Anyone can say they are a counsellor, but in Kenya only registered and licensed professionals may practise as counsellors and psychologists. The law behind this is the Counsellors and Psychologists Act, 2014, which sets up a regulator, the Kenya Counsellors and Psychologists Board, and lays down how practitioners are registered, licensed and held to professional standards.
Why this matters to you
Therapy asks you to share private and sometimes painful things. Registration and a valid practising licence are the public assurance that the person in front of you has met the training requirements, works within a code of ethics, and can be held accountable if something goes wrong. Without that, you have no one to complain to and no way to know what training stands behind the advice.
How to check a practitioner
Before you start sessions, it is reasonable to ask three simple questions. Are you registered with the Board? Do you hold a current practising licence? What are your qualifications and areas of work? A professional will answer these openly. Winfred is a registered psychologist, and her registration and licence details are in her bio.
What the Act does not do
The Act is about who may practise and how they are regulated. It does not tell you which kind of support is right for you. That depends on what you are going through, and a good practitioner will refer you to a doctor or psychiatrist when that is the better route.
The full text of the Act is published on Kenya Law, linked below for anyone who wants to read the legal detail.
Take the next step
If something here sounds familiar, you do not have to work it out alone. You can try a private self-check test or schedule a call with Winfred. Calls and sessions are confidential, in person or online.
Source: read the original article. This page is an independent summary with added context.