Our Mission The mission of the Personal Growth and Counselling Centre is to promote the mental health of  students in order to improve the quality of their lives and aid them in achieving academic success. We are committed to the development of the whole person: academically, personally, socially, spiritually, and physically. We provide high quality crisis intervention, counselling, consultation, educational outreach programs, support groups, and referrals all designed to help students: Resolve personal problems that interfere with academic success Develop personal growth and healthy relationships Enhance individual potential Adjust to and cope with college life and pressures Resolve life crises that threaten persistence in college Deal with problems stemming from personal life experiences, trauma, and situational stress Learn skills to optimize decision-making, problem-solving, communication, managing stress and resolving conflicts. Our Philosophy Our philosophy is to value the self-worth of each individual, respect and embrace human diversity, and provide services that aid in the development of healthy behaviours necessary for success.   You may be a little apprehensive about visiting a counsellor, but you'll find it is actually a warm and safe place to discuss what might be worrying you personally, academically, or socially. Discussing your concerns with a counsellor simply means you are asking for objective help with a particular aspect of your college life that may have become too overwhelming to deal with alone. Confidentiality Information that you reveal to a counsellor is confidential. The fact that you are seeing a counsellor does not appear on any academic records. Your right to confidentiality is protected by law.  Confidentiality may not, however, be protected in cases of child abuse, elder abuse, suicide, homicide, and/or with individuals who are gravely disabled and unable to care for themselves.  In such cases, the counsellor is legally required to make outside reports (whereappropriate) of information obtained during counselling sessions. The counsellor will inform the student that confidentiality will be broken and the reason(s) for doing so. COUNSELLING SERVICES AND FEES Our centre offers counselling services that are designed to build upon individual, family, and community strengths to increase positive functioning in family communications, school participation, peer relations, community participation, and/or individual functioning. Counselling services are culturally appropriate, individualized, and confidential. Services encompass prevention and intervention strategies, including individual and family counselling, group counselling, peer support groups, life skills training, academic support, crisis intervention, and information and referral services.  Specific areas of counselling: Grief and bereavement Substance abuse Pre-marital counselling Depression & Stress disorders Family conflicts HIV/AIDS Career counselling for students and many other areas. Retirement from active employment Pastoral Counselling Children & Adolescents Counselling Counselling is done by highly trained and experienced professional counsellors.  The services are offered by: One-on-one (face to face) By e-mail By Telephone On-line Charges: Couples: US$ 30 (KES 2,000) per session of 1 hour Individuals: US$ 20 (KES 1,000) per session of 1 hour Children: US$ 10 (KES 500) per session of 1 hour Students: US$ 10 (KES 500) per session of 1 hour Groups: US$ 50 (KES 3,000) per session of 1 hour. PEER COUNSELLING PROGRAMME College life can be stressful for all of us.  Sometimes we need someone with whom we can discuss roommate problems, academic distress, long distance relationships, or other personal issues.  The Peer Counselling Programme provides a safe environment designed for students and their families to gain the support they need. Information that you reveal to a Peer Counsellor is confidential. The fact that you talk to a Peer Counsellor does not appear on any academic records. Confidentiality may not, however, be protected in cases of child abuse, elder abuse, suicide, homicide, and/or with individuals who are gravely disabled and unable to care for themselves.  In such cases, the Peer Counsellor is required to make outside reports (where appropriate) of information obtained during Peer Counselling sessions. The counsellor will inform the student that confidentiality will be broken and the reason(s) for doing so. The Peer Counselling Program is staffed by trained student volunteers and supervised by the professional counsellors of the Personal Growth and Counselling Centre.  Peer Counsellors are also able to immediately consult with the PGCC staff regarding critical issues, should the need arise. Peer Counsellors are available to meet one-on-one with students in our office, located at the Shalom Flats along Kangundo Road opposite Benrose Motel or can be reached by phone at 20 219 139 1 / 0722 215 781 / 0733 377 686.  Peer Counsellors staff the program after-hours, and are available to talk, provide support, advocacy, and appropriate referrals both on the KSCBS campus and in the surrounding community.   Students do not need to be in crisis to use our programme and seeking our help does not mean that you are going crazy.  It does mean, however, that you are serious about using the services of the Peer Counselling Program to improve your problem-solving and coping skills, as well as for personal growth.