Exploring the factors which influence undergraduate students when seeking help through counselling

Abstract

This study focuses on issues university students encounter when seeking help through counselling. An interpretative approach was applied where 3 male and 3 female undergraduates at university, coming from different faculties, participated voluntarily in this study. Following one-to- one interviews with each participant, the data was analysed through which four themes emerged as influential in the help-seeking process; knowledge about the counselling process; factors which form perception; evaluation of the current perception; and how to overcome negative perceptions. Each theme was further elaborated on through subthemes each aiming at better understanding the help-seeking process from the perspective of a university population.