Social Sciences

Bachelor of Arts in Arts Counselling Psychology

The Bachelor of Arts in Counselling Psychology is a four-year programme offered at Kenyatta University, Moi University, KCA University, Africa Nazarene University, and other institutions. It trains professional counsellors to address psychosocial problems arising from globalisation, urbanisation, and complex social changes in Kenya.

Students study counselling theories, developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, group therapy, family counselling, crisis intervention, substance abuse counselling, research methods, and ethics. The curriculum combines theoretical instruction with a three-month counselling practicum, 15 hours of personal therapy, and weekly supervision, ensuring graduates can deliver professional counselling services.

Entry requires a KCSE mean grade of C+ with at least C in English and Mathematics. Diploma holders with relevant experience may receive credit transfers. The programme is offered full-time over four academic years.

Graduates work as counselling psychologists in schools, hospitals, NGOs, rehabilitation centres, private practice, and corporate employee assistance programmes. They provide critical support for mental health, family relationships, grief, trauma, and substance abuse challenges.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and prepares graduates for professional counselling roles across diverse settings. Students develop strong interpersonal, therapeutic, and research skills valued in mental health services.

Career opportunities include roles in bereavement counselling, marriage and family therapy, adolescent counselling, substance abuse rehabilitation, career guidance, and trauma counselling. The demand for qualified counselling psychologists continues to grow with increasing awareness of mental health needs in Kenya.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 189,004
Private, up to: Ksh 225,800
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 80 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

8 subjects

Counselling Theories
Counselling Techniques and Skills
Developmental Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
Group Counselling
Marriage and Family Counselling
Grief and Trauma Counselling
Counselling Ethics

Modules

12 in the programme

Counselling Theories and Approaches
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Counselling Theories and Approaches: Person-centred, CBT, psychodynamic, Gestalt, and other counselling theories. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Counselling Skills and Techniques
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Active listening, empathy, questioning, reflection, and counselling micro-skills.
Developmental Psychology
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Developmental Psychology: Human development across the lifespan and counselling at different life stages. Covers theoretical frameworks, research methods, and practical applications in psychology.
Abnormal Psychology and Psychopathology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Abnormal Psychology and Psychopathology: Mental disorders, diagnostic systems, and psychological disorders. Covers theoretical frameworks, research methods, and practical applications in psychology.
Group Counselling and Therapy
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Group Counselling and Therapy: Group dynamics, group counselling techniques, and facilitating group therapy. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Marriage and Family Counselling
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Marriage and Family Counselling: Couples counselling, family therapy, and relationship counselling. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Grief, Trauma and Crisis Counselling
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Grief, Trauma and Crisis Counselling: Grief counselling, trauma intervention, and crisis counselling. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Addiction and Substance Abuse Counselling
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Addiction and Substance Abuse Counselling: Addiction counselling, substance abuse treatment, and recovery support. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Cross-Cultural Counselling
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Cross-Cultural Counselling: Cultural factors in counselling and counselling across cultures. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Counselling Ethics and Professional Practice
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Counselling Ethics and Professional Practice: Ethical principles, confidentiality, boundaries, and professional practice. Encourages critical thinking about moral dilemmas and professional responsi...
Research Methods in Counselling
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Research Methods in Counselling: Research design, outcome research, and counselling research methods. Covers quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection, analysis, and reporting.
Research Project and Industrial Attachment
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Research Project and Industrial Attachment: Independent counselling research project and supervised industrial attachment. Provides hands-on industry experience, mentorship, and professional skills...

Specialisations

Marriage and Family Therapy
Focus on couples and family counselling. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Corporate/EAP Counselling
Focus on employee wellbeing and workplace counselling. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
School Counselling
Focus on counselling children and adolescents in educational settings. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Addiction Counselling
Focus on substance abuse and addiction treatment. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Trauma and Crisis Counselling
Focus on trauma, grief, and crisis intervention. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.

A day as a student

Students attend morning lectures on counselling theories, developmental psychology, or abnormal psychology, then participate in afternoon practical sessions — counselling role-plays, skills practice, and case study discussions. Counselling labs simulate real counselling sessions where students practise active listening, empathy, and therapeutic techniques. Group counselling practicals involve facilitating group sessions. Case study discussions analyse real counselling scenarios and treatment approaches. Self-awareness and personal growth are emphasised — students engage in self-reflection and peer counselling. Industrial attachment at schools, hospitals, NGOs, or counselling centres provides practical counselling experience.

The trade offs

In its favour

Growing awareness of mental health in Kenya creates increasing demand.
Meaningful work — directly helping people improve their mental health and wellbeing.
Diverse work settings — schools, hospitals, NGOs, companies, and private practice.

Against it

Emotional toll — working with people's problems can be mentally draining.
Clinical and specialised roles typically require postgraduate studies.
Entry-level salaries are modest without specialisation.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 241 social sciences courses

Public153k to 189k

153k at Kenyatta University189k at University of Nairobi

Private158k to 226k

158k at KCA University226k at Daystar University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

KU BA Counselling 153,000/yr; UoN BA 189,004/yr; KCA ~157,695/yr; Daystar ~225,800/yr. Src: joweri, kcau.ac.ke

HELB loans and county bursaries are available. Mental health organisations sometimes offer scholarships. Some counselling centres offer internships.

Funding options

HELB Undergraduate Loan
County Government Bursaries
Mental Health Organisation Scholarships

Scholarships

5 recorded

Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
Kenya Counselling and Psychological Association (KCPA) Student Support
BursaryKenyan
Students pursuing counselling and psychology programmes
WHO Mental Health Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 200,000
Counselling students in mental health programmes.
Mental Health Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 150,000
Counselling students committed to mental health work.
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 50,000Kenyan
Students from the respective county.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Diploma in Counselling, Psychology, Social Work, or related field with at least a Credit pass.

English or Kiswahili
C+
Any Group II, III, IV, or V subject
C+
Any Group II, III, IV, or V subject
C+
Any Group II, III, IV, or V subject
C+

How you are assessed

5 components

Industrial Attachment Report
Clinical5% of the mark
Assessment of attachment report and supervisor evaluation.
Counselling Practicals and Role-Plays
Cat30% of the mark
Counselling skills demonstrations, role-plays, and case studies.
Continuous Assessment Tests
Cat15% of the mark
Mid-semester tests, essays, and assignments.
Written Examinations
Exam40% of the mark
End-of-semester written exams on counselling theory and psychology.
Research Project
Research10% of the mark
Independent counselling research project.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Professional certification with KCPA enhances recognition. Clinical and specialised counselling roles may require postgraduate studies (MA).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

School Counsellor
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 100,000
Provide counselling and support to students at schools and universities.
EAP/Corporate Counsellor
Medium demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 160,000
Provide employee assistance programme counselling at companies.
Counsellor
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 150,000
Provide counselling at schools, hospitals, NGOs, or private practice.
Trauma/Grief Counsellor
Medium demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 150,000
Provide trauma and grief counselling at hospitals, NGOs, or private practice.
Addiction Counsellor
Medium demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 120,000
Counsel individuals with substance abuse and addiction issues at rehab centres.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as counsellors, school counsellors, addiction counsellors, trauma counsellors, HR officers, social workers, and mental health officers at schools, hospitals, NGOs, churches, rehabilitation centres, companies (EAP programmes), and private practice. Starting salaries range from KES 40,000–75,000, with experienced counsellors earning KES 75,000–180,000. Licensed counsellors in private practice can earn KES 150,000–400,000+. Postgraduate studies enhance clinical and specialised roles.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Google Scholar
Research
Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
NVivo
Analytics
SPSS
AnalyticsPrimary
Zotero
Research
ChatGPT / Claude
Ai

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Counselling is just about giving advice.
Counselling is a professional practice based on psychological theory and evidence-based techniques — it's about helping people find their own solutions, not giving advice.
Counsellors just listen to people's problems.
Counselling involves assessment, intervention design, therapeutic techniques, and outcome evaluation — it's a skilled professional practice.
You need a PhD to be a counsellor.
A bachelor's degree enables counselling roles in schools, NGOs, and communities. Postgraduate studies are needed for clinical and specialised roles, but not all counselling careers.
This programme has limited career opportunities.
Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.