Last updated on July 27th, 2023 at 03:36 pm
So, is psychology marketable in Kenya?
Of course, no one wants to do a course that has no jobs so it is natural to do a bit of research about any course you are thinking of taking or you have been admitted into (by KUCCPS or other body) before enrolling.
For that reason, if you have been into one of the psychology courses in Kenya, you will want to know if it is marketable before jumping in.
So, is psychology marketable in Kenya really?
Well, here is my answer:
Is psychology marketable in Kenya? / Is counselling psychology marketable in Kenya?
The course is very marketable especially in light of increased cases of depression in both young people and adults in Kenya.
You see, perhaps due to harsh economic times, there are more cases of depressed people in our nation today (there have been calls to declare depression a national disaster).
In the same breath, today more youths are suffering from stress and other mental illnesses in Kenya (this is partially caused by the way kids are being brought up today) so schools, churches, and other institutions that deal with youths are increasingly hiring counselors.
Even the disciplined forces in Kenya are also affected- if you have been following the news, you may have noted that hardly a few weeks pass before you hear of a police officer who has committed suicide.
So, in a nutshell, there are more jobs today for qualified psychiatrists than at any other time in history in Kenya.
Now that I have answered your “Is psychology marketable in Kenya?” question, let us now turn to important details about psychology and counselling courses in Kenya.
Psychology courses in Kenya
Here are the counselling psychology courses in Kenya you can take if you have decided to go ahead and pursue a career in psychology:
Degree in psychology
You can pursue any of the following degree options:
- Bachelor of Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts(BA) In Counselling Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts(Counselling Psychology)
- Bachelor of Arts(Psychology)-Egerton University
- Bachelor of Science(Counselling Psychology)
- Bachelor of Arts(Psychology, Sociology, And Political Science)
- Bachelor of Psychology(With IT)
- Bachelor of Science(Medical Psychology)
- Bachelor of Counseling Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) In Psychology (With Technology)
Universities offering psychology in Kenya (Universities offering counseling psychology in Kenya)
Below are the names of universities that offer psychology in Kenya:
- Chuka University
- Bomet University College
- Alupe University College
- Africa Nazarene University
- African International University,
- Catholic University
- Daystar University
- Egerton University
- International Leadership University
- KAG-EAST University
- KCA University
- Kenya Highlands and Evangelical University
- Kenya Methodist University
- Kisii University
- Kenyatta University – There are several psychology courses in Kenyatta university (KU was among the first institutions to offer online counselling psychology courses in Kenya)
- Laikipia University
- Mount Kenya University
- Maseno University
- Pan Africa Christian University
- Pwani University
- Scott Christian University
- St Pauls University
- Tangaza University College
- Technical University of Kenya
- Technical University of Mombasa
- Zetech University
- USIU- Of all USIU psychology courses, their BA in Psychology is best known.
Note that if you did not qualify for university entry, you will start at the Diploma level.
Below are the minimum entry requirements for both the Degree and Diploma programmes
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Psychology courses in Kenya requirements
Degree in Psychology
KCSE Mean Grade: C+
Other requirements: None
Diploma in Counselling Psychology / Diploma In Psychology and Counselling
KCSE Mean Grade: C / C- depending on the institution
Colleges offering Diploma in Counselling Psychology in Kenya
Here now are some of the government-sponsored colleges offering Diploma in Psychology in Kenya
- Eldoret National Polytechnic
- Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology
- Laikipia university
- Nyandarua Institute of Science & Technology
- Siaya Institute of Technology
- Thika Technical Training Institute
- Turkana University College
Keep in mind that there are dozens of private colleges offering a Diploma in Counselling Psychology in Kenya including Amani Counselling Centres.
It’s worth mentioning that there are colleges that offer a certificate in Counseling and Psychology in Kenya for those who got a grade lower than a C- including Kenya Institute of Social Work.
How to become a psychologist in Kenya
First, you need to take a course- and I have already listed the qualifications to help you see the course level your grades can fit.
Next, you need to go for internship- in some cases, you have to do this during the course.
The idea behind the internship is to help you acquire practical skills that will later on serve you well when you come to the practice.
Once you have finished the course plus the attachment, you need to apply to join the Kenya Counselling and Psychological Association.
This is the body that regulates the profession and having a certificate from them showing that you’re an accredited counselor can make a huge difference when applying for jobs.
Here is a link to their website.
With all that done, you can now start looking for formal jobs or open a private practice (if you will take this route, be sure to pay for the necessary licenses to the county government before you open).
A word on child psychology courses in Kenya
There are different types of psychology courses and one of them is child psychology.
Now, unlike general psychology courses, courses in child psychology prepares you for a career as a children and adolescent counselor so the training tends to lean more on understanding kids thinking and emotions.
The Kenya Institute of Social Work offers a Diploma In Counselling(Child and Adolescent Option) and can be a good bet if you want to pursue child psychology
A word on clinical psychology courses in Kenya
The other branch of Psychology is Universities offering clinical psychology in Kenya.
Here you undergo highly specialized training programs in the diagnosis/treatment of various mental illnesses- The aim of the courses is to make you a wholesome mental health professional who can work in a “clinical” setting(medical facilities).
Universities offering masters in clinical psychology in Kenya
Now, for the most part, you must have undertaken a degree in an area such as Psychology/Counseling Psychology, Sociology/ Social work etc. before advancing to clinical psychology.
Here are the universities (somE) that you may join if you want to advance to masters in clinical psychology in Kenya:
USIU– Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Psychology
University of Nairobi–Master of Science (Msc) in clinical psychology
Daystar University– Masters in Clinical Psychology
Please note when it comes to practicing clinical psychology, you must be certified (and registered) by the regulatory bodies.
The skills and interests required to pursue a career in this field
- Effective communications skills
- Planning skills
- Organization skills
- Tolerance
- Empathy
- Problem-solving skills
- Time management skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Team spirit
- Research skills
What the job / profession /career entails
The work involves the following:
- Providing support to people experiencing social or emotional difficulties by helping them work through the challenges
- Challenging inappropriate behavior in communities
- Providing the means for emotionally distressed individuals to obtain help within community settings
- Building links with other groups and agencies dealing with counselling/trauma healing
- Helping to raise public awareness on depression and stress-related issues relevant to the community at large.
- Provide continuous psycho-education to families and caregivers.
- Facilitate the Rehabilitation and re-integration of individuals in recovery.
- Provision of pre as well as post-test counselling tailored to different situations
- Providing individual/group counseling interventions to those experiencing different forms of trauma/stress while observing maximum confidentiality and professional ethics/etiquette
- Conduct necessary psychological assessments or Mental Status Examinations
- Prepare and submit various reports to your Supervisor.
- Follow-up and monitor individual cases and provide required feedback of the interventions offered.
Career Prospects for holders of psychology and counselling qualifications in Kenya
- Career Counsellor
- Child Care Supervisor
- Cognitive Psychologist
- Clinical Psychologist
- Cross-Cultural Psychologist
- Developmental Psychologist
- Counselling Psychologist
- Mental health practitioner
- Educational psychologist
- Forensic psychologist
- High intensity therapist
- Occupational psychologist
- Sport psychologist
- Psychological wellbeing practitioner
Where can you find work?
You can work in health institutions, educational institutions, humanitarian organizations, agencies and centers, Not-for-Profits, faith-based organizations, correctional facilities among others.
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