r v a r i e t i e s o f
s e t t i n g .
From t h e c o n c e p t and d e f i n i t i o n s of c o u n s e l l i n g o n e
u n d e r s t a n d s t h a t a p e r s o n s e e k s t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f a
c o u n s e l l o r i n o r d e r t o d e a l w i t h a s p e c i f i c problem.
The s o l u t i o n t o t h e problem c a n be immed ia t e , or
n e c e s s i t a t e a r e l a t i v e l o n g t i m e , A s t h e c o u n s e l l i n g
p r a c t i c e s d e n o t e a n d touch v a r i o u s a s p e c t s o f l i f e ,
- s o c i o p e r s o n a l , e d u c a t i o n a l , v o c a t i o n a l etc. I t
commands w i d e v a r i e t y o f t e c h n i q u e . T h i s n e c e s s i t a t e s
t h e r e v i e w of t y p e s o f c o u n s e l l i n g ,
Types of C o u n s e l l i n q :
I t i s a p p r o p r i a t e to g i v e a b r o a d o v e r v i e w o f
t y p e s o f c o u n s e l l i n g , and t h e s i t u a t i o n a t which t h e
c o u n s e l l o r and c o u n s e l l e e , a r e i n v o l v e d i n t h e t h e r a i
The c o u n s e l l i n g t y p e s a r e d i s c u s s e d u n d e r cr is is ,
f a c i l i t a t i v e , p r e v e n t i v e and developmen t,
C r i s i s C o u n s e l l i n q :
From Brammer (1973) p o i n t of v i e w , crisis "is a
9
s t a t e of d i s o r g a n i s a t i o n i n which t h e h e l p e e f a c e s
f r u s t r a t i o n 6f i m p o r t a n c e i n l i f e g o a l or p r o f o u n d
d i s r u p t i o n of h i s l i f e c y c l e and method o f c o p i n g
w i t h stresst1 ( p - 2 ) . T h i s u n c o m f o r t a b l e s i t u a t i o n
c a l l s f o r t h e a s s i s t a n c e of a c o u n s e l l o r i n o r d e r
t o a i d t h e i n c a p a c i t a t e d h e l p e e . C r i s i s i s o f
d i f f e r e n t d i m e n s i o n s , Each o n e o f u s a t o n e s t a g e
i n l i f e o r t h e o t h e r w i t n e s s e s or e n c o u n t e r s crisis
s i t u a t i o n s s u c h a s loss o f b e l o v e d o n e , d r u g i n d u c e d
crisis, f r u s t r a t i o n i n o f f i c e , s o c i o - p e r s o n a l
p roblem l i k e m a r r i a g e / d f v o r c e , etc, When crisis
r e a c h e s t h e l e v e l where i t i m m o b i l i z e s t h e vict im
and p r e v e n t s him or h e r from c o n s c i o u s l y c o n t r o l l i n g
se l f , i t t h e n becomes t h e t y p e o f c r i s i s t h a t i n v i t e
t h e a t t e n t i o n o f c o u n s e l l o r . B e l k i n (1973) observes
t h a t crisis s i t u a t i o n c a n be r e l a t e d to; s u i c i d e
a t t e m p t , u n w a r r a n t e d p r e g n a n c y , h o s p i t a l i z a t i o n , jok
r e l o c a t i o n , impr i sonmen t , or f i n a n c i a l p roblems. But
r e g a r d l e s s of t h e n a t u r e of t h e crisis t h e c o u n s e l l c
n e e d s t o a c c e p t t h e s i t u a t i o n and m a i n t a i n p e r s o n a l
p o i s e and self a s s u r d n e s s . T h i s t y p e o f c o n f i d e n c e '
10
c e r t a i n l y r e d u c e t h e a n x i e t y and p a i n s of t h e
problem on t h e p a r t of t h e c l i e n t , B e l k i n (1973)
of fers s u g g e s t i o n s for t h e c o u n s e l l o r s b e h a v i o u r
i n s u c h crisis s i t u a t i o n i n w h a t h e c a l l e d lfDols
and DOnt t s i n crisis i n t e r v e n t i o n c o u n s e l l i n g ,
Do's:
1. Remain ca lm and s t a b l e , P r e p a r e y o u r s e l f
p s y c h o l o g i c a l l y f o r t h e t u r b u l a n c e of e m o t i o n
which i s s o o n t o f l o w from t h e c l i e n t ,
2, The c l i e n t s h o u l d be g i v e n o p p o r t u n i t y t o s p e a k ,
A t t empt t o d e t e r m i n e t h e t y p e of c r i s i s , i t ' s
p r e c i p i t a t i n g f o r c e and i t t s s e v e r i t y , I n t e r u p t
o n l y when i t is f o r t h e c l i e n t l s b e n e f i t ,
3, VJhen n e c e s s a r y , a sk o b j e c t - o r i e n t e d q u e s t i o n s ,
T h i s , i f w e l l f ramed w i l l h a v e c a l m i n g e f f e c t s
o n t h e c l i e n t . I f i t f a i l s , t h e c o u n s e l l e r shou lc
c o u n t h i m s e l f / h e r s e l f a s a s k i n g e g o c e n t r i c q u e s t i
4. Dea l w i t h i m m e d i a t e s i t u a t i o n r a t h e r t h a n i t ' s
u n c o n s c i o u s u n d e r l y i n g c a u s e s t h a t may b e l e f t fl
l a t e r , I n t h e cr is is p e r i o d , Brockopp (1973) p o i
o u t , t h e p e r s o n i s open t o c h a n g e , t h e s o o n e r w e
12
c a n work w i t h him t h e more l i k e l y w e are a b l e
t o m i n i m i s e t h e p o s s i b l e d e t e r o r i a t i o n of
p e r s o n a l i t y and t o d e v e l o p a n e f f e c t i v e
s o l u t i o n which w i l l improve t h e p e r s o n a l i t y
f u n c t i o n i n g o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l ,
5 0 Have r e a d i l y ' a v a i l a b l e l o c a l r e s o u r c e s t o a s s i s '
t h e c o u n s e l l o r ,
Don' ts:
1, Don ' t t r y t o c h e e r up t h e c l i e n t and t e l l him
t h a t h i s p roblem i s n o t a s b a d a s t h e y seem t o
r e a s u r e him u n l e s s h e s p e c i f i c a l l y r e q u e s t s
t h e s e t y p e o f i n v e n t i o n (wh ich i s b y t h e way,
t h e e x c e p t i o n r a t h e r t h a n t h e r u l e r .
2. Don' t a s k t h e s u i c i d a l c l i e n t t o abandon h i s
p l a n s , Always make s u c h r e q u e s t a t e m p o r a r y
d e l a y ,
3, Don' t t r y t o s o l v e t h e t o t a l p e r s o n a l i t y
a d j u s t m e n t d i f f i c u l t y , Some c o u n s e l l o r s t r y t o
m i n i m i s e t h e crisis i t s e l f and a t t e m p t i n g t o gf
t h e c l i e n t t o s p e a k on " f u n d a m e n t a l t h i n g t t
F a c i l i t a t i v e C o u n s e l l i n g :
T h i s is t h e p r o c e s s of h e l p i n g t h e c l i e n t t o
12
c l a r i f y a c e r t a i n , t h r o u g h self u n d e r s t a n d i n g and
a c c e p t a n c e , a n d t o d e v i s e a p l a n o f a c t i o n to work
on t h e c o n c e r n and f i n a l l y t o a c t on i t i n a self
r e s p o n s i b l e manner ( P i e t r o f e s a e t a 1 1978).
T h i s t y p e of c o u n s e l l i n g i s o f t e n c a l l e d " remedia l ' !
or a d j u s t i v e a s i f o n e i s c o r r e c t i n g a f a u l t of
u n d e s i r a b l e b e h a v i o u r , Remedia l c o u n s e l l i n g is
i n t e r p r e t e d t o mean a i d i n g a n i n d i v i d u a l t o p r o g r e s s
from d e f i c i e n t s t a g e t o a f u n c t i o n a l one. The b a s i c
p r o c e d u r e i s t h e one-to-one h e l p i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p ,
The c o u n s e l l o r a i d s t h e c l i e n t t h r o u g h c y c l i c a l
p r o c e s s of e x p l o r a t i o n , u n d e r s t a n d i n g and a c t i o n
( C a r k h u f f , 1973 ). The c o n c e r n s i n t h e f a c i l i t a t i v e
c o u n s e l l i n g i n c l u d e c h o o s i n g academic o p t i o n , p l a n n j
a c a r e e r , g e t t i n g a l o n g w i t h f a m i l y members o r
c l a s s m a t e s , etc. The main f o c u s o f t h i s i s t h a t t h e
r e s u l t o f s u c h h e l p i n g r e l a t i o n i s g a i n i n g of self
u n d e r s t a n d i n g and c h a n g e of b e h a v i o u r t h r o u g h t h e f
work o f f a c i l i t a t i n g c o u n s e l l i n g ,
P r e v e n t i v e C o u n s e l l i n g :
T h i s is a t y p e of c o u n s e l l i n g t h a t is p r i m a r i
p rog rammat i c and r e l a t e d o n l y t o a s p e c i f i c c o n c e r
13
T h i s makes i t d i f f e r e n t from o t h e r c o u n s e l l i n g
s i t u a t i o n . Such c o u n s e l l i n g s h o u l d i n v o l v e p r i m a r y
e d u c a t i o n programme, w i t h t h e aim of a l l e v i a t i n g
f u t u r e p rob lems of a n x i e t y of s e x u a l i t y and s e x u a l
r e l a t i o n s h i p , I t i s a way o f h e l p i n g t h e younge r
e l e m e n t s u n d e r s t a n d t h e m s e l v e s fo r better f u t u r e
h a n d l i n g of a s i m i l a r problem, I t i s t h e c o n c e r n
of p r e v e n t i v e c o u n s e l l i n g t o d e v e l o p self a w a r e n e s s
as i t r e l a t e s to f u t u r e c a r e e r c h o i c e . Drug a w a r e n e s s ,
r e t i r e m e n t o p t i o n and communica t ion s k i l l a r e o t h e r
a r e a s t h a t c a n be s y s t e m a t i c a l l y approached . I n
p r e v e n t i v e c o u n s e l l i n g , t h e c o u n s e l l o r may be
p r e s e n t i n g i n f o r m a t i o n to g r o u p or r e f e r e d i n d i v i d u a l !
Deve lopmen ta l C o u n s e l l i n g :
T h i s i s t h e t y p e of c o u n s e l l i n g t h a t i s an on-
g o i n g p r o c e s s which o c c u r s t h r o u g h o u t a n i n d i v i d u a l '
e n t i r e l i f e span . T h i s t y p e o f c o u n s e l l i n g f o c u s e s on
a i d i n g c l i e n t i n a c h i e v i n g p o s i t i v e p e r s o n a l g rowth i
any s t a g e of l i fe. The c o u n s e l l o r a i d s i n d i v i d u a l a t
a l l a g e levels and a s w e l l s u p p o r t the c o n c e p t of c h i
c o u n s e l l i n g and deve lopmen t ,
14
I n t h e p a r l a n c e o f Dinkmeyer and C a l d w e l l
(19701 , d e v e l o p m e n t a l c o u n s e l l i n g c a n b e c o n t r a s t e d
w i t h a d j u s t m e n t or crisis c o u n s e l l i n g a s problem
o r i e n t e d , i n terms o f assuming t h a t t h e c h i l d has
some d i f f i c u l t p rob lems , The g o a l i s t h e deve lopmen t
of self u n d e r s t a n d i n g , a w a r e n e s s o f o n e ' s
p o t e n t i a l i t i e s and method o f u t i l i z i n g o n e s c a p a c i t y .
Developmenta l c o u n s e l l i n g a ims a t h e l p i n g an
i n d i v i d u a l know, u n d e r s t a n d a n d a c c e p t self. T h i s
t y p e of c o u n s e l l i n g becomes p e r s o n a l i z e d l e a r n i n g
and n o t i n d i v i d u a l t e a c h i n g , The c h i l d n o t o n l y
l e a r n s how t o u n d e r s t a n d h i m s e l f b u t a l s o how t o make
c h o i c e and b e r e s p o n s i b l e for t h e choice and t h e
r e s u l t a n t a c t i o n , Dinkmeyer and C a l d w e l l (1970),
A c l i e n t c a n a t t a i n self u n d e r s t a n d i n g , i m p r o v e
dec i s ion -mak ing and p o s i t i v e : , b e h a v i o u r a l c h a n g e
t h r o u g h d e v e l o p m e n t a l c o u n s e l l i n g , The f o c u s of
d e v e l o p m e n t a l c o u n s e l l i n g i n c l u d e among o t h e r s ,
d e v e l o p i n g and m a i n t a i n i n g p o s i t i v e s e l f c o n c e p t ,
f i n d i n g an a p p r o p r i a t e l i f e s t y l e a s i t r e l a t e s t o
u s e of w o r k i n g , l e i s u r e t i m e , l e a r n i n g d e c e s i o n making
15
s k i l l , c l a r i f y i n g o n e s v a l u e s and i n t e r e s t ,
u n d e r s t a n d i n g and a c c e p t i n g c h a n g e s , and d e v e l o p i n g
l i f e p r o c e s s from b i r t h t o d e a t h ( P i e t r o f e s a , 1973).
The mee t ing p o i n t of crisis and d e v e l o p m e n t a l
c o u n s e l l i n g i s t h a t i n d e a l i n g w i t h g r i e f o v e r
p e r s o n a l l o s s , c a n be c o n s i d e r e d crisis c o u n s e l l i n g
i n t h e s e n s e t h a t t h e g r i e f may b e over -power ing
a t f i r s t , b u t i t f i t i n t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t a l f r a m e
work a s t h e c l i e n t l e a r n s to c o p e and a d j u s t w i t h
t h e bereavement .
A p r o f e s s i o n a l who had been c o n d u c t i n g
d e v e l o p m e n t a l c o u n s e l l i n g i s bet ter p r e p a r e d to
work w i t h t h e c o n c e r n s t h a t a r i s e i n p r e v e n t i v e ,
f a c i l i t a t i v e and cr is is c o u n s e l l i n g s i t u a t i o n s .
CHAPTER TWO
COUNSELLING NEEDS I N N I G E R I A
I n g e n e r a l , c o u n s e l l i n g psycho logy t o a
v a r y i n g d e g r e e i s c o n c e r n e d w i t h m i l d e r form of
n e u r o s i s w i t h d i a g n o s t i c t e s t i n g l B u t c o u n s e l l i n g
psycho logy c o n c e n t r a t e s on s u c h p rob lems l i k e
academic , v o c a t i o n a l , m a r i t a l , s o c i a l p rob lems and
g e n e r a l c u l t u r a l a d j u s t m e n t (Marx, 1976). C o u n s e l l i n g
a s a h e l p i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p is c a r r i e d o u t b y means of
i n t e r p e r s o n a l communicat ion where t h e c o u n s e l l o r
h e l p s t h e c o u n s e l l e e i n a c h i e v i n g a d a p t i v e a t t i t u d e ,
i n s i g h t , a n d behav iour . I t i s a method o f h e l p i n g t h e
i n d i v i d u a l ( c o u n s e l l e e ) to u t i l i z e h i s / h e r
p s y c h o l o g i c a l r e s o u r c e s b y f o c u s i n g on t h a t i n d i v i d u a l
p o s i t i v e s t r e n g h t b y c o n c e n t r a t i n g i n t h e i n d i v i d u a l s
p e r s o n a l i t y , b e h a v i o u r a l , and e m o t i o n a l assets t h a t
c o u l d be m o b i l i z e d t o a c h i e v e a d a p t i v e a t t i t u d e
( I p a y e , 1983).
The P r o s p e c t s of C o u n s e l l i n g ( G e n e r a l ) :
T h e r e a r e many t r e n d s i n o u r s o c i e t y t h a t a r e
of c o n c e r n to c o u n s e l l o r s . Accord ing t o P i e t r o f e s a
et a 1 ( 1 9 7 8 ) t h e s e
of modern s o c i e t y .
1 7
t r e n d s a r e u n a v o i d a b l e o f f s h o o t
F i r s t l y , o u r s o c i e t y h a s become
v e r y mobile b o t h i n terms o f r e s i d e n c e and job
c o n t i n u i t y , I n t h e i r f i n d i n g , u n i t e d s t a t e Bureau
c e n s u s i n 1975 r e p o r t e d t h a t 37 p e r c e n t of t h e
n a t i o n s p o p u l a t i o n c h a n g e job a s w e l l a s r e s i d e n c e ,
T h e s e move may be r o o t e d i n p e r s o n a l d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n
w i t h p a r t i c u l a r job or r e s i d e n c e , job t r a n s f e r and
l a c k o f job o p p o r t u n i t i e s i n t h a t a r e a (Wrenn, 19731,
G e n e r a l l y p e o p l e a r e moving from r u r a l t o u r b a n a r e a
from S o u t h e r n to N o r t h e r n p a r t of t h e c o u n t r y , T h e s e
ci t ies w i t h t h e i r e v e r i n c r e a s i n g p o p u l a t i o n h a v e
i m p l i c a t i o n s for c o u n s e l l o r s . The c o u n s e l l o r n e e d s to
r e c o g n i s e t h a t c l i e n t s a r e becoming more and more
c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f t h e i r r e s i d e n c e
or employmen t,
I n o u r s o c i e t y , v a l u e s are c o n s t a n t l y c h a n g i n g
and s h i f t i n g . I n modern s o c i e t y t h e m o r a l v a l u e s a r e
i n t h e s t a t e o f f l u x , They m a n i f e s t i n a r e a a s s o c i a t e
w i t h d r u g , s e x u a l i t y and soc ia l deve lopmen t for examp
women l i b e r a t i o n movement h a s a f f e c t e d males and fema
a l i k e , As women assume e q u a l s t a t u s w i t h men, t h e
18
t r a d i t i o n a l f a m i l y r o l e s u f f e r s . O t h e r consequences
a r e crisis and c o n f l i c t s , . i n f a m i l y , d i v o r c e a s w e l l
a s c h i l d abuse. Apar t from s o c i a l d i s o r d e r a t home,
q u e s t f o r m a t e r i a l g a i n s or s e r v i c e s to o t h e r
c i t i z e n s become a problem. C o u n s e l l o r s need to be
aware of t h e changes a s w e l l a s t h e v a l u e h e l d by
c l i e n t i n o r d e r t o correct any imbalance , There seems
to be a growing demand on t h e p a r t of c l i e n t s for
c o u n s e l l i n g s e r v i c e r e g a r d i n g m a r r i a g e , f a m i l y life
s t y l e , a d a p t a t i o n t o change a s w e l l a s p a r e n t a l
concern ,
C o u n s e l l i n g s e r v i c e s a r e now more a c c e p t a b l e to
t h e p u b l i c , I n t h e p a s t p e o p l e though t t h a t those who
go f o r c o u n s e l l i n g have something d r a s t i c a l l y wrong
w i t h them and t h a t t h e y a r e those who w e r e n o t
c a p a b l e o f h a n d l i n g t h e i r own problems which t e n d s t c
b e a s i g n o f weakness, But i n r e a l i t y c o u n s e l l i n g
s e r v i c e s a r e u t i l i z e d by more and more p e o p l e i n
h e l p i n g themse lves and t h e i r f a m i l i e s , C o u n s e l l o r s
have become i n c r e a s i n g l y a v a i l a b l e t o h e l p c l i e n t s tc
d e a l wf t h t h e i r own p e r s o n a l i t y problems, a c t i o n s ,
e d u c a t i o n a l and c a r e e r p l a n s , m a r r i a g e s and f a m i l y
19
r e l a t i o n s h i p , a s w e l l a s employment o p p o r t u n i t i e s .
F a r e n t s , t e a c h e r s and a d m i n i s t r a t o r s h a v e
r e c o g a a i s e d t h e v a l u e o f c o u n s e l l o r s i n a i d i n g
s t u d e n t s from k i n d e r g a r t e n t h r o u g h c o l l e g e , Many
c l i e n t s h a v e u s e d p u b l i c c o u n s e l l i n g a g e n c i e s w i t h
r e g a r d s t o l e g a l and m e d i c a l conce rn . I n s u r a n c e
companies h a v e encouraged c l i e n t s u s e of p u b l i c and
p r i v a t e l i c e n s e d c o u n s e l l i n g c l i n i c s a s t h e y p r o v i d e
payment f o r t h e c o u n s e l l i n g services. Moreover, some
b u s i n e s s firms h a v e e s t a b l i s h e d c o u n s e l l i n g c e n t r e s
for t h e employees i n o r d e r t o a i d them i n r e s o l v i n g
p e r s o n a l p rob lems which may i m p a i r t h e i r work ing
e f f e c t i v e n e s s , I n d e e d , the more p e o p l e r e g a r d m e n t a l
h e a l t h a s i m p o r t a n t to t h e m s e l v e s and t h e s o c i e t y ,
t h e more a c c e p t a b l e and v a l u a b l e c o u n s e l l i n g becomes,
Accord ing to P i e t r o f e s a et a 1 (1972) c o u n s e l l i n g
i s b e i n g p r o v i d e d i n v a r i e t y of s e t t i n g s , Many c e n t r e s
for community a c t i v i t i e s h a v e p r o v i d e d new l o c a t i o n s
fo r c o u n s e l l o r s , c h u r c h e s and o t h e r r e l i g i o u s b u i l d i n g
a r e b e i n g u s e d t o p r o v i d e many community w i t h g r o u p or
i n d i v i d u a l c o u n s e l l i n g s e r v i c e s . F u r t h e r more, the
20
community c e n t r e which s e r v e s t h e needs of s e n i o r
c i t i z e n s and retirees a l s o offer c o u n s e l l i n g s e r v i c e ,
More h o s p i t a l s a r e p r o v i d i n g c o u n s e l l i n g s e r v i c e s by
c h a p l a i n s , s o c i a l workers and h o s p i t a l s t a f f c o u n s e l l o
The c o u n s e l l o r a l s o offers s e r v i c e s t o h o s p i t a l
p a t i e n t s . Young a d u l t s a r e o f f e r e d s e r v i c e i n f o r m a l
youth c e n t r e , P u b l i c i s a l s o o f f e r e d c o u n s e l l i n g
s e r v i c e s b o t h i n j a i l and on p r o b a t i o n , Another
c o u n s e l l i n g concern for t h e modern s o c i e t y i s for t h e
d e a t h and dying, According t o Wrenn (1962) c o u n s e l l o r :
a r e working i n c r e a s i n g l y w i t h f e r m i n a l l y ill p a t i e n t s
i n t h e h o s p i t a l and a t homes w i t h t h e f a m i l i e s of t h e
c l i e n t s more i n v o l v e d i n c o u n s e l l i n g b o t h before and
a f t e r d e a t h o f a member of t h e fami ly .
School c o u n s e l l o r becomes v e r y i m p o r t a n t i n o u r
modern s o c i e t y , C o u n s e l l i n g h a s become i n v o l v e d t o a
g r e a t d e g r e e t o s c h o o l c h i l d r e n and t h e i r p a r e n t s , Tf
c o u n s e l l i n g p r a c t i c e s b e n e f i t p a r e n t s a s t h e y a r e
equ iped w i t h new knowledge o f hand ing t h e i r c h i l d r e n
i n schoo l . Apar t from p a r e n t s of s c h o o l age c h i l d r e n
o t h e r f a m i l y s u b g roup t h a t r e c e i v e s i n c r e a s i n g amou
of c o u n s e l l i n g a t t e n t i o n i n c l u d e t h o s e w i t h d rug and
a l c o h o l problems. Many p u b l i c and p r i v a t e c l i n i c s
have v a r i o u s approaches i n working w i t h t h e s e g r o u p s
S p e c i f i c C o u n s e l l i n q Needs I n con tempora ry
: N i q e r i a n S o c i e t y :
I n t h e contemporary s o c i e t y o f o u r s , c o u n s e l l i n
s e r v i c e s have i n c r e a s e d i n i t s volume, T h i s i s due t
v a r i e t y o f s e r v i c e s b e i n g p r o v i d e d t o v a r i o u s sub-
g roups w i t h i n t h e s o c i e t y , These s e r v i c e s w i t h K W ~ Q
a r e a s of needs inc lude :
Educat ion: According t o I p a y e (1983) t h e p u r p o s e of
c o u n s e l l i n g s e r v i c e s i n N i g e r i a n e d u c a t i o n sys tem i s
t o p r o v i d e those e x p e r i e n c e s which a s s i s t s t u d e n t s t
u n d e r s t a n d themse lves , d e v e l o p t h e i r p o t e n t i a l s and
a s members of t h e s o c i e t y , his i s i n a d d i t i o n t h a t
t h e s t u d e n t s have l e a r n i n g e x p e r i e n c e s a b o u t t h e wor
of e d u c a t i o n , wor ld of work and t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p bei
the two, C o u n s e l l i n g i n t h e school is a programme o
s e r v i c e s to i n d i v i d u a l s and g r o u p s , b a s e d on t h e n e
o f the s t u d e n t s , Such i s d e s i g n e d to h e l p t h e s t u d €
a d j u s t t o h i s envi ronment , d e v e l o p t h e a b i l i t y t o 5
r e a l i s t i c g o a l s for h i m s e l f and t o improve h i s t o t ;
e d u c a t i o n programme w h i l e i n s c h o o l and to make a
22
t e n t a t i v e p l a n fo r h i s p o s t s c h o o l l i f e . The main
p u r p o s e o f c c u n s e l l i n g i n t h e s c h o o l i s r o o t e d i n
t h e a s s u m p t i o n t h a t an i n d i v i d u a l who u n d e r s t a n d s
h i m s e l f / h e r s e l f and h i s / h e r w o r l d w i l l become more
e f f e c t i v e , more p r o d u c t i v e , and h a p p i e r human b e i n g s .
He/she w i l l become a f u n c t i o n a l member o f t h e
s o c i e t y , I n N i g e r i a n s i t u a t i o n t h e new p o l i c y on
e d u c a t i o n p r o v i d e d f o r c o u n s e l l i n g s e r v i c e s i n
s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l s ,
I p a y e (1983) o u t l i n e d t h e f u n c t i o n s o f t h e
school
( i )
( i i )
(iii)
( i v )
c o u n s e l l o r t o i n c l u d e :
H e l p i n g the s t u d e n t s t o d e v e l o p t h e s k i l l of
s e l f s t u d y , s e l f a n a l y s i s and s e l f u n d e r s t a n d
Developing i n s t u d e n t s a w a r e n e s s o f o p p o r t u n i
i n p e r s o n a l , s o c i a l , e d u c a t i o n a l , and v o c a t i c
a r e a s b y p r o v i d i n g them w i t h a p p r o p r i a t e , usc
and u s a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n .
H e l p i n g t h e s t u d e n t s t o d e v e l o p p o s i t i v e
a t t i t u d e t o self , o t h e r s , and a p p r o p r i a t e
n a t i o n a l i s s u e s t o work and t o l e a r n i n g .
H e l p i n g t h e s t u d e n t s who a r e unde r -ach ieve r :
u s e t h e i r p o t e n t i a l s t o t h e maximum.
( v ) A s s i s t i n g s t u d e n t s to a c q u i r e e a r l y i n l i f e
p o s i t i v e image of self u n d e r s t a n d i n g and self
d i r e c t i on ,
( v i ) H e l p i n g t h e s t u d e n t s t o a c q u i r e s k i l l , autonomy,
wh ip up m o t i v a t i o n for c r e a t i v i t y and problem
s o l v i n g ,
( v i i ) H e l p i n g t h e n a t i o n t h r o u g h s c h o o l t o i d e n t i f y
and n u r t u r e human p o t e n t i a l i t i e s i n v a r i o u s
f i e l d s of endeavour , t h u s e n s u r i n g a d e q u a t e
man-power deve lopmen t and s p e c i a l i z a t i o n i n
v a r i o u s sectors of t h e economy,
( v i i i ) L a s t l y , t o h e l p b u i l d up t h e i n d i v i d u a l N i g e r i z
p o s i t i v e a t t i t u d e t o f e l l o w N i g e r i a n s and t o de\
s e n s e of commitment t o t h e u n i t y of N i g e r i a ,
C a r e e r Counse l l i n q :
The a r e a of c a r e e r deve lopmen t and employment
p l a c e m e n t are s e r i o u s a r e a of c o n c e r n and n e e d s of
o u r s o c i e t y , T h i s h a s b e e n r e c e i v i n g a t t e n t i o n f rom
c o u n s e l l i n g s p e c i a l i s t s i n ~ i g e r i a . P e o p l e who are
e n l i g h t e n e d and exposed a r e s e e k i n g fo r h e l p t o rev :
t h e i r c h i l d r e n or t h e i r a p t i t u d e and i n t e r e s t i n
24
employment r e a l i t i e s , I n N i g e r i a c a r e e r c o u n s e l l i n g
i s m o s t l y p r a c t i c e d i n t h e s c h o o l t h r o u g h w h a t i s
ref e r e d to a s c a r e e r c o n v e n t i o n , c a r e e r c o n f e r e n c e
or I f c a r e e r foruml1 ( I p a y a ) , It i s a d a y o r g a n i s e d b y
c a r e e r c o u n s e l l o r s to p a r a d e p r o f e s s i o n a l s b e f o r e
t h e s t u d e n t s i n order t o p r e s e n t a l t e r n a t i v e c h o i c e
of p r o f e s s i o n a l p r a c t i c e , I n t h e p a r l a n c e of I p a y e
(1983) c a r e e r forum i s a g r o u p m e e t i n g h e l d w i t h
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of o c c u p a t i o n s from communi t i e s , A
n u r s e m i g h t be i n v i t e d t o d i s c u s s nurs ing , . . , ,
p h o t o g r a p h e r t o d i s c u s s photographing , . , . , S e c r e t a r y
to s p e a k on o f f i c e work fo r t h o s e i n d i c a t i n g i n t e r e s
i n t h e o c c u p a t i o n . The forum b r o a d e n t h e h o r i z o n of
b o t h s t u d e n t s and p a r e n t s f o r i n d e p t h s t u d y and c a r e
comparism,
The c o u n s e l l o r u s e s t h e forum t o expand t h e st1
knowledge of l o c a l , s t a t e and n a t i o n a l job o p p o r t u n :
job m a r k e t , j o b c o n d i t i o n and t r a i n i n g programmes,
e x p o s u r e i n f o r m s s t u d e n t s o f t h e c h a n g i n g ro le of m
and women i n t h e work forces, and t h u s a i d them i n
a p p r o p r i a t e c o u r s e s e l e c t i o n t h a t w i l l be c o n s i s t e r
w i t h f u t u r e c a r e e r s i
Soc io -Pe r sona l :
C o u n s e l l i n g p s y c h o l o g y h a s a v a r i e t y o f c l i e n t s
b a s e d on m u l t i f e r o u s p rob lems s u c h a s m a r i t a l ,
e d u c a t i o n a l , p a s t o r a l / r e l i g i o u s , p s y c h o l o g i c a l /
e m o t i o n a l , I n a work ing e n v i r o n m e n t , c o u n s e l l i n g
p s y c h o l o g y p r o v i d e s s e r v i c e s t h a t e n s u r e harmonous
working r e l a t i o n s h i p among s t a f f , Emot iona l d i s o r d e r
c a n p u t o n e o f f h i s work ing b e h a v i o u r a s a r e s u l t o f
o n e s r e l a t i o n a l p roblem or t h e o t h e r , T h e c o u n s e l l o r
p r o v i d e s s o c i o p e r s o n a l o r i e n t a t i o n t o i n d i v i d u a l or
g r o u p f o r p e r f e c t a d a p t a t i o n i n t h e work ing p l a c e .
M a r r i a g e and d i v o r c e a r e i n r e c e n t times too
rampan t , C o u n s e l l i n g s e r v i c e s r e m a i n t h e o p t i o n t o
t h e s o l u t i o n of t h e problem, A p a r t from t h e above ,
t h e n e e d f o r c o u n s e l l i n g p s y c h o l o g i s t c a n n o t be
over-emphasized. I t i s v e r y d i f f i c u l t t o b r a k e a
p e r s o n a l h a b i t , That m u s t be i n t h e a b s e n c e of
c o u n s e l l i n g p s y c h o l o g i s t , C o u n s e l l o r p r o v i d e s s e r v i c
t h a t h e l p i n b r a k i n g h a b i t s s u c h a s smoking d r i n k i n r
and e x c e s s i v e e a t i n g or p r o m i s c u i t y , C o u n s e l l i n g a s
a h e l p i n g s k i l l t r a i n s t h e c l i e n t s on t h e me thods o
a c q u i s i t i o n o f c e r t a i n s t r a i n i f J g / p r a c t i c e i n b r a k i n
h a b i t s ,
26
H e a l t h as w e a l t h may hamper t h e e f f e c t i v e
a d a p t a t i o n of t h e i n d i v i d u a l s . 1x1 h e a l t h c a u s e s
emot iona l imbalance. I n o u r s o c i e t y c o u n s e l l o r s need
t r a i n i n g t o a c q u i r e s k i l l s t h a t w i l l e n a b l e them
u n d e r s t a n d p e o p l e s f e e l i n g s ( P i e t r o f e s a e t a 1 (1973).
I n t h e c a s e of overweigh t , t h e c o u n s e l l o r p r o v i d e s
t r a i n i n g t o d e s i g n d i e t t h a t w i l l make one lose weigk
I n t h e c a s e of stress and t e n s i o n , t h e c o u n s e l l i n g
p s y c h o l o g i s t c o n s t r u c t s and t e a c h e s . a c l i e n t how to
a p p l y deep muscule r e l a x a t i o n and need f o r l e i s u r e .
The power of p o s i t i v e t h i n k i n g i s n e c e s s a r y for good
h e a l t h of t h e c l i e n t . These a r e u n a v o i d a b l y impor tant
i n our s o c i e t y e s p e c i a l l y t h i s p e r i o d o f dwind l ing
economy and low p u r c h a s i n g power of n a i r a t h a t l e a d
t o stress and t e n s i o n .
Adolescen t Developmental Problems:
E a r l y m a r r i a g e , t e e n a g e pregnancy, d e l i q u e n c y ,
drug and a l c o h o l a b u s e etc. a r e t h e c e n t r a l problems
of growing p e r s o n s , Gene and Ronald (1976) op ined t t
t h e u s e of a l c o h o l and h a r d d r u g s e x c e s s i v e l y a r e cc
phenomena among a d o l e s c e n t s . The u s e of a l c o h o l i s
a s s o c i a t e d w i t h other a n t i - s o c i a l a c t i v i t i e s l i k e s
27
v i o l e n c e , r o b b e r y and r a p e . About 2-6 p e r c e n t of
a d o l e s c e n t s a r e problem d r i n k e r s (Maddox, 1970 ),
A p a r t from d r u g and a l c o h o l which i s p r e d o m i n a n t l y mi
a f f a i r , e a r l y m a r r i a g e and t e e n a g e p r e g n a n c y a r e abol
among f e m a l e a d o l e s c e n t s . The o f f s h o o t o f t h e e a r l y
m a r r i a g e i s f i n a n c i a l i n s e c u r i t y , p o o r job p r o s p e c t ,
t h w a r t e d e d u c a t i o n , s c h o o l d r o p o u t , M a r r i a q e and
p r e g n a n c i e s l e a d t h e y o u t h t o d i s a p p o i n t m e n t and
d i s i l l u s i o n ( L a B e r r e , 1968) .
T h e s e a d o l e s c e n t p rob lems a r e d e v e l o p m e n t a l
p rob lems , C o u n s e l l i n g p s y c h o l o g i s t i s i n a b e t t e r
p o s i t i o n t o h a n d l e t h e c a s e s p r o f e s s i o n a l l y , F i r s t o:
a l l , a s t h e t e e n a g e r s a r e c h i l d r e n of s c h o o l a g e , i t
i s t h e d u t y of s c h o o l c o u n s e l l o r t o h a n d l e t h e s i t u a
t h r o u g h r e f e r a l and v o l u n t a r y c l i e n t e l e , By t h i s , t h
c o u n s e l l o r w i l l d e v e l o p test and non- tes t i n s t r u m e n t
f o r u s e i n t h e a s s e s s m e n t and c o u n s e l l i n g of s t u d e n t
and s c h o o l s t a f f , T h i s c o n d u c t makes f o r u p d a t i n g
s t u d e n t s over a l l needs . I t a l s o h e l p s t h e s c h o o l s
i n i d e n t i f y i n g s t u d e n t s s p e c i a l a b i l i t y a s well a s
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f v a r i o u s s t a g e s o f abnorma l b e h a v i
among s t u d e n t s (Odo, 1997) .
28
On t h e o t h e r problems of a d o l e s c e n t l i k e
d e v i a n c e , e a r l y m a r r i a g e and drug a d d i c t i o n , a
c o u n s e l l i n g p s y c h o l o g i s t i s needed a l s o , The
predominant t e e n a g e pregnancy is a concern t o a
c o u n s e l l o r , The c o u n s e l l o r s h o u l d through t h e g r o u p
p u b l i c c l i n i c s e d u c a t e t h e p a r e n t s on t h e need for
s e x e d u c a t i o n , Adolescen t s t e n d n o t t o p o s s e s a c c u r a t
and a d e q u a t e i n f o r m a t i o n concern ing many a s p e c t s o f
s e x u a l i t y (Gene & Ronald, 19761.
CHAPTER THREE
THE PROBLEMS OF COUNSELLING
C o u n s e l l i n g l i k e o t h e r p r o f e s s i o n s i s n o t
w i t h o u t p rob lems , The p rob lems o f p r a c t i s i n g
c o u n s e l l i n g a r e b o t h exogenous and endogenous , T h i s
i s b e c a u s e some of t h e c o u n s e l l i n g p rob lems a r e
i n h e r e n t i n c o u n s e l l i n g s e r v i c e , A c a s e i n p o i n t is
r a n g e of b e h a v i o u r s be tween the c l i e n t and t h e
t h e r a p i s t which may be r e g a r d e d a s b r e a k i n g
i n t e r p e r s o n a l boundary. sometimes i t may be e x t e r n a l
t o t h e p o i n t of f i n a n c e , a w a r e n e s s , and s o c i a l v a l u e
I n t h i s c h a p t e r , t h e v a r i o u s p rob lems e n c o u n t e r
by t h e p r a c t i s i n g t h e r a p i s t and t h e e t h i c a l p roblems
of c o u n s e l l i n g w i l l be d i s c u s s e d , The p rob lems w i l l
be g rouped i n t o endogenous and exogenous f a c t o r s ,
Endoqenous F a c t o r s :
They a r e p rob lems endemic i n c o u n s e l l i n g p r a c t
They are prob lems which a r e i n h e r e n t i n t h e p r a c t i c
c o u n s e l l i n g , T h e s e p rob lems i n c l u d e :
C u l t u r a l I s s u e s :
I n t h e o p i n i o n o f Kleinman (1976) h e a l t h , ill1
and h e a l t h - c a r e r e l a t e d a s p e c t s o f the s o c i e t y a r e
30
e x p r e s s e d a s c u l t u r a l sys tem, H e b e l i e v e s t h a t h e a l t l
c a r e s y s t e m s h o u l d be v iewed a s c u l t u r a l symbolic
sys t em, s u c h as k i n g s h i p and r e l i g i o n which a r e b u i l *
o u t of mean ings , v a l u e s and b e h a v i o u r a l norms, I n thc
same v e i n , c o u n s e l l i n g services s h o u l d b e p e r c e i v e d
from t h e c u l t u r a l p o i n t of view, The components of
p s y c h o l o g i c a l make-up of t h e i n d i v i d u a l s a r e c u l t u r e
bound, T h e r a p i s t s s h o u l d r e c o g n i s e t h e s e d u r i n g
c o u n s e l l i n g service,
For i n s t a n c e , e m o t i o n a l b e h a v i o u r of i n d i v i d u a l :
need to be u n d e r s t o o d i n t h e c l i e n t ' s c u l t u r a l c o n t e :
w i t h less of m r o c e n t r i c view, The m e d i c a l a n t h r o p o l c
idea t h a t t h e p a t i e n t , t h e f a m i l y , and t h e i r c u l t u r e
a s w e l l a s t h a t o f t h e p r a c t i t i o n e r , need t o be
e x p l a i n e d and u n d e r s t o o d , Each i s e q u a l l y i m p o r t a n t
i n g r e d i e n t o f t h e c u l t u r a l c o n s t r u c t i o n of i l l n e s s a
t r e a t m e n t of t h e i n d i v i d u a l ( G a i n e s , 1982). P r o f e s s i
p r a c t i c e c a n o n l y make s e n s e n o t from t h e p r o f e s s i o r
e v a l u a t i o n o f b e h a v i o u r b u t f rom c u l t u r a l c r i t e r i a
which a r e u s e d t o make s e n s e o f it,
I n N i g e r i a n c o n t e x t , an example of i n t e r p r e t a t .
o f b e h a v i o u r i n t h e r a p e u t i c r e l a t i o n s h i p i s t h e e y e
31
c o n t a c t be tween t h e t h e r a p i s t a n d t h e c l i e n t , I n
many Wes te rn r e l a t i o n s h i p be tween t h e c o u n s e l l o r
and t h e c l i e n t , t h i s c o n t a c t i s c o n s i d e r e d e s s e n t i a l
b u t a v o i d a n c e of s u c h e y e c o n t a c t i s c o n s i d e r e d as
a v o i d a n c e o f r e l a t i o n s h i p , B u t i n N i g e r i a s u c h e y e
c o n t a c t t r a d i t i o n a l l y i s c o n s i d e r e d d i s r e s p e c t f u l t o
t h e o l d e r p e r s o n , I n t h e c a s e of women, s u c h c o n t a c t
i s deemed immodest. I n some N i g e r i a n c u l t u r a l c o n t e x
i t may b e c o n s i d e r e d a s a t t e m p t t o s e d u c e t h e o t h e r ,
more e s p e c i a l l y w h e r e s u c h t h e r a p e u t i c r e l a t i o n s h i p
demands p r i v a c y and i s o l a t i o n .
A p a r t from e t h i c a l p r i n c i p l e s i n t h e r e l a t i o n a l
c o n t e x t , t h e r e a r e many c u l t u r a l t a b o o s t h a t d e t e r
p r a c t i t i o n e r s , A moslem f e m a l e w i l l n o t be
r e l i g i o u s l y a v a i l a b l e f o r s u c h i n t i m a t e relations hi^
e s p e c i a l l y when i t i n v o l v e s o p p o s i t e g e n d e r , A l s o a:
c o u n s e l l i n g r e q u i r e s c a s e h i s t o r y which may i n v o l v e
n u m e r a t i o n o f c h i l d r e n i n t h e f a m i l y , h i s t o r y of
f a m i l y crisis some of which may be e n c o r e d i n s e x u a
r e l a t i o n , t h e f e m a l e p a r t n e r may n o t be open fo r s u
c o n v e r s a t i o n s .
32
C o n f i d e n t i a l i t y :
C o n f i d e n t i a l i t y i s a c r u c i a l a r e a f o r e x p l o r a t i o n
i n c o u n s e l l i n g r e l a t i o n s . Accord ing to Palmer (1996)
t h e f o u n d a t i o n o f t h i s r e l a t i o n a l e t h i c s i s b a s e d o n
t h e common law d u t y o f c o n f i d e n c e which o b l i g e s a n
i n d i v i d u a l to k e e p secret a l l i n f o r m a t i o n i m p a r t e d to
them i n a t r u s t e d r e l a t i o n s h i p . L e g a l l y s u c h b r e a c h of
c o n f i d e n t i a l i t y c a n be met b y a r e s t r a t i n g i n j u n c t i o n
or a c l a i m f o r damages ( H a r r i s , 1990) .
I n a s i t u a t i o n where law demands f o r t h e
d i s c l o s u r e o f s u c h c o n f i d e n c i a l i t y t h e r e i s bound t o
b e a problem where t h e law r e q u i r e s d i s c l o s u r e to
a s s i s t i n
t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n , or p r o s e c u t i o n of s e r i o u s crime.... or to p r e v e n t t h r e a t to h e a l tb.. where d i s c l o s u r e i s n e c e s s a r y i n t h e p e r f o r m a n c e o f s t a t u t o r y d u t y , where i t i s n e c e s s a r y i n t h e p u b l i c i n t e r e s t ( d ' E c a , 1990) .
L e g a l p r o v i s i o n is made i n t h e c a s e o f g r o u p s
s u c h a s d o c t o r s , and s o c i a l w o r k e r s ( H e a l t h c o m p l a i n t
p r o c e d u r e A c t , 1985; c h i l d r e n A c t , 1 9 8 9 ) (Rowe, 1996)
Bu t i n N i g e r i a , non s t a t u t o r y p r o v i s i o n f o r c o u n s e l l o
r e f l e c t s i n t h e l a c k of r e d r e s s o t h e r t h a n p r o f e s s i o n
s a n c t i o n s f o r misconduct .
R e l i g i o u s B e l i e f and E t h i c s :
C o u n s e l l i n g a s a h e l p i n g r e l a t i o n s d e a l s w i t h
i s s u e s t h a t t o u c h e s t h e mind a n d s o u l of t h e c l i e n t s ,
C l i e n t b a r e s h i s / h e r mind i n c o n f i d e n c e t o t h e
t h e r a p i s t , The s o l u t i o n of c l i e n t s p rob lems l i e i n thc
a b i l i t y o f t h e t h e r a p i s t t o touch t h e h e a r t of the
c l i e n t t h rough c a s e h i s t o r y . W i t h i n t h i s t h e r a p e u t i c
r e l a t i o n , t h e r e l i g i o u s b e l i e f o f t h e c l i e n t i s bound
to b e t o u c h e d b y t h e c o u n s e l l o r . Accord ing t o R o w e
(1996) e v e r y p e r s o n h a s a set o f r e l i g i o u s m e t a p h y s i c <
or p h i l o s o p h i c a l belief which e x p l i c i t l y or i m p l i c i t l s
g u i d e h i s / h e r d e c i s i o n and a c t i o n , T h i s i m p l i e s t h a t
t h e s o l u t i o n to one3 problem ( p s y c h o l o g i c a l , economic
or s o c i a l ) l ies on h i s a p p r o a c h t o i t from h i s r e l i g i l
p o i n t of view, A c o u n s e l l o r i n h i s a p p l i c a t i o n o f
c o u n s e l l i n g t h e o r i e s on h i s c l i e n t ' s p rob lem m i g h t h a
enc rouched on h i s c l i e n t ' s b e l i e f ,
The c u r r e n t economic, and s o c i a l ( m a r r i a g e ,
d i v o r c e , s p i r i t u a l ) p rob lems i n N i g e r i a l e a d some o f
c i t i z e n s i n t o some f a n a t i c a l r e l i g i o u s c o n g r e g a t i o n s .
An e n c o u n t e r w i t h s u c h a d h e r e n c e b y c o u n s e l l o r s w i l l
34
c r e a t c o n f l i c t s and some times cr is is t o t h e c l i e n t ,
T h i s i s b e c a u s e , some of t h e a p p l i c a b l e p s y c h o l o g i c a
or c o u n s e l l i n g t h e o r i e s may n o t g o w e l l w i t h t h e
r e c e p i e n t . B y t h i s e x t r a problem h a s b e e n added to
a s o l u t i o n - s e e k i n g c l i e n t . A c a s e i n p o i n t i s t h e
problem c e n t r e d app roach which may c o n t r a d i c t t h e
r e l i g i o u s t h e o r y of t o t a l s u r r e n d e r o f a l l t o God,
To what e x t e n t c a n some c o u n s e l l i n g t h e o r i e s f i n d
p l a c e i n t h e h e a r t of some f a n a t i c a l r e l i g i o u s
a d h e r e n t s ?
T h e Exogenous F a c t o r s :
T h e s e a r e f a c t o r s t h a t may be r e g a r d e d a s
e x t e r n a l ( t o c e r t a i n e x t e n t ) t o t h e c o u n s e l l i n g r e l a
I t i m p l i e s t h e f a c t o r s t h a t i n f l u e n c e t h e t h e r a p e u t i
r e l a t i o n s h i p . I n o r d e r words , t h e y a r e t h o s e f a c t o r :
t h a t come i n t o p l a c e d u r i n g t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p . T h e s e
f a c t o r s i n c l u d e s o c i a l v a l u e s , f i n a n c e , f a c i l i t i e s ,
a t t i t u d e s o f a u t h o r i t i e s , p e e r and p a r e n t a l i n f l u e n
Few of t h e s e w i l l be d i s c u s s e d below:
Fund and Adequate F a c i l i t i e s :
I n N i g e r i a , c o u n s e l l i n g i s p r e d o m i n a n t l y a sck
a f f a i r s . A s a new s o c i a l p o l i c y , o n l y s c h o o l counsc
35
is p o p u l a r i n t h e c o u n t r y compared w i t h advanced
c o u n t r y ' s p r a c t i c e s . T h e r e f o r e emphas i s is l a i d o n
t e a c h e r s c o u n s e l l o r and h i s s t u d e n t s c l i e n t s . The
c lamour for s c h o o l c o u n s e l l i n g i n N i g e r i a i s hampered
b y l a c k of fund and f a c i l i t i e s f o r c o u n s e l l i n g .
C o u n s e l l i n g r e q u i r e s p r i v a c y f o r i n t i m a c y and r a p p o r t ,
I n o r d e r t o a c h i e v e t h i s , t h e r e must be f u n d to
p r o v i d e accomodat ion f o r c o u n s e l l i n g . Also f u n d shoulc
be p r o v i d e d f o r t h e p u r c h a s e of n e c e s s a r y m a t e r i a l s
for t h e d o c u m e n t a t i o n o f s t u d e n t s academic r e c o r d s .
Alaekwe ( 1 9 8 4 ) ; Onwuegbuna (1976) . , Ikeme (1980) a l l
a g r e e d t h a t t h e r e i s l a c k of fund f o r accommodation
and f a c i l i t i e s i n s c h o o l c o u n s e l l i n g .
Peer and P a r e n t a l I n f l u e n c e :
C a r e e r c o u n s e l l i n g domina te s s c h o o l c o u n s e l l i n g
s e r v i c e s . I t is mean t o d i r e c t t h e s t u d e n t s on c o u r s e
l e a d i n g t o c e r t a i n p r o f e s s i o n . I t is t h e c o u n s e l l o r s
f u n c t i o n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o i d e n t i f y a c h i l d of a
p a r t i c u l a r t a l e n t f o r s p e c i f i c c a r e e r a f t e r a p t i t u d e
and a t t i t u d e test. B u t i n N i g e r i a n s c h o o l s , t h e p e e r
i n f l u e n c e h a s been known t o be a c o n t e n d i n g f a c t o r i n
t h e c h o i c e of s u b j e c t s i n p r e f e r e n c e t o o t h e r s even
when t h e y d o n ' t p e r f o r m w e l l i n t h o s e s u b j e c t s , Some
of t h e s t u d e n t s who a s p i r e f o r p e e r a p p r o v a l g o for
s u b j e c t s t h a t c a r r y p r e s t i g e and c a n be e m o t i o n a l l y
f r u s t r a t e d i f t h e y a r e s t o p p e d from e n t e r i n g for t h e
s u b j e c t s . C o n f l i c t s a r i s e s i f t h e y p e r s i s t to g o on
a g a i n s t t h e a d v i c e o f t h e c o u n s e l l o r . I n h i s o b s e r v a l
Achebe (1983) opined:
B e c a u s e of p r e s t i g e which such c o m b i n a t i o n w i n a g i v e n s t u d e n t , o t h e r s w i t h o u t t h e a p t i t u d e may be ill a d v i s e d to e n t e r for s i m i l a r subject.. . . . T h i s i s o f t e n c o n t r a r y t o t h e a d v i c e o f t h e t e a c h e r . Such s t u d e n t s a r e o f c o u r s e s u r e f a i l u r e from t h e s t a r t .
A p a r t f rom p e e r i n f l u e n c e i n t h e c h o i c e of
s u b j e c t , p a r e n t s a r e a l s o g u i l t y of i l l - a d v i c e to
c h i l d r e n i n a m a t t e r o f c h o i c e o f s u b j e c t f o r a
p a r t i c u l a r c a r e e r t r a i n i n g . T h i s a l s o makes t h e work
of a c o u n s e l l o r v e r y d i f f i c u l t . I n o b i d e n c e t o p a r e n
t h e c h i l d may f a c e f r u s t r a t i o n from s u c h a d v i c e ,
" P a r e n t s who a r e u n a b l e t o r e a l i s e t h e i r l i f e ambi t3
a t t e m p t t o r e l i e v e i t t h r o u g h t h e i r c h i l d r e n t 1 Achebc
(19831. onwukb~e ( 1 9 8 4 ) p o i n t e d o u t t h a t p a r e n t s p r o f
t h e i r own a m b i t i o n i n t o c a r e e r c h o i c e of t h e i r c h i l c
37
Anumba (1978) a l s o d i s c o v e r e d t h a t w h a t is sometimes
c a l l e d c h i l d r e n ' s c h o i c e i s r e a l l y a n i m p o s i t i o n by
p a r e n t s ,
S o c i a l V a l u e and Demand:
S o c i a l v a l u e and s o c i a l demand r u n c o u n t e r t o t h e
efforts o f c o u n s e l l o r , I n N i g e r i a n s o c i e t y , p e o p l e
a t t a c h i m p o r t a n c e t o c e r t a i n c o u r s e s t h a n o t h e r s , A s
a r e s u l t , s t u d e n t s who a r e n o t t a l e n t e d i n s u c h
c o u r s e s a r e bound t o be f r u s t r a t e d , Most of t h e t i m e ,
t h e y g o c o n t r a r y t o t h e a d v i s e of t h e c o u n s e l l o r and
i n s i s t on f o l l o w i n g h i s choice i n o r d e r to l i v e up to
s o c i e t a l e x p e c t a t i o n s . Among the prob lems of N i g e r i a n
c o u n s e l l o r s i n c l u d e s o c i a l demand which b a s e d on
m a t e r i a l needs. Engnee r s , m e d i c a l d o c t o r s , l a w y e r s a r e
h i g h l y r e g a r d e d as i m p o r t a n t p r o f e s s i o n a l p r a c t i t i o n e r :
Hence, s t u d e n t s o p t f o r t h o s e c o u r s e s t h a t w i l l lead
t o such p r o f e s s i o n s , T h i s c o n t r i b u t e problem t o
c o u n ~ e l l o r ~ .
CHAPTER FOUR
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
T h i s c h a p t e r t r e a t s t h e c o n c l u d i n g a s p e c t o f t h e
e s s a y , I t a l s o makes some recommendationS, t h a t i s ,
t h e s u g g e s t i o n s o f t h e w r i t i n g a f t e r s t u d i e s :
Conc lus ion :
C o u n s e l l i n g p s y c h o l o g y i s o u t t o correct t h e
i m b a l a n c e i n human c o v e r t and o v e r t b e h a v i o u r , The
t h e r a p e u t i c r e l a t i o n may be o u t t o s o l v e problem of
p a s t m e n t a l c o n s t r u c t , example: t r u m a t i c e x p e r i e n c e ,
I t may be o u t t o s o l v e p r e s e n t b i t i n g problem l i k e
p h o b i a or o u t to p r e v e n t b e h a v i o u r a l m a l a d j u s t m e n t
example o n e who i s t o u n d e r g o s u r g i c a l o p e r a t i o n . I n
modern s o c i e t y c o u n s e l l i n g p s y c h o l o g i s t s h a v e v a r i o u s
d u t i e s a s i t c o n c e r n s p s y c h o t h e r a p e u t i c a p p r o a c h t o
human problem. B u t t h e c a s e of N i g e r i a n c o u n s e l l o r s
a r e d i f f e r e n t a s t h e f i e l d i s undeve loped , u n e x p l o i t ~
and unexposed t o p u b l i c knowledge. Hence, C o u n s e l l i n c
i n N i g e r i a is s c h o o l b a s e d w i t h few e x c e p t i o n ,
The soc io-economic s i t u a t i o n i n t h e c o u n t r y c a l l
f o r an e x p a n s i o n o f programme beyond s c h o o l s , Most oj
t h e time, t h e c o n j e s t i o n o f p a t i e n t s i n h o s p i t a l s ,
c r i m i n a l s i n t h e p r i s o n s , and h o l i g a n s i n s c h o o l s
and s treet c o u l d h a v e b e e n a b a t e d i f c o u n s e l l i n g
p s y c h o l o g y i s expanded and d e v e l o p e d i n N i g e r i a .
A p a r t from t h i s , t h e p r e s e n t economic c o n d i t i o n i n
N i g e r i a which h a s some n e g a t i v e e f f e c t s on i n d i v i d u a l s
l i k e h i g h b l o o d p r e s s u r e a n d t f s t r o k e w , s u i c i d e and
c h i l d a b u s e a r e a r e a s o f c o u n s e l l o r s c o n c e r n t h r o u g h
p r e v e n t i v e c o u n s e l l i n g , T h i s t h e r e f o r e c a l l s f o r
s u g g e s t i o n f o r improvement and deve lopmen t of
c o u n s e l l i n g i n N i g e r i a .
Recomrnenda t i o n s :
For e f f e c t i v e i m p l i m e n t a t i o n and e x p a n s i o n o f
c o u n s e l l i n g p s y c h o l o g y programmes i n N i g e r i a , t h e
s t a t e and f e d e r a l government s h o u l d f u n d t h e programme
The government s h o u l d show commitment t o t h e t r a i n i n g
o f c o u n s e l l o r s and p r o v i d i n g f a c i l i t i e s t o c o u n s e l l i n g
programmes, r a t h e r t h a n huge amount on r e s e t t l i n g
d i s p l a c e d g r o u p d u r i n g i n t e r e t h n i c c l a s h e s , e s t a b l i s h
of p s y c h i a t r i c and m e n t a l homes. Such amount c o u l d hav
s a v e d t h e fund i f i t was d i r e c t e d t o c o u n s e l l i n g
p s y c h o l o g y programmes,
40
P a r e n t s and g e n e r a l p u b l i c s h o u l d b e made t o
u n d e r s t a n d t h e n e e d s f o r c o u n s e l l i n g i n t h e modern
s o c i e t y . The o n u s of d i r e c t i o n l ies w i t h c a r e e r
c o u n s e l l o r on t h e choice o f s u b j e c t s , c o u r s e s and
p r o f e s s i o n a l t r a i n i n g o f t h e c h i l d r e n r a t h e r t h a n
p a r e n t s who p r o j e c t t h e i r own a m b i t i o n i n t o c a r e e r
c h o i c e o f t h e i r c h i l d r e n . The need f o r a w a r e n e s s
o n t h e p a r t o f p a r e n t s p o i n t s to t h e f a c t s t h a t some
p a r e n t s may c o n s i d e r c o u n s e l l i n g s e r v i c e as i n v a s i o n
of f a m i l y p r i v a c y or s n o o p i n g i n t o f a m i l y a f f a i r s ,
B u t i t i s b e l i e v e d t h a t i f t h e y a r e w e l l i n f o r m e d a b o
t h e programme, i m p l i c a t i o n for t h e i r ward , and t h e
b e n e f i t to t h e f a m i l y and s o c i e t y , t h e y a r e bound to
comply,
T h i r d l y , t h e r e s h o u l d be l e g a l r e c o g n i t i o n o f
c o u n s e l l i n g l i k e o t h e r p r o f e s s i o n a l p r a c t i c e s - m e d i c i n e , law and e n g n e e r i n g . W h i l e t h e c o u n s e l l o r i s
self employed l i k e o t h e r p r o f e s s i o n a l s , h e l s h e h a s
t h e o p p o r t u n i t y o f p r o f e s s i o n a l abuse , The i n t e r - p e r 5
r e l a t i o n s h i p be tween t h e c o u n s e l l o r and c l i e n t i n thc
i n t e r a c t i o n i s set by t h e law o f c o n t r a c t . The non
s t a t u t o r y p o s i t i o n o f c o u n s e l l o r s i s r e f l e c t e d i n thc
41
l a c k of r e d r e s s o t h e r t h a n p r o f e s s i o n a l s a n c t i o n
f o r p r o f e s s i o n a l mi sconduc t , o r r e s o u r s e to l e g a l
p rocedure . One p o s s i b l e way o f r e c o g n i t i o n o f
c o u n s e l l i n g is f o r i t t o a c q u i r e t h e t r a i t o f
p r o f e s s i o n t h a t i s , l e g a l r e c o g n i t i o n for i t s u n i q u e
e x p e r t i s e t h r o u g h r e g i s t r a t i o n p r o c e s s a s a p r o f e s s i o n
body. T h i s w i l l n o t o n l y e n l i g h t e n t h e p u b l i c a b o u t
c o u n s e l l i n g b u t w i l l a l s o m i n i m i s e b e h a v i o u r a l
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Achebe, C.C. (1983) . V o c a t i o n a l I m p l i c a t i o n of ; S t u d e n t s S u b j e c t s P r e f e r e n c e f o r Schoo l :
L e c t u r e P r e s e n t e d t o A l l N i q e r i a n C a n f e r e n c e of p r i n c i p a l (ANCOPS) of s e c o n d a r y S c h o o l I k o t Abas i C a l a b a r ,
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