Counsellors, Counsellor Educators and Student Counsellors’ Perception of Online Counselling in Ghanaian Universities

• In Event: Poster Session 07
  In Poster Session: PS 07 Topic - Technology, Media & Child Development

Abstract

The study assesses the perception of counsellors, counsellor-educators and student-counsellors’ perception of online counselling in Ghanaian universities. Specifically, the study aimed to find out the knowledge and attitudes of counsellors, counsellor educators and student-counsellors towards online counselling. Again, to examine the extent to which counsellors, counsellor educators and student-counsellors utilise online counselling. A cross-sectional survey was adopted for the study whereby 100 respondents made of counsellors (3), counsellor educators (7) and student-counsellors (90) were selected. Out of that, ten participants were purposively selected for the interview. Closed-ended questionnaires and interview guide were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) were used to analyse the data gathered by the questionnaire while thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview questions.
Results showed that Counsellors, Counsellor Educators and Student-Counsellors had knowledge of online counselling services as the use of technology in therapy (see table 1 & 2). It was also found that online counselling is used as a supplement to face-to-face counselling in the universities (Tannous, 2017; Finn & Bruce, 2008): mainly used for relationship problems, treatment of traumatic experiences, reproductive health issues, socio-phobic conditions and to give education and career information to students in the universities. The interviews revealed that though online counselling persists in the universities by mainly the use of whatsapp, it is highly unexplored. This is because of the unavailability of internet and poor connectivity on campuses due to internet traffic (Chester & Glass, 2006).
It was suggested that there should be a linkage of online counselling handles to students’ portals, provision of high-speed internet and providing counsellors with technological resources to facilitate their professional practice (see table 4). All these resources will promote online counselling in universities. It was also recommended that counsellor training universities in Ghana should include online counselling into their various counselling curriculum to prepare student-counsellors who would offer online counselling. This will assist students to resolve their problems in the universities with ease. Limitations were given in light of the study.

Authors

• Patricia Mawusi Amos, University of Education - Winneba (UEW)
  Presenting Author

• Anastasia Achiaa Duodu
  Non-Presenting Author

• John Rye Djabah Adade, University of Education, Winneba; Ghana
  Non-Presenting Author