ABSTRACT
There are several roles of Professional Counseling Associations (PCAs). Major among them is for accountability purposes of a professional practitioner. PCAs provide the checks and balances necessary in the maintenance of professionalism. From a global perspective, Western countries seem to have succeeded in coming up with PCAs with globally drawn membership. They regulate and standardize counseling practice. This study surveyed the role of PCAs in the professionalization of counseling practice in Kenya. It adopted the theory of communities of practice in the theoretical framework, and a descriptive survey design in the methodology. The research was primarily done in Nairobi City, but it involved counselors who practiced from different parts of the country. Purposive sampling method was used to identify the PCAs and their executive officers who participated in the study. The population consisted of counselors affiliated to PCAs who were sampled using systematic random sampling. The data collection instruments included a questionnaire and an in- depth interview guide. Use of the two instruments and a sample drawn from both the counselling practitioners and their executive officials enhanced validity and reliability. The quantitative data was processed using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 18.0. It was then analyzed and summarized into tables. The qualitative data was analyzed by organizing the data into themes, before it was summarized and interpreted. The findings revealed that there existed different criterion among PCAs in their recruitment of members. The main consideration for membership was academic and professional qualifications. It was rated at 96% by the respondents. Even in the same association, there were hierarchies denoting various levels of membership ranging from individual to corporate. The PCAs offered various professional services. A major service offered was the creation of a platform for counselors to network as was rated by 81.5% of the respondents. PCAs also offered accreditation, continued education and research opportunities. The study identified various ways of enforcing professionalism among the PCAs in Kenya. Although they are not legally binding, the existing codes of ethics provided a professional understanding for members to base their practice on. Respondents had varied opinions about their associations. Most of them were “highly satisfied” that their associations are professional agents who positively influenced the respondents counseling practice. Respondents view was that better commitment of members including the embracing of collaborations would help the associations to be more influential in carrying out their professional roles. A major recommendation of this study was the need to fast- track the suggested Counseling and Psychological Bill in order to professionalize counseling practice in Kenya through a legal framework which was identified as currently lacking. It is expected that when this is accomplished, accreditation, licensing, supervision, counselors training, and enforcement of the codes of ethics would be done in a professionally organized manner. Therefore the need for the formation of an umbrella association for all counseling practitioners in Kenya was identified as imperative. Such an association could ensure that the roles of PCAs are professionally done and assist in filling the gaps identified in the study.
Background to the Study
CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
Human beings have an innate tendency to form groups and affinities (Calisto, 2010). The tendency can arise from very trivial reasons to most serious ones including formation of professional associations. In groups, individual member’s knowledge is shared and different strengths are accumulated. This gives rise to great motivation which helps members to forge forward together. In the competitive world we live in, members of a professional association are able to speak in one voice. They hence become relevant within their area of jurisdiction making them hard to be ignored. The rules and regulations of a group enable them to move towards the same direction and hence achieve what an individual may not. Many professions have adopted groups in form of professional associations as a way of enhancing professionalism and regulation of their professions.
According to Canadian Access and Privacy Association (CAPA) 2011 there are several indicators of professionalism in any organization of practitioners. Major among them is certification which serves to regulate the licensing process of a profession. The benefit derived from this is for the public good or in the public interest. Professionalism demands the setting of standards and guidelines for entry to the profession in the form of examinations. This is followed by certification or registering eligible individuals, and obligating their continued competency. Professionalism requires a clear process of dealing with certified members who fail to meet the professional standards, code of ethics, or otherwise engage in what may be termed to as unprofessional conduct. The ultimate goal of any profession is to become a self-governing body, and accrue the many benefits that stem from that.
According to Harvey and Mason (1995) professional associations serve several roles; to start with, they safeguard the public interest and also represent the interest of the professional practitioners. In this case, each professional association has to strive to achieve a balance between the two conflicting mandates; to the public and their members. Both the public and the members of the professional associations desires to have “their way” accepted by professional associations. Professional associations often act to protect the public by maintaining and enforcing standards of training and ethics in their profession. Further, they establish the group norms of conduct and qualification of members of a profession. They also insist that members of the profession achieve conformity to the norm and abide by the established procedures and the agreed code of conduct. Professional associations grant recognition to members in order to maintain suitable standards. This is referred to as accreditation which assures conformity to general expectations of the profession (Rusaw, 1995).
