Description
There is no exact word for psychotherapy in many Nigerian languages, numbering over 250.
But equivalent words exist for expression such as counselling and cognitive behaviour
therapy. The practice of these arts predated the advent of the Europeans. When modern
psychology arrived in our shores, we naturally adopted the Euro-American models of
psychotherapy. All that makes psychotherapy necessary can be found in our country: trauma
due to child abuse, and neglect, abuse of human dignity, tribal wars, political conflict,
poverty, migration and stress-provoking lifestyles, among others. The Aro village system
developed by Lambo is an attestation to the usefulness of some of our native approaches and
to the efficacy of social support that is inherent in the African traditional system. The
introduction of a bilingual group psychotherapy at Aro in the early 1990 was a natural
follow-up to this development. Group therapy is the most popular form of psychotherapy as it
is practised in most teaching hospitals and psychiatric establishments. Meseron therapy and
harmony restoration therapy are the two foremost indigenous approaches to psychotherapy
in Nigeria. Meseron therapy is cognitive-behavioural in orientation while harmony
restoration therapy is existential-phenomenological. Other therapies commonly taught and
practised include: Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy; Cognitive Behaviour Therapy;
Behaviour Therapy; The Psychodynamic Therapies, etc. Modern psychotherapy services are
available in private clinics/consultations, schools, hospitals and medical centres. The
services are offered by a wide variety of professionals ranging from clinical psychologists
and psychiatrist, to social workers, nurses and pastors. At present, focused training in
psychotherapy is inadequate, in spite of the efforts by the universities and the Nigerian
Association of Clinical Psychologists. This is an important lacuna that the School of
Psychotherapy and Health Sciences, Okija, has come to fill.
