Counselling Services
The Amani Counselling Centre & Training Institute is a non - profit making organisation which provides counselling services to individuals, couples and families seeking help in solving their psychological and / or Psycho - Spiritual problems. All Counsellors are qualified and are supported professionally with ongoing in service training and supervision in order to maintain a high standard of service.
Counselling is a process whose aim is to empower people to help themselves through real dialogue and being listened to in an understanding atmosphere. This process takes place in an atmosphere of shared confidentiality. ACCTI has adopted a holistic therapeutic approach to the entire counselling process.
The Counselling Centre is open daily from 8.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. on weekdays. Counsellors are available by appointments on Saturday morning from 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. Clients seeking counselling services are assessed first at the Intake Office and thereafter assigned to work with a counsellor that best meets their needs.
By 1985, ACCTI had realised 2,250 counselling hours per year, a number that swelled to 3,300 in 2001. Target groups for the counselling services include individuals, couples, families and children. Amani’s stature in the region has been enhanced by its provision for internship and placement services. It serves as a model centre for the entire East African region.
Counselling Services
- Individual Counselling
- Group Therapy
- Crisis Counselling
- Institutional Therapy
- Family Counselling
Counselling Fees: In order to maintain the Centre and to cover operational costs we charge an initial processing fee, as well as a separate session fee.
[ The normal fees are: Intake Session - Kshs. 300, the Counselling Session Fee - Kshs. 1000 ]
Confidentiality: Counselling is dependent upon a relationship of trust and open communication. Whatever you share with your counsellor is confidential. If consultation is required with your Physician,Pastor or someone else, your permission must be sought before hand.
Cancellation of Appointments: If you are unable to keep your appointment, please inform the office at least 24 hours in advance.
Change of Counsellor: If for some reasons, you are not satisfied with the counsellor who has been assigned to you, after termination as per paragraph three above, inform the Intake Counsellor. A Client may change a counsellor only once.
Termination of Counselling: Should you wish to terminate sessions we ask you to notify your counsellor in person. The counsellor will extend the same courtesy to you if it is necessary for him / her to close off the meetings. Preferably, this notice should be given at least a week in advance and your reasons for terminating would be appreciated. |
The Centre can provide counselling support in the following areas:
Marriage, Family Problems, Parent - Child Relationships, Problems in personal life such as depression, Anxiety, Doubt, feelings of failure, a sense of unhappiness, loss of self image, Problems of personal relationships at work, Stress,
Children and Adolescents facing difficulties in family, school or social life
Premarital Counselling, Sexual problems, Problems with drugs and alcohol, Emotional and spiritual problems related to physical illness, Bereavement or sense of personal loss |
What are Group Therapies about?
Self- Discovery and self awareness, Increasing the Knowledge of ourselves and others, Enhancing our Self Esteem / Self Worth / Self Confidence, Improving our interpersonal interactions, Building empathic skills, Facilitating Self- Expression, Helping us verbalise ideas, feelings and experiences, Uncover our latent fears, apprehensions, negative feelings and biases, Becoming sensitive to our needs and feelings and those of others, Becoming aware of how my/our culture, upbringing and background can affect my personal decisions, Provide others and to be honest with feedback. |
Against the above goals, the following issues are examined:
1. Personal Experience:
- With the community at large, With the parish and the small community.
2. Relationships:
- With parishioners, With my brothers, With the nuns, With female employees.
3. Sexuality: What is it and what it means for me.
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How to deal with my feelings related to this issue.
4. Addictions: What it is? Addictions to relationships, to alcohol, smoking, drugs, ponography etc.
5. Personal growth: What growth means for me? Significance of this growth for me in light of the decisions I need to make.
6. Attitudes and skills:
- Attitudes towards self and others e.g. parishioners, colleagues etc
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What skills do I need for what I am preparing for?
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What attitudes do I need to change / enhance to be what I want to be?
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The World and for that matter the Church is changing drastically, how do I cope / fit in?
- Bottom line - Being honest with myself and the significant others, Community Organizing and Mobilization skills. |
What is Crisis Management?
It is the process of helping someone or a crisis victim to restore control and order and helping them towards recovery.
A crisis can come in two different ways:
a) There are those situations which come slowly as a normal inevitable experiences of growing development mostly due to developmental issues which are not adequately dealt with. Examples are school going, adolescence, marriage, getting children, middle age crisis and ageing, lack of freedom of expression, trust, love e.t.c.
b) Other crisis situations occur rapidly as a result of unseen and traumatic events e.g. death, divorce, sudden loose of a job or lover, rape, robbery victims e.t.c. |
What is the Role of a Counsellor in Crisis Management?
1. A person experiencing crisis is a person going through a serious emotional distress so they need emergency support. So the counsellor needs to try the quickest possible relief of both internal and external symptoms of the crisis so as to help the client get back to their usual level of functioning. Try to determine any of the victims emergency needs e.g. medical, security and safety and attend to them.
Calm and comfort the victim by :
a) Asking them to tell you what happened in their own words.
b) Allow them to gain control the crisis agents took away by letting them to decide when or where to talk.
c) Give them reassurance without judging them or saying words like all is well e.t.c because it is not well.
2. The Counsellor needs to help the victim discover or explore various options of coping with their situation and if necessary provide immediate referral for the victim. Also try to prepare the victims for their emotions by allowing them to know common symptoms of trauma and stress because a person confusion they may loose sight of their resources for coping with the problem.
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What is Institutional Therapy?
This is a Counselling Package for Institutions, Firms, Businesses, NGO's & Groups.
There is a growing recognition that in the work place, good will and efficiency are enhanced through correct inter - personal skills and the ability of staff to understand and deal sensitively with the crisis and challenges that are encountered in our lives. |
Amani Counselling Centre therefore offers packages and modules in the following areas:
1. Inter-personal skills in the work place.
2. Information and skills for dealing with: Addictions - Alcoholism, Drugs, HIV / AIDS
3. Family Problems & Parenting Retrenchment,
4. Retirement Terminal Illness,
5. Bereavement Stress Management
These and other challenges affect us as individuals in our work life, family life and social life. Amani offers insight and help in dealing with them. |
Areas covered during Family Therapy Sessions include:
1. History and Development of Family Therapy, The function of Family Therapist
2. Experiential and Communication Models
3. Systems Theory
4. Structural Approach
5. Strategic Approach
6. Marital and Couples Counselling
7. Psycho-Sexual Problems
8. Genograms |
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