Counselling Knowledge and Skills in Papua New Guinea: Identifying the Gaps

Abstract

This paper reports on the counselling knowledge and skills held and utilised by Papua New Guinean counsellors. Twenty-five counsellors from government and non-government sectors, representing all four regions of PNG, participated in individual in-depth interviews and video-recorded simulated counselling sessions. Counselling knowledge was assessed via content analysis of interview data that explored counselling concepts associated with the purpose and practice of counselling. Skills were assessed via the Counselling Skills and Competencies Tool. Results indicated that participants had low levels of counselling knowledge and skills. The paper outlines three key areas that should be the focus of counselling training for PNG counsellors: (1) fundamental knowledge and skills, (2) theories and frameworks for guiding the counselling process, and (3) the PNG cultural context.