Teaching Group Counseling in Botswana: Two U.S.-Trained Counselors Discuss Experiences and Share Cultural Considerations for Practice

Abstract

There is a paucity of research in the area of teaching group counseling within an African context. In this article we describe and reflect on our experiences teaching group counseling at an institution of higher learning in the country of Botswana. We discuss cultural traditions and strengths that support an environment of group work in Botswana, describe cross-cultural challenges we experienced along the way as we implemented Western-derived didactic and experiential components of group counseling training, and discuss the ways in which we addressed the cultural differences we encountered. Implications for future cross-cultural research and training are discussed.

Keywords:

• Botswana
• group work
• internationalization of counseling
• teaching

Additional information

Funding

Partial funding for this research was obtained from International Studies and Programs at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Notes on contributors

Angela D. Coker

Angela D. Coker, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Counseling and Family Therapy at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Aaron R. Majuta

Aaron R. Majuta, Ph.D., is a lecturer in the Department of Educational Foundations at the University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.