Received July 26, 2020; Revised July 28, 2020; Accepted July 30, 2020

Abstract: Grief is an occurrence which is emotive both to the client and the therapist. If it is not given a suitable approach, the client may be hurt instead of getting psychologically healed. This study was therefore carried out to survey teachercounsellors’ competence in using selected grief counselling approaches in public secondary schools in Kisii County. KüblerRoss Elisabeth (1969) Stage Theory and mixed methods design, specifically a convergent parallel blueprint were utilized. Data was obtained through a questionnaire and interview guide. A sample of 196 respondents composed of 181 who provided quantitative data and selected through simple random sampling and 15 who provided qualitative data and purposively selected was utilized. Quantitative and qualitative data that was obtained was analyzed through univariate statistics and thematic method respectively. The study found that most of the respondents had competence in encouraging grieving students share their experience with those who had been bereaved. It was established that teacher-counsellors’ high level of competence on sharing their personal experience was a therapy on their part as they could pour out their concealed pain as they identified with the grieving. The study recommended that teacher-counsellors be acquainted with various grief counselling approaches as there are diverse students who present with grief in different ways and therefore may need to be approached differently.

Received July 7, 2020; Revised July 17, 2020; Accepted July 15, 2020

Abstract: Teacher-counsellors are expected to offer grief counselling to grieving students despite the fact that they also encounter personal death related loss. This study was therefore undertaken to explore the influence teacher-counsellors’ personal experience with grief has on their current grief counselling competence in public secondary schools in Kisii County.
A convergent parallel mixed methods design and Bowlby’s Theory of Loss and Attachment were utilized. A sample of 181 respondents who were obtained through simple random sampling provided data using a questionnaire and interview guide. Univariate and thematic approach which was supported by narratives were used in data analysis. The analysis revealed that all the respondents had experienced loss of a loved one. The study established that personal experience with grief improved their competence in grief counselling. Flooding with the painful event of grief helped them to minimize fear as it exposed them to the reality of the phenomenon. The study recommended that teacher-counsellors should have sometimes within the term when they can be exposed to grieving people in hospitals as a way of increasing their competence in grief counselling. Additionally, the study proposed that teacher-counsellors go through grief counselling training by way of seminars, workshops or training institutions or online in order to augment their competence in grief counselling.