Trainees internet usage in psychotherapy practice in teacher training colleges, Kenya

Abstract

Information Communication and technology in particular internet aimed at widening access to flexible distance education and psychotherapy in learning institutions. In developed countries online psychotherapy has been practiced in learning institutions. However there is limited information on whether it has been established in public teacher training colleges in Kenya as an alternative approach to psychotherapy practice. Teacher trainees in Kenya are at the early adulthood stage of human growth and development. This is a critical period with myriads of psychological, social, and academic issues which affect them, most of which require a personal and confidential psychotherapeutic intervention. One of the key objectives of the study was to establish the trainees’ internet usage in Psychotherapy practice in Public Teacher Training Colleges in the Lake Region, Kenya. This paper explores the teacher trainees’ level of internet usage within their workbased training situation, especially for psychotherapy practice with a view of giving a critical perspective of evidence based approach for this practice. Teacher trainees will be able to access and interact online with their psychotherapist, give reports, and provide peer reviewed presentations that relate to psychotherapy practice. The study findings will challenge trainees to embrace technology integration policy within the college, especially the internet in psychotherapy practice. The findings may assist the government, non-governmental organization and professional psychotherapists to allocate more resources for the development of psychotherapy practice in Teacher Training Colleges.