“I Was Heard”
Experiences of Professional Counseling for Men in Uganda
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21462952 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Maureen Kobusingye (University of Wyoming, corresponding author), Lay-Nah Blue Morris-Howe (0000-0002-5580-7632, Adams State University), Lindsey M Nichols (0000-0002-1855-3442), Lindsey Nichols (0000-0002-6743-8619, University of Wyoming), Mark Perkins (University of Wyoming), Michael M Morgan (0000-0002-3386-8557, University of Wyoming), John Kambutu (0000-0002-0455-7178, University of Wyoming), Amanda C Dediego (0000-0003-2270-5813, University of Wyoming) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 48 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Publication date | 2026-06-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0165-0653 • E-ISSN: 1573-3246 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s10447-026-09646-2 |
| OpenAlex | W7155784011 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 39 |
Professional counseling is an emerging practice in African nations, including Uganda. While there is need for mental health services, social stigma related to seeking professional counseling services represents a barrier to accessing mental health resources. Stigma is especially present for men due to gender roles and strong pressure to display strength and resilience. This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological inquiry explored men’s counseling experiences in Uganda. The primary purpose of the study was to explore and understand how men experience receiving counseling in a Ugandan context where counseling is a new profession. Eight Ugandan men were interviewed about their experiences in professional counseling. Analysis was completed through the hermeneutic circle, whole-parts-whole, reflexive journal, and thematic analysis. The themes of “Talking to Strangers,” “Building Castles,” and “I Was Heard” contribute to the existing literature and give voice to Ugandan men’s unique experiences of utilizing professional counseling in the Ugandan context. Implications and practical recommendations for counselors and counselor educators were provided for consideration for future professional development
Counseling psychology · Industrial and organizational psychology · Mental health · Qualitative research · Reflexivity · Thematic analysis · Counseling Practices and Supervision · Families in Therapy and Culture · Gender Roles and Identity Studies
Crafting Phenomenological Research
“Boys don't cry”
Young Men, Help-Seeking, and Mental Health Services
Engaging Men in Psychological Treatment
Sociocultural considerations of mental health care and help-seeking in Uganda
Barriers faced by Ugandan university students in seeking medical care and sexual health counselling
Masculinity, social context and HIV testing
Stakeholder Perspectives on School-Based Guidance and Counseling in Uganda
A qualitative study of healthcare professionals’ perceptions of men and women's mental healthcare seeking in Rwanda
But Is It Phenomenology
Men's Refashioning of Masculine Identities in Uganda and Their Self-Management of HIV Treatment
Capturing Lived Experience
Struggling to Be a "Happy Self"? Psychotherapy and the Medicalization of Unhappiness in Uganda
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |