September 2026 Intake: Enrolling For Clarity’s Counselling Psychology Courses
September 2026 Intake: Everything You Need to Know About Enrolling For Clarity's Counselling Psychology Courses
You have been thinking about this for a while.
Maybe it started with a conversation that went somewhere important, and you realised you knew how to hold it.
Maybe someone in your team was struggling and you noticed things your manager missed.
Maybe you have been in a helping profession for years and want the qualification to match what you already do.
Or maybe the thought has been sitting at the back of your mind since a hard season of your own: I want to do this properly.
Clarity’s September 2026 intake is the concrete next step.
This post is not a brochure. It is a complete, honest guide to both programmes: what they cover, what they cost, how the schedule works, who they are designed for, and exactly what you need to do to secure a place before the 15 August early-bird deadline.
| September 2026 Early-Bird Deadline: 15 August 2026. Applications received before this date receive priority placement and early-bird fee terms. See the CTA at the end of this post to apply. |
Why September 2026, and Why Clarity?
Kenya’s Mental Health Act 2023 mandates the expansion of mental health services at every level of the health system. The demand for qualified counsellors is not a future projection; it is happening now.
Private clinics, NGOs, schools, corporate wellness programmes, churches, and community organisations across the country are actively looking for professionals with recognised qualifications.
The supply side is still catching up. There are currently fewer than 1,000 registered counsellors and psychologists for a population of over 55 million Kenyans.
The Counsellors and Psychologists Board (CPB), which regulates the profession, has been working to increase that number.
A KNEC-accredited or TVETA-accredited qualification from a recognised training centre is the entry point.
Clarity Counselling & Training Centre (KCPA Accredited No. KCPA/INST/0147/019) has been producing practising counsellors for over a decade.
Classes run at Finance House, 13th Floor, Loita Street, Nairobi, and on a fully supported online platform for diaspora and upcountry learners.
Both programmes are designed for working adults — people with jobs, families, and real-time constraints — not full-time students who can be on campus five days a week.
The Two Programmes: Which One Is Right for You?
Clarity offers two entry points. Neither is a lesser version of the other — they serve different stages and different career goals.
| Certificate in Counselling Psychology | Diploma in Counselling Psychology | |
| Duration | 6 months | 2 years (6 semesters, 30 units) |
| Accreditation | TVETA-Accredited
NITA-certified |
TVETA-accredited, KNEC-examined |
| Entry Requirement | KCSE Grade D or above. No prior psychology background needed. | KCSE certificate or equivalent. No prior psychology background needed. |
| Total Fee | KES 60,000 | KES 181,500 (payable across 6 semesters with KES 1,500 registration + KES 10,000 deposit to secure place) |
| Weekly Commitment | ~6.5 hours per week | ~8–10 hours per week |
| Class Formats | In-person (Nairobi), evening, Saturday, or online | In-person (Nairobi), evening, Saturday, or online |
| Supervised Practice | Included — community/clinic hours | Supervised practicum with real client exposure, required for CPB registration |
| Subsidised Therapy | Yes | Yes |
| Career Paths | Support roles: schools, NGOs, churches, HR, coaching. Launchpad to diploma. | Independent practice, CPB registration, full KCPA membership, clinical roles, NGO leadership |
| Graduates Can | Enrol in a diploma programme, apply for KCPA affiliate membership | Register with CPB, apply to practice independently, and pursue a degree pathway |
What You Actually Study: A Semester-by-Semester Breakdown
Certificate Programme (6 Months)
The certificate is built for immediate application. Every unit connects to a practical skill you will use in helping conversations within the same week you study it.
| Month | Core Units | What You Can Do With It |
| 1–2 | Psychological theories and models of human behaviour: foundations of the helping relationship | Understand why people think and behave the way they do. Begin listening sessions with peers. |
| 2–3 | Psychological assessment skills, advanced communication, and trust-building | Conduct basic needs assessments. Hold structured listening conversations with direction. |
| 3–4 | Trauma-informed approaches, group counselling foundations, and recognising mental health conditions | Support people who have experienced loss, stress, or trauma. Facilitate basic group discussions. |
| 5–6 | Ethics and professional practice; supervised community hours; integration | Complete supervised hours at a community or clinical setting. Receive your certificate. |
Diploma Programme (2 Years, 6 Semesters)
The diploma goes where the certificate stops. You move from foundational skills into clinical approaches, research, and supervised client work. By the time you complete it, you are not just trained — you are qualified to practice.
| Semester | Core Focus Areas | Key Milestone |
| 1 | Foundations: human development, counselling theories, communication | Peer practice sessions; personal therapy begins (subsidised) |
| 2 | Psychodynamic, humanistic, and CBT frameworks; psychological assessment | Structured assessment role-plays; case conceptualisation |
| 3 | Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in depth: solution-focused and narrative approaches | Supervised practice begins at an approved placement site |
| 4 | Mental health conditions: depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction, grief; ethics | Case file presentations; ethics review |
| 5 | Advanced clinical skills; couples, family, and group therapy approaches; research methods | Research proposal submission |
| 6 | Research project; advanced supervised practice; integration and professional identity | KNEC examinations, supervised hours completion, and CPB registration eligibility |
What Does the September 2026 Schedule Actually Look Like?
The most common concern from prospective students is not the content; it is the time.
Can I do this while working?
While parenting?
From outside Nairobi?
The short answer is yes, because the programme was designed from the beginning for people who cannot be full-time students. Here is what the schedule looks like in practice:
| In-person Nairobi | Saturday classes at Finance House, 13th Floor, Loita Street. Some programmes include three weekday evening sessions. |
| Evening classes | Weekday evening options for Nairobi-based students who prefer not to sacrifice their Saturdays. |
| Online/diaspora | Fully supported virtual learning platform. Live sessions, recorded catch-ups, online submissions. Students from the UK, US, UAE, and across East Africa are currently enrolled. |
| Weekly time commitment | Certificate: approximately 6.5 hours per week. Diploma: approximately 8–10 hours per week, including self-study and supervised placement hours in later semesters. |
| Exams | Set by TVETA for the diploma. Certificate assessments are continuous: assignments, supervised hours log, and a practical component. |
| Supervised therapy for students | Subsidised personal therapy sessions are included in your fee. This is not optional fluff — it is a core part of the training. You will not be effective with clients until you have done your own work. |
September 2026 Fee Structure and Payment Options
Money is a real consideration. This section gives you the complete picture — no surprises at enrollment.
| Certificate | Diploma | |
| Total fee | KES 60,000 | KES 176,000 |
| Registration (paid once) | Included | KES 1,500 |
| Deposit to secure place | Included in first payment | KES 10,000 |
| Instalment plan | Monthly payment plan available. Contact admissions for breakdown. | Spread across 6 semesters. Semester-by-semester payment structure available. |
| Early-bird benefit | Priority placement secured by 15 August 2026. | Priority placement + preferred schedule allocation. |
| What’s included | Tuition, learning materials, subsidised personal therapy, supervised community hours. | Tuition, learning materials, subsidised personal therapy, supervised placement support, examination fees. |
| Can I access HELB funding? HELB loans are available for eligible students at accredited institutions. Clarity’s diploma programme is TVETA-accredited. Contact HELB directly at helb.co.ke to confirm your eligibility under the current criteria before the September intake begins. |
Who Is This Course For? Six Profiles Who Enrol Every September
Every cohort at Clarity has a different mix, but certain profiles show up every intake without fail.
The Teacher or School Counsellor
You are already working with young people who are struggling. You handle it with instinct and care, but no formal framework. A certificate gives you the theoretical grounding to do what you are already doing with more confidence, clearer ethical boundaries, and a recognised credential. Several Clarity graduates have moved from classroom teacher to school counselling coordinator within two years of completing the certificate.
The HR or People Operations Professional
You have sat with employees going through bereavement, burnout, and mental health crises and wondered what you should actually say. The certificate is used by HR professionals across Nairobi not to become therapists but to become better at the human side of their role. The diploma opens up employee wellness consulting as a standalone career.
The Career Changer in Their 30s or 40s
You have had a successful career in banking, law, marketing, or another sector. Something shifted and you want work that feels more meaningful. Counselling psychology is one of the few professional fields in Kenya where entry after a career change is not just accepted — it is common. Maturity is an asset in the therapeutic relationship, not a liability.
The Healthcare or Social Work Professional
Nurses, social workers, community health volunteers, and NGO field staff frequently enrol to formalise the psychological support dimension of their work. The diploma, combined with their existing professional background, creates a genuinely powerful combination for senior clinical and programme roles.
The Diaspora Kenyan Returning — or Staying Away
Clarity’s online platform was built in part because of the consistent demand from Kenyans in the UK, US, Canada, UAE, and across East Africa. Some are preparing to return and want a Kenyan qualification before they do. Others want to serve Kenyan communities abroad where culturally grounded mental health support is rare. Both are valid paths. The online experience is fully supported — not a compromise.
The Person Who Has Been Through Something
A significant number of Clarity students come to the programme having experienced depression, grief, addiction in their family, or a difficult counselling experience of their own. That history is not disqualifying — in many cases it is what makes someone deeply effective in this work. The requirement is not that you have sorted everything out. The requirement is that you are willing to continue doing your own work alongside your training. The subsidised personal therapy included in your fee is there for exactly this reason.
What Happens After You Graduate?
The qualification is the beginning of a professional identity, not the end of a course.
| Certificate graduates | Eligible to apply for KCPA affiliate membership. Can enrol in the diploma as a direct progression. Working roles in schools, NGOs, churches, HR, and community organisations. |
| Diploma graduates | Eligible to register with the Counsellors and Psychologists Board (CPB), which is the legal requirement for independent practice in Kenya. Can apply for full KCPA membership. Eligible to work in clinical settings, private practice, employee wellness, and institutional counselling roles. |
| Degree progression | Diploma graduates can apply for advanced entry into counselling psychology degree programmes at the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, USIU-Africa, and Daystar University. Clarity’s diploma is recognised by TVET, the national accreditation body. |
| Earnings range | Certificate-level roles in schools and NGOs typically start at KES 30,000–55,000. Diploma-level independent practitioners in Nairobi typically charge KES 3,500–8,000 per session. Employee wellness consultants and corporate trainers command significantly higher rates. For a full breakdown, see our post on 5 Careers You Can Build with a Counselling Certificate. |
| CPB registration pathway | The CPB requires a combination of classroom training hours and supervised practice hours for registration. Clarity’s diploma programme is structured to meet these requirements. Your supervised practicum hours in semesters 3–6 count toward CPB eligibility. |
What You Need to Enrol: The Complete Checklist
Certificate in Counselling Psychology
Diploma in Counselling Psychology
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Frequently Asked Questions
When does the September 2026 intake start?
Classes begin in September 2026. The early-bird deadline for priority placement is 15 August 2026. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis up to the intake date, but places are limited and the September cohort typically fills before the deadline.
Can I study while working full-time?
Yes. The programme was built for working professionals. Weekend and evening classes, combined with the online option, mean the schedule adapts to you rather than the other way around. Certificate students typically spend around 6.5 hours per week on coursework, including class time. Diploma students spend approximately 8–10 hours.
Is the course recognised by the Counsellors and Psychologists Board?
Clarity’s diploma programme is TVET-accredited and structured to meet CPB-supervised hours and training requirements. Certificate graduates can apply for KCPA affiliate membership. Diploma graduates are eligible to apply for CPB registration — the legal requirement to practice as a counsellor in Kenya. Confirm current registration requirements directly with the CPB.
Is the online programme of the same quality as in-person?
Yes. Online students attend the same live sessions (with recordings available), access the same learning materials, and complete the same supervised practice requirements. Clarity has been running the online programme for several years and has diaspora graduates currently practising across East Africa, the UK, and North America.
What if I can only pay in Installments?
Both programmes offer instalment plans. The certificate can be paid monthly. The diploma fee is spread across six semesters. Contact the admissions team directly on WhatsApp +254 114 444 299 to confirm the payment structure for September 2026 before you apply.
I have a background in social work/nursing / HR. Do I qualify?
Yes. The minimum entry requirement is a KCSE certificate or equivalent. Professional experience in a related field is an asset, not a barrier. Many Clarity students come from healthcare, education, social work, and corporate backgrounds. Your prior experience will inform and enrich your training.
What is included in the fee?
Tuition, learning materials, supervised practice support, and subsidised personal therapy sessions. You pay separately for your personal therapy allocation at subsidised student rates.
| The September 2026 intake is open. Here is what to do right now.
Early-bird deadline: 15 August 2026. Places fill before this date. 1. WhatsApp the admissions team now: +254 114 444 299 — confirm your programme choice, schedule preference, and payment plan. 2. Download the September 2026 Prospectus and Fee Schedule: claritycounseling.co.ke/contact/ 3. Enrol online: claritycounseling.co.ke/our-courses/ Certificate: KES 60,000 | Diploma: KES 181,500 | Instalment plans available | Online and in-person | Diaspora welcome Finance House, 13th Floor, Loita Street, Nairobi | claritycounseling.co.ke |
