Integrated, complementary or just different? Western and Rwandan approaches to clinical counselling

This article outlines the understanding of the connections made by Rwandan practitioners in the human social services between the application of conventional counselling training and local practices. Undertaken by a group of social researchers from three Canadian Schools of Social Work and academics and students from the University of Rwanda Social Work Program, this qualitative study included 18 individual interviews with practitioners, reports from meetings with a local advisory group and three annual workshop discussions held with various stakeholders in Rwanda. The findings indicate that professional counselling is a specialty of those formally trained to counsel individuals or groups of people who are severely distressed emotionally, while in a Rwandan context, counselling consists of helping practices of approaching and accompanying persons in need, strengthening their connections to local resources, and building capacity in order to help them get back on their feet. Policy, pedagogical and practice implications are discussed.