+254722457898Although the need for counselling and psychological services in Kenya has increased, many counsellors and psychologists who have freshly graduated remain underutilized. Surprisingly, even for those who graduated 5-10 years ago, securing a rewarding career in the counselling psychology field is not easy. In fact, many give up searching for opportunities and opt to venture into other unrelated fields.
Arguably, if the need for mental health and wellness services is high, it should only translate to more work for professionals in the field but that is not the case. A training gap I’ve identified in the field is that many counsellors and psychologists are conditioned to seek employment upon graduation. There is little or no emphasis on setting up a counselling private practice upon graduation and gaining some experience. If only our tertiary institutions can put more emphasis, this glaring gap can be bridged.
Below is a comprehensive guide on steps one can take to set up a counselling private practice in Kenya. While the steps are not exhaustive, they nonetheless provide robust pointers of where one can start from.
Register your Counselling Practice
While still in school, identify a catchy name for your counselling firm. Let it be a name that oozes positivity and wellness. Once you have the name, register it on e-citizen platform under the business registration services. Normally, you search the proposed name on the e-citizen platform and reserve it. Thereafter, proceed and register the business name under your account. You will be required to upload your KRA PIN, a passport photo and a completed BN2 form. The approval process takes around 2 weeks and the cost is around ksh. 2000.00. If you are not very conversant with the E-citizen platform, go to Huduma Centre and you’ll get the needed support. Depending on the name you choose for the business, in some instances, your degree certificate in Psychology or Counselling may be required.
Once the registration has been approved, you’ll be issued a certificate which you can then download on e-citizen and print a physical copy. The registration process is important because it will allow you get a bank account for the business. You can also apply for an M-Pesa Till or Paybill. Getting a Bank Account for your business and an M-Pesa Till or Paybill is important as clients can easily make payments efficiently. Sharing the Bank Account Number or Mpesa Payment option with your counselling clients professionalizes your work. You also build credibility among your clients especially those you serve online. I would highly recommend Co-operative Bank or KCB because their application for a business account and Mpesa Payment is free and very first. They also issue you a free PDQ machine for your clients to swipe.
Register and Get a License from the Counsellors and Psychologists Board
Once your private practice business is registered, you also need to be registered and licensed with the Counsellors and Psychologists Board. The registration is done online using the following link. You can write to them on cp.board@health.go.ke to get more information on the registration and licensing process. You can also call them on +254748655769. The registration fee is Ksh. 5000/= and the licensing fee in Ksh.4000/=. All payment details are provided in the registration form. For the registration process to be complete, you must include your Degree or Diploma Certificate, Transcripts, National ID/Passport and a Passport Photo. The registration process normally takes between 2 weeks to a month. After a successful registration, one is notified via email and requested to collect their registration certificate.
Thereafter, you begin the licensing process which takes almost a similar amount of time. Notably, ensure your certificates are certified. Certification is the process of confirming that a copy of a document is authentic. Certification is done by an advocate of the High Court who is a Commissioner of Oaths by stamping the copies and signing on them as a confirmation of authenticity of the documents. You need around ksh. 1000/= to complete the process. The amount might vary based on the advocate who certifies the documents.
After registration and licensing with the board, it’s advisable to join a professional body for counsellors and psychologists. There are many professional bodies but among the most common are Kenya Counselling and Psychological Association(KCPA), the Kenya Association of Professional Counsellors(KAPC) and the Kenya Psychological Association(KPsyA). While joining a professional association is not mandatory, its essential for the sake of networking, continuous training, and development, and for supervision. Most associations charge an initial registration fee of around Ksh. 3000 to Ksh. 5000. If you don’t have enough money, I’ll recommend you give preference to registration and licensing with the Counsellors and Registration Board because its mandatory. You can join a professional body later.
Create a Strong Online Presence for your Psychology Private Practice
After registering your private practice and registering with the licensing Board, your business is 50% complete. The first 2 steps are essential because they allow you to establish a firm legal and business foundation for your enterprise. The first 2 steps are also a bit costly, and they take quite some time because approval by government entities can be slow. Therefore, don’t be discouraged or frustrated if the process delays. Purpose to visit the of government offices physically in case of delays.
At stage three, you now begin a journey of branding your business and looking for clients. For business branding, start by getting a logo for your business. Get a professional to do it for you. It will not cost you more than Ksh. 1000.00. Depending on the graphic designer you get, the price might vary slightly. I would highly recommend Farid Creations. You can contact them on faridcreations@gmail.com. The gentleman does excellent work and is very dependable.
In addition to the logo, open a Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter Pages for your business. Notably, creating business pages for your business is free and a very easy process. Further, it gives your business a professional and credible outlook online. The pages also allow you to disseminate information on mental health and wellness to diverse audiences while advertising your business. To learn more about the creation process, I recommend you use YouTube tutorials. Ensure the business logo appears on all the pages. Include your email account and phone number which clients can use to contact you.
Similarly, ensure your personal accounts across online platforms have a professional touch. For starters, go to the studio and get a professional photo which you can use in your profiles. Clients have a tendency of searching different social media platforms to learn more about a potential therapist they wish to work with. For that reason, ensure your social media accounts are set out in an appealing manner and avoid posting controversial opinions that may impinge your credibility. For those in Nairobi, I recommend Jaunty Studios (0714691548) for professional photos.
I also recommend getting a website for your business. A website will give you a robust online presence. Nowadays websites are very affordable because you can opt for a subscription model where you pay for the website annually rather than making a one off payment. Normally, it will cost you between Ksh.4000 to Ksh. 8000. I highly recommend Hostfiti. You can contact them on support@hostfiti.com or call them on 0786715534. They did my first website called Shalom Counselling. Click here to check it out. The advantage of opting to subscribe is you get a stellar WordPress website at affordable rates. You’ll also get a professional email address, Bulk SMS for your clients, 24/7 technical support, Free SEO tools and a blog to post your content on mental health. You will also get a booking tool that enables your clients to book for sessions and make payments online.
Design Business Cards and Fliers for your Psychology Practice
Once you have created a strong online brand, it will be imperative for you to market your services constantly. An important consideration at this stage is getting a graphics designer to design appealing fliers and business cards. The electronic flier will have the name and logo of the business, the services you provide and your contact. The same should apply for the business card.
Having a business card and fliers in soft copy will simplify online marketing for you. Its very simple to share the fliers and business cards across many platforms within short period. Because the card and flier have clear information, its easier for other people to share it to their networks and that enables your name as a practitioner and brand as a business to be out there. Designing a professional business card will cost you around Ksh.1000 and a similar amount for the flier. Again, for this project, I will recommend Farid Creations whose contact I’ve shared above.
Network with Psychologists, Counsellors, Doctors
Creating professional networks is important. Start by networking with fellow counsellors. Your classmates may be an excellent starting point. Remember, not all your classmates are keen to practice. As such, whenever they get prospective clients, they can refer to you. Similarly, if they have a relative or friend who needs a therapist, they are likely to refer the client to you because as a matter of good practice, we are discouraged from counselling our friends/relatives (dual relationships).
Additionally, if you belong to a community of professionals, let them know what you do. For instance, in church, join groups/meetings for professional. Take advantage of such gatherings to alert them of your work. If you have a business card/flier with you, circulate it widely. Remember, when you share your business card and flier/brochure to other professionals, you automatically create a strong impression of your work.
Lastly, drop your fliers/business cards/brochures to nearby health facilities, schools, government institutions, and corporate entities (banks and insurance companies). Volunteer to do free health talks on diverse mental health topics. Many organisations have a need for mental health services, but they don’t know where to start or how to go about it. The more you visit such institutions, the higher the likelihood of building a robust brand. With consistency, over time, you’ll start getting referrals. Volunteer work helps you to build a strong brand and to enhance your experience. For a list of organisations you can volunteer with, visit the link for more information.
Getting a virtual office space for your Practice
As you start getting clients, getting an office space to offer your services is important. While online counselling does work for some clients, other clients prefer physical therapy. When you are starting, focus more on clients who are okay we online counselling. Avoid clients who insist on physical therapy unless they are providing you the physical space. Focusing on such clients may force you to take up an office space prematurely.
Notably, one can use restaurants creatively for a start if physical sessions are absolutely necessary. If you know a quiet restaurant near you, you can meet up for a session. Just ensure that the place you opt for is quiet and private. Your client must feel comfortable otherwise they’ll be unable to share openly.
Notably, if you get to a point where the flow of clients is regular, you can opt for co-working office spaces that allows you to access the office on a need’s basis. I would highly recommend Regus virtual office and virtual office plus. The package allows you to access an office space for 2 hours every weekday. You also have full access to their lounge area where you can work from.
The steps highlighted are the most important. Of course, as your practice grows, you’ll figure out ways of reconfiguring the business to align with emerging needs. Don’t wait until you are ready, start small and be consistent. For more information, feel free to contact us on info@shalomcounseling.co.ke