National Guidelines on Management of Sexual Violence in Kenya
National Guidelines on Management of Sexual Violence in Kenya
National Guidelines on Management of Sexual Violence in Kenya
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4. Core C<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s Essential to a Productive Counsel<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Sessi<strong>on</strong><br />
• Unc<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>al Positive Regard: Counselors should perceive and deal with<br />
the survivor as s/he is while ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g a sense <strong>of</strong> their <strong>in</strong>nate dignity and<br />
pers<strong>on</strong>al worth.<br />
• N<strong>on</strong>-judgmental attitude: Counselors should not assign guilt or <strong>in</strong>nocence<br />
or a degree <strong>of</strong> survivor resp<strong>on</strong>sibility for causati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the problem, and<br />
they should not make evaluative judgments about the attitudes, standards<br />
or acti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> the survivor/perpetrator.<br />
• Genu<strong>in</strong>eness or C<strong>on</strong>gruence: Counselors should freely and deeply be able<br />
to relate to survivors/perpetrators <strong>in</strong> a s<strong>in</strong>cere and n<strong>on</strong>-defensive way.<br />
• Empathy: The counselor should be able to understand the client’s reacti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
from the <strong>in</strong>side, with a sensitive awareness <strong>of</strong> the emoti<strong>on</strong>s and the situati<strong>on</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> the survivor. (Rogers 1967 304-311)<br />
5. Obta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g Informed C<strong>on</strong>sent<br />
The counselor should obta<strong>in</strong> written c<strong>on</strong>sent from the survivor before start<strong>in</strong>g<br />
any sessi<strong>on</strong>s. If the survivor is below the age <strong>of</strong> 18, parental or guardians<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sent is required.<br />
6. The Counsel<strong>in</strong>g Envir<strong>on</strong>ment<br />
The room should have privacy; unauthorized people should not be able to<br />
view or hear any aspects <strong>of</strong> the c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>. Hence, the exam<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> room<br />
should be a private area with walls and doors, not just curta<strong>in</strong>s, to ensure<br />
privacy. It should be clear when counsel<strong>in</strong>g is <strong>in</strong> process, <strong>in</strong>dicated <strong>on</strong> the door<br />
with a sign such as: “Counsel<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Process: Please do not Disturb!”<br />
Make the room friendly, comfortable and clean. There should be a small<br />
cab<strong>in</strong>et that can be locked and secured for c<strong>on</strong>fidentiality where files are<br />
stored. The room should be child-friendly with toys and other relevant play<br />
material. Ensure that all forms (c<strong>on</strong>sent and case notes) are readily available.<br />
Tissues should be made available if possible. When the survivors/perpetrators<br />
are leav<strong>in</strong>g the counsel<strong>in</strong>g room, please ensure you have provided them with<br />
additi<strong>on</strong>al material to read as further reference.<br />
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