Students’ Perception on the Effects of Individual Counseling on their Inter-Personal Relationships: A Case Study of Marist International University College, Nairobi

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine sstudents’ perception of the effects of individual counseling on inter-personal relationships at MIUC, Nairobi. The study was guided by two theories - cognitive and person-centred theories of counseling, and sought to address the following research objectives. First to determine students’ perception of individual counselling at Marist International University College, and secondly to investigate how students perceive the effects of individual counselling on their inter-personal relationships. The study employed a mixed method research design specifically descriptive and convergent parallel designs. Target population consisted of undergraduate students and counselors of MIUC. Findings revealed a strong positive correlation between individual counseling and inter-personal relationships (r> 0.5, p-value < 0.5), at 0.05 level of significance. The themes that emerged from qualitative data results were varied perceptions of individual counseling and perceived positive effects of individual counseling on inter-personal relationships. The study recommended to have, in each institution of higher learning, a quality and functional guidance and counseling office or department where students’ with inter-relationship problems can be given the necessary attention and follow up that his or her relationship problems.