Abstract:
Interdisciplinary training approach and the use of media resources is known to play a
major role in enhancing teaching and learning in Educational institutions. Despite this
awareness, a number of challenges associated with implementation of this approach in
training have been revealed. There is therefore need to have a practical strategy for
implementation of interdisciplinary training approach and effective use of media
resources to facilitate training and preparation of counsellors in addressing emerging and
complex counselling issues in the society today. The main objective of this study was to
establish the extent of implementation of inter-disciplinary training programme for
counsellors. Specifically, the study sought to identify the instructional media resources
used in counsellor training institutions, establish the relationship between
interdisciplinary training and performance of students, and establish the relationship
between instructional media resources and performance of students and, to determine
barriers encountered in the implementation of interdisciplinary training programmes in
counsellor training institutions in Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional
survey design and the problem under study related to the Context-Input-Process-Product
conceptual framework. A purposive sampling procedure was used to determine key
informants. Therefore the study population included 52 diploma, 80 undergraduate 4th
year and 52 masters’ students, 20 trainers from Kenya Association of Professional
Counsellors and Tec Institute of Management, 2 heads of department, 17 lecturers from
Kenyatta and Moi University and 17 counsellors from Moi Teaching and Referral
Hospital. After piloting the instrument, data was collected using questionnaires, interview
guide and observation checklist. Qualitative data was coded into categorical variables and
quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS v.17).
The relationship variables were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and
results presented using tables, bar chart and pie charts. Findings revealed that
interdisciplinary programmes existed but only in a form of short interactive sessions. The
programme lacked the pre-requisite for running inter-disciplinary programmes that bring
about meaningful change in the lives of learners. Additionally, instructional media
resources played a major role in the performance of students. The newest mode of media
technology and textbooks were the most preferred instructional media resources although
the slow pace of adoption of media technology, incompetency and inadequacy affected
their effective use. Although there was no relationship between interdisciplinary training
and the performance of students, the study concluded that inter-disciplinary counselling
approach enhances psychological counselling care. The major challenge facing the
programme was that some professionals felt highly territorial about their disciplines
hence felt threatened as new views of their subjects are promoted. Based on these
findings the study recommended the development of policy guidelines to facilitate
interdisciplinary education by focusing mainly on teaching processes that bring about
collaborative competencies necessary for current and future health professionals