Counselor

Role Overview

This role centres on helping university students stay academically on track while navigating the personal and social pressures of campus life. Day to day, you will meet with students who need guidance on course choices, study obstacles, emotional distress, or conflict situations, and you will also plan proactive workshops that teach practical coping and leadership skills. Because timely support can be the difference between a student thriving and withdrawing, your work directly sustains both student wellbeing and the institution’s retention goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Hold one-on-one sessions with students to review academic progress, clarify course decisions, and map out realistic career directions based on their strengths and interests.
• Offer short-term personal counselling for challenges such as stress, low mood, relationship strain, and adjustment to university life, while maintaining a safe and empathetic space.
• Develop and lead interactive workshops and seminars on study techniques, time optimisation, mental health awareness, and leadership capabilities.
• Mediate interpersonal conflicts, whether between students or between a student and a faculty member, and guide discussions toward constructive, shared solutions.
• Keep detailed yet careful records of every consultation, including the presenting concern, interventions used, and any agreed follow-up steps, all stored securely.
• Respond quickly in crisis situations, calm distressed individuals, and refer cases requiring specialised care to accredited external practitioners or mental health services.
• Collaborate with academic advisors and student affairs staff to flag emerging patterns, identify at-risk students, and coordinate support across different campus offices.

Requirements & Qualifications

• A Master's degree in Counselling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, or a closely related field.
• Registered membership, or eligibility for membership, with a recognised professional counselling body such as the Kenya Counselling and Psychological Association (KCPA).
• At least 2–3 years of hands-on experience in student counselling, academic mentoring, or an equivalent educational support setting.
• Proven ability to establish trust quickly with individuals from varied cultural, social, and economic backgrounds, showing genuine empathy and non-judgement.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, together with a clear commitment to professional ethics, boundaries, and confidentiality.
• Working familiarity with crisis intervention techniques, mental health risk assessment, and appropriate referral pathways for students needing ongoing or acute care.