Phase 1 · ~5 minutes
Welcome & rapport
Settle the person before anything else. Many community members arrive nervous, uncertain, or unsure what to expect. Your first few minutes determine whether they stay open or shut down.
Opening — say this warmly, in English or Kiswahili
"Karibu sana. Nashukuri sana kwamba umekuja leo — najua si rahisi kuchukua hatua hii. / Welcome — I'm really glad you came today. My name is [name] and I work here as a counsellor. We have time together, and I want to use it to understand you properly. I'll ask you a few questions — not to judge you, but so I can support you in the best way. Kila kitu unachoshiriki hapa kitabaki siri. / Everything you share here is confidential."
Choose 1–2 opening questions
"What brought you here today? Unaweza kushiriki kadri unavyotaka." (You can share as much or as little as you like.)
"Have you ever spoken to a counsellor before, or is this the first time?"
"Is there one thing you were hoping we would talk about today?"
"Is there someone at home who knows you came today?"
Facilitator note — Kenya context: Mental health help-seeking carries significant stigma in many Kenyan communities. Phrases like "kichaa" (madness) or "ugonjwa wa akili" may surface. Acknowledge gently: "What we talk about here is not about being mad — it is about being human and going through something hard." Do not rush. A calm, non-judgemental presence in these first minutes is itself therapeutic.
Phase 2 · ~5 minutes
Client intake form
Complete this together with the client. Speak each question aloud — do not just hand them the form. For clients with low literacy, fill it in on their behalf.
Client code / initials
Date of session
Age
Gender identity
County / location
Referral source
Highest education
Employment / livelihood
Marital status
Number of dependants
Who do you currently live with?
In your own words — what is the main reason you came today?
How long have you been feeling this way?
Previous mental health support?
Any significant recent life events? (tick all that apply — note verbally)
Facilitator note: Complete this verbally — ask each question as a conversation, not an interrogation. If a client becomes distressed during intake, pause and return to rapport. The intake serves the session — not the other way around.
Phase 3 · ~12 minutes
General wellbeing screen
Seven life domains. Read each question aloud and note the client's answer. This is a guided conversation — not a form to fill in alone. Reflection boxes capture the client's own words and become the basis for psychoeducation.
Transition
"Sasa, nataka kukuuliza maswali kuhusu maisha yako — jinsi unavyohisi, kulala, na kujisikia na watu. / Now I want to ask you about different parts of your life — how you've been feeling, sleeping, and getting on with people. For each question, tell me how much it has been a problem in the past two weeks: not at all, a little, quite a bit, or a lot."
Domain summary
Phase 4 · ~5 minutes
Safety & risk assessment
Always completed — every client, every session. Frame as routine community care. Speak calmly and directly. Any endorsed risk requires immediate action before proceeding.
Script — say this plainly and without alarm
"Kuna kitu kimoja ninachouliza kila mtu anayekuja hapa — si kwa sababu nadhani kuna tatizo, bali kwa sababu ninajali usalama wako. / There is something I ask everyone who comes here — not because I think something is wrong, but because I care about your safety. Sometimes when life becomes very heavy — problems pile up, pressure builds — people find themselves thinking about hurting themselves or not wanting to be alive anymore. Has anything like that been part of your experience, even briefly?"
Mark each domain
Passive suicidal ideation — thoughts of not wanting to be alive, wishing to disappear or sleep and not wake up
Active suicidal ideation — thoughts of ending their own life
Plan or intent — has thought about how or when
Recent self-harm — cutting, burning, or other deliberate injury
Harm to others — thoughts of hurting another person
Protective factors present — family, faith, children, community, stated reasons to live
⚠️ Risk factor endorsed. Stop this section of the session. Activate your clinic's safety protocol immediately. Do not proceed to psychoeducation until the client is safe, stabilised, and a safety plan is in place. Document the risk endorsed and action taken in the session notes.
Psychological First Aid — core principles for this session:
Look — observe the client's non-verbal cues, distress level, and safety.
Listen — give full attention; do not problem-solve prematurely.
Link — connect the client to appropriate support, referrals, and next steps.
If the client is visibly distressed: "Niko hapa nawe. Uko salama hapa. / I am here with you. You are safe here." Allow silence. Do not rush.
Look — observe the client's non-verbal cues, distress level, and safety.
Listen — give full attention; do not problem-solve prematurely.
Link — connect the client to appropriate support, referrals, and next steps.
If the client is visibly distressed: "Niko hapa nawe. Uko salama hapa. / I am here with you. You are safe here." Allow silence. Do not rush.
Phase 5 · ~10 minutes
Psychoeducation
Modules marked recommended match this client's domain scores. Choose 2–3 per session. Deliver as a conversation — not a lecture. Each module includes an action point and a reflection question to end with.
Transition
"Nataka kukushirikisha baadhi ya habari ambazo zinaweza kusaidia kuelewa unachopitia. Hii si uchunguzi — ni elimu tu. / I'd like to share some information that may help make sense of what you're going through. This isn't a diagnosis — it's knowledge that often helps people feel less alone with their experience, and more in control of what happens next."
Phase 6 · ~5 minutes
Follow-up plan & session close
A clear, specific agreement before the client leaves — one task, one date, one handout. Keep it simple. The simpler and more concrete, the more likely they will return.
Closing
"Kabla ya kwisha, nataka tufanye makubaliano mawili pamoja: jambo moja dogo utakalojaribu kabla ya kukutana tena, na tarehe yetu ya kukutana ijayo. Pia nitakupa kitu cha kuchukua nyumbani leo — mwongozo rahisi unaoelezea baadhi ya tulichozungumza. / Before we finish, I'd like us to agree on two things: one small thing to try before we meet again, and when we'll next see each other. I'll also give you something to take home today."
Session record
Facilitator name
Clinic / location
Primary concern identified
Follow-up arrangement
Between-session task — one small, specific, achievable action
Psychoeducation topics delivered today
Facilitator observations — key themes, strengths, concerns, risk level
Next appointment date
Always close with: "Je, kuna kitu ulichotaka kusema ambacho hatukufikia leo? / Is there anything you wanted to say that we didn't get to today?" — then: "Nashukuri sana ujasiri wako wa kuja. Uponyaji unawezekana. / Thank you for the courage it took to come. Healing is possible. See you on [date]."
Download session materials
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