A STUDY OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY COUNSELLING SERVICES OF PENTECOSTAL AND CHARISMATIC CHURCHES IN CAPE COAST METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT

This study assessed family and marriage counselling services in Pentecostal and Charismatic churches in the Cape Coast Metropolis. The study employed the descriptive research design. Through the simple random sampling procedure, 40 churches were selected for the study. A counsellor, with the longest number of years in counselling was selected from each church. The data for the study were gathered with the use of questionnaires and analysed through the computation of descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages.

The study found that professionalism in Christian marriage and family counselling in the study area was highly compromised. For instance, 37 (100%) of the respondents had no professional training in counselling. There were also pitfalls (potential disasters) in the counselling activities of the counsellors. For example, 32 (86.5%) of the respondents were judgemental. Again, over 30 (81%) of the counsellors gave their clients adequate counselling on gender roles in a Christian marriage and family. Also, between 20 (54%) and 32 (86%) of the counsellors failed to help clients appreciate detailed factors and techniques that enhance sexual satisfaction. Again, between 19 (51%) and 33 (82%) of the respondents failed to take clients through practical techniques or factors that facilitate marital communication. It was recommended that the Christian Council of Ghana, Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, and the National Association of Charismatic Churches should organise regular in-service training for Christian marriage and family counsellors. Professionally certified counsellors should be employed to conduct counselling in churches.