Exhibit Professionalism in Counselling – Student Counsellors Urged
The Registrar of the Ghana Psychology Council at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Dinah Baah-Odoom has urged students pursuing Guidance and Counselling at the University of Education, Winneba to exhibit Professionalism in Counselling during and after the completion of their course at the university.
She said that “one can have all the knowledge and acquire great technical skills, but if one does not exhibit professionalism the outcome will not be appreciable.” She noted that professional competence plays a prominent role in the guidelines established by all disciplines involved in the care of individuals and the counselling profession also strongly adheres to the tenets of professionalism. She stated that "student counsellors should strive for authencity, teamwork, respect and excellence which are some of the core values of the profession." She observed that due to the significant role of counselling in the country, many people consider themselves as Counsellors, though may not have undergone the professional trainings of the field. She said that the professional counsellors have acquired specialized knowledge and skills to work with vulnerable populations and were registered members of the Ghana Psychology Council, which is an agency of the Ministry of Health that oversees the activities of the practice.
Commenting on the role of counselling, she noted that "counselling at schools and workplaces have helped reduce the burden of emotional and mental disorders in Ghana and have contributed immensely towards national development."
Dr. Odoom made these statements on the occasion of the 18th Annual Celebration of the UEW Chapter of the Student Counsellors Association of Ghana (SCAG), held at the University of Education, Winneba on 7th April, 2017 as the special guest speaker. The Celebration which was on the theme “Towards Professionalism in School and Workplace Counselling” brought together student counsellors, lecturers of the Department of Psychology and Education, other lecturers of UEW, representatives from the University of Cape Coast and other institutions to mark the ocassion.
The Chairman of the Ocassion, Kwamuhen Obon Kwesi Attah II, who represented the Omanhene of Effutu traditional area, Neenyi Ghartey VII entreated all participants to continue to support the association in diverse ways to afford the association the leverage of achieving its objectives.
The Head of Department, Rev. Dr. Kwesi Nkum-Wilson, indicated that as a result of the rise in suicide rate in the country, there was the need for qualified counsellors to assist individuals to deal with emotional and mental challenges confronted. He lauded the efforts of his predecessors for their immense roles played toward the growth of the department and also SCAG Association.
As part of the celebration, the Methodist Bishop of Kwashieman Circuit, Rev. Isaac Kwame Enninful donated counselling books to the Department on behalf of his late brother, Rt. Rev. Joseph Kow Ghunney, who was the former Bishop of Methodist Church, Winneba Diocese. The books were to serve as a library collection for the students and lecturers of the Deparment of Psychology and Education and others who have an interest in acquiring knowledge in the field.
Receiving the Donation on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Rev. Nkum-Wilson thanked the Bishop for the kind gesture and suggested that the University assists in the provision of a set of furniture at the library to facilitate reading and learning. He was also thankful to the University Librarian that a staff of the library department will be assigned to assist in running the library.
Prior to the grand durbar, clean up exercise was carried out at the university clinic and other parts of the university community to promote good health and improve sanitation on UEW campus.
Source: Media Relations
.