Workplace Counselling services in Nigeria: Prospects, Challenges and Recommendations.

Abstract

In most developed countries of the world, counselling services sometimes referred to as Employee assistance Programme (EAP) have been introduced in organizations for the benefit of their employees. The main purpose of rendering counselling services in organizations is to help and support workers and equip them to face and overcome difficult times in their lives. This paper examined workplace counselling services in Nigeria and other parts of the world. The roles of counsellors in organizations, prospects, importance and benefits of workplace counselling were outlined. The paper also outlined the challenges faced by organizations in creating awareness on the need, importance and benefits of workplace counselling. Personal experiences of authors revealed that the majority of organizations in Nigeria (national and international) do not make provision for full time counsellors within their institutions’ staff strength. Recommendations include an urgent need for professional counselling associations to create awareness on the need, importance and benefits of workplace counselling in organizations in Nigeria.