The Student Peer Counselling training for the year 2020/2021 is being conducted from 15th to 18th February, 2021 at Mandela hall from 8.00 a.m. to 4:30 pm. The student Peer Counsellors are being trained on a number of areas including Mental Health, Basic Counselling Skills, Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Stress and Stress management, Self-esteem and Self-Awareness, Conflict Management, Sexuality, Communication Skills, Life Skills, Loss and Grief Counselling among others.
A student is most likely to first approach, share and ask a friend for help when faced with a difficulty. This is because they feel that a friend is closer, safer and can better understand his or her situation than anyone else. With this in mind, the counselling section runs a supervised student peer-counselling program. Students undergo recruitment and vetting process before undergoing training as student Peer Counsellors.
Peer counselling is a helping process where one-on-one intentional interaction happens between members of a group with several things in common. In this case, students form a group that share many similar issues. Student Peer Counsellors are therefore effective responders to students in need. Equipping them with necessary counselling skills will not only be beneficial to them as individuals but to many of their peers as well.
The Counseling Section has also expanded training to other student leaders namely class representatives, team captains, and clubs and association officials. This group of students interact with many students in their leadership capacity and play an important role in influencing other students. In their interaction, they come across peers who would benefit from counselling services. They are therefore strategic partners for the counselling staff in monitoring, supporting and referring students for help. They will undergo a one-day training on February 19, 2021 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 pm at Mandela hall.
