Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the counselling practices of the
clergy in selected churches in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis. The
descriptive survey design was used within the Mixed Methods Approach for
the study. The study was conducted in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis. A
sample of 132 pastors was selected from a population of 200 pastors from the
Metropolis. Questionnaire and a semi-structured interview guide were used in
collecting data for the study. The study found that pre-marital counselling,
marital counselling, biblical counselling, grief counselling, family counselling
and career counselling were the most common types of counselling provided
by the clergy in selected churches in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis. The
study revealed again that family issues, marriage issues between spouses,
conflicts people have with others, health issues, issues with children and
financial issues were the most common issues that clients brought to
counselling in selected churches in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis. Even
though, most of the respondents had received some training in counselling,
they still favoured receiving additional training in counselling. The clergy also
adopted the right counselling practices such as listening, adhering to ethical
issues, utilizing counselling skills, availability and building strong
relationships with clients. Lack of resources and time as well as inadequacy of
training on counselling were the main challenges encountered by the clergy in
the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis in their provision of counselling. It was
recommended that the clergy association in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis
organize intermittent training programmes for the clergy on counselling
services
