USE OF BIBLICAL ETHNOGRAPHIC CLINICAL APPROACH IN COUNSELING: A CASE OF ANGLICAN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KIRINYAGA CENTRAL DISTRICT

Abstract

This research provides an analysis of BEC approach to counseling as it is used in Anglican Secondary Schools in Kirinyaga Central District. It discusses how schools can adopt biblical and cultural aspects as tools for holistic diagnosis and treatment of students. The complexity of the human document and diversity of needs calls for shift in counseling approaches to especially those that are integrative of culture, spirituality and clinical psychology. In particular, this research analysis the use of Biblical Ethnographic Clinical approach which is a form of African Pastoral Counseling. The purpose of the study was to analyze the BEC approach in relation to the counseling problems presented in 17 Anglican secondary schools in Kirinyaga Central District. The research sought to establish how the schools can adopt the use of scriptures and culture as resources. The study was guided by three objectives. First to identify the nature of counseling problems that students bring to the counseling office. Secondly to find out the approaches counselors in Anglican school use in response to these problems and particularly their use of BEC. The third goal was to find out how the school’s counseling departments use biblical principles and culture to enhance their counseling services. The study was guided by the Biblical Ethnographic Clinical Theory. The research used descriptive survey research design that used both qualitative and quantitative data. Questionnaires and interview schedules were used to collect primary data. Purposive sampling was used to identify the 17 respondents. Qualitative data was analyzed using simple descriptive statistics. Qualitative data is presented thematically according to the research objectives. The study concluded that students in secondary schools have varied counseling problems like academics, poverty, domestic problems, spirituality, boy-girl relationships and drugs and substance abuse. Secondly, in response to these problems, the counselors use a variety of approaches like Person-Centered Theory, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, Biblical Counseling, Cognitive Theory, Psycho-Analysis and Family Counseling. The study also concluded that counselors are not familiar with the Biblical Ethnographic Clinical approach to counseling. The study recommends professional training for teacher-counselors in the secondary schools in order to improve the counseling services and counseling approaches being used.