Abstract:
: This study investigates the influence of presenting problems inchoice of counsellor gender among
university students in Kenya. Due to changes in traditional social set up, individuals have been alienated from
their extended family and community that provided the necessary support system, thus an increase in the
number of people, both males and females seekingprofessional therapy. University students who are largely
young adults experience emotional and psychological challenges that require counselling. The objectives of this
study were: to determine the issues that are taken to men/women counsellors by either gender and investigate
their influence on the choice of the gender of the counsellor. The study is guided by PersonCentered and Social
Learning Theories. The study applied descriptive survey research design using quantitative and qualitative data.
Stratified, simple random and purposive sampling methods were used to sample three universities, 310 students
and seven student counsellors. Data was collected using questionnaires, in-depth interview schedules and Focus
Group Discussions Guide. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and is presented in Tables,
Pie charts and Bar graphs. For qualitative data, emerging patterns of the content analysis is presented
thematically according to research objectives. The study reveals that students are faced with many counselling
issues such as academic, psychological, social, personal, economic, health, physical, vocational and spiritual.
The study findings reveals that 54% of students prefer female counsellors as compared to 27% that prefer male
counsellors Issues that students discuss with university male counsellors include academic, family, personal,
peer relationships, economic and physical problems. Issues that male and female students discuss with
university female counsellors are psychological, social, spiritual, and education/academic challenges. Female
students would not seek help from male counsellors for feminine issues like menstruation. Likewise male
students will not seek help from female counsellors for masculine issues for example erectile dysfunction. This
study concludes that presenting problems influence choice of counsellor gender. The study recommends that,
Intake counsellors should be gender sensitive and allocate the preferred gender according to presenting
problems