Welcome to the KsTU Counseling Directorate (KsCD). 

The Counselling Unit was established in September 2006 to cater for staff and students’ psychological needs in the then Polytechnic by the then Rector, Dr. Kwesi Prah.  Before the establishment of the Counselling Unit, Mr. Frank Vikpeh Apeti who was the Liaison officer and Church leader was handling students and staff on psychological, emotional and career related issues.

It became a requirement from the Ministry of Education (Ghana Tertiary Education Commission - GTEC) in September 2006 to establish Guidance and Counselling Unit. An advert was placed, and Mrs. Augustina Freeman was appointed to start the Unit as the first professional counsellor.

Evolution of the Directorate

The Unit at its infant stages was under the Dean of Students Affairs office, so the Counsellor was working with the Dean of students in the person of Mr Brobbey, who doubled as a Hall master.
Later, in 2007, the substantive Dean of Students Affairs, Dr. Cynthia Osei, worked assiduously with the Counsellor to support the students and staff in all spheres of their lives.

The Counselling Unit was hitherto accommodated on the last floor of the Administration Block. However, through the instrumentality of the Counsellor, the Unit was relocated to its current place (previously the University clinic) because the former posed a threat to clients, especially those with mental health challenges.

In the 2009/2010 Academic year, Mr. James Osman Agyei was sent to the Counselling Unit as an additional hand because the students’ population had increased.
In order to deal with the subsequent rapid increase in students’ population, the staff decided to involve some responsible students to be the eye and ear of the Unit to help identify colleague students who have issues at the halls, classrooms and hostels and to refer them to the Professionals at the Unit. This motivated the counsellors to appoint Peer Counsellors who are students and Departmental Counsellors (staff) with good morals, decency and respect.  These Paraprofessional Counsellors received training annually to be able to identify and give first hand interventions to their colleagues. They also referred clients whose issues were beyond their control.  

The Directorate, which began as a Unit, has been established and operating since September 2006 and it is open from 

8:30 am - 5:00 pm (Monday to Friday). Presently, the Directorate is headed by a Deputy Director and can boast of three Licensed Professional Counsellors, one administrator and one contract staff.

Philosophy

We believe that counseling is a sustainable method for assisting anybody to remove barriers that prevent healthy operation.

Motto

We counsel, We Educate and We Empower.