Client/family interface in counselling: Challenges for counsellor acceptability and performance in Nigeria

Abstract

In its three decades of formal existence in Nigeria, counselling is still an emerging profession. This paper does not attempt to evaluate the current status of counselling in Nigeria. Instead, the major thrust of the paper is to bring to light a major dimension that a number of practitioners tend to ignore in their interaction with Nigerian clients-that is, the client/family interface. This dimension is a major distinguishing factor in bringing in culture-relevant variables and how these variables impact and impinge on the counselling process, counsellor effectiveness and acceptability.