Efficacy Level of Therapeutic Counselling in Dealing with Depression among Adult Refugees: A Case of Dadaab Refugee Camp, Garissa County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate efficacy level of therapeutic counselling in dealing with depression among adult refugees at Dadaab refugee camp. Ex Post Facto research design was adopted for the study. A sample of 382 adult refugees and 16 section leaders were randomly selected to participate in the study while 5 counsellors were purposively selected. Data was collected using questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions and Interview guides. The reliability of the instrument was estimated using Cronbach Alpha Coefficient. The instrument yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.811. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data. The study established that therapeutic counselling had positive satisfaction among adult refugees and hence efficacious in dealing with depression. The study recommended that there is need to allocate more funds towards mental and psychological health care at Dadaab refugee camp. This would enable counselling agencies to improve the counselling services.

Keywords: Efficacy levels, therapeutic counseling, depression, adult refugees.