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Abstract
This paper examines trajectory of psychotherapy in Africa. It touches on the meaning of psychotherapy, types, as well as goals and relevance of psychotherapy. The key factors is with greater emphasis in psychotherapy where in Africa certain set-backs and challenges have been heavily represented with terrorism leading to posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD) from kidnapping down to Boko-Harram and Fulani herdsmen violence that undermine security and national development. Sequel to this, economic recession and anxiety of the mass is another cancerous triggered to corruption which clinicians identify today as a major set-back in African socioeconomic and political development. Other issues facing the clinicians and students of psychotherapy with the service users are lack of keeping clinical records for data purposes, problems of referrals, poor accessibility to clinical resources and team relationships. The objective of this paper is to discuss in-depths these African issues and a way of advancing psychotherapy in Africa to a lofty heights. Proffering solutions could be identify through extensive training, entrepreneurship model, and also using continuation of professional development (CPD) to generate learning from the existing challenges in Africa through conferences, seminars and workshops. Unfortunately some clinicians in the society lack the zeal of pursuing CPD model of knowledge and experience as they find it difficult not only to engage with others but to come together and work as a team. Training is always a major reflection in working relationship in group practice to make relevance the dynamism required of psychotherapy. Importantly, using working groups formula (WDEP) that is focused in African way on client centred approach will serve as another panacea aimed at understanding clients (patients) in the group processes, while taken cognisance people’s real life situations, to guard against some risks that may jeopardize group in psychotherapy. It is therefore recommended that those practising psychotherapy in African setting should bear in mind the relevance of clinical practice as evidence based and good quality of care in the art of psychotherapy.
(A key note speech presented at the Forth Conference of the World Council for Psychotherapy African Chapter, at School of Psychotherapy and Health Sciences, Okija, Anambra State, Nigeria, 2019)
Author:
Adolphus Ikechukwu Ezeakor
Department of Psychology
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Nigeria
Abstract
Objective: Experiences of traumatic exposure of trafficked victims keep tormenting them after they are rescued. Trafficked victims at rehabilitation centers of National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) at Southern Zones have been found to present with posttraumatic stress disorder. This finding made it necessary that improving their mental health should include efforts to identify factors likely to predispose, maintain, or perpetuate PTSD presentation among trafficked victims. Current study thereby examined posttraumatic stress disorder among trafficked
victims: the role of self-esteem and demographic factors.
Method: 55 participants
selected through total population sampling technique from the rehabilitation centers of NAPTIP in their South-East, South-South, and South-West zonal offices, participated. Their age ranged between 14 to 25 years, with a mean age of 19.89 and a standard deviation of 2.87. The instruments administered on them were Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Keane Scale (PKS) (Keane, Malloy & Fairbanks, 1984) and Index of Self –Esteem (ISE) (Hudson, 1982). Mental State Examination of some of the clients was also done. The study used ex-post-facto design and Independent t-test was used to test the hypotheses.
Result: This revealed that hypotheses two to seven on demographic factors were rejected. It also showed that only hypothesis one on self-esteem was accepted, t(53)=-3.26, p <.05. Conclusion:
The relevance of psychotherapy will establish the linkage through trafficked victims at rehabilitation centers of NAPTIP in her zonal offices in the southern parts of Nigeria, and determine self-esteem factor likely to
influence PTSD presentation.
Abstract
Ideally therapeutic processes ought to be context-bound; therefore culture plays vital role in setting the status quo for the interaction between the therapist and the client. It is against this background that this paper examines the challenges and compromises of culture-centered therapy in Africa (Nigeria), particularly as the scheme of work and curriculum for teaching psychology (and all other related areas of study), seems to omit cultural orientation to some extent. Correspondingly, National Universities Commission (NUC) benchmark is used as unit of analysis to portray the seemingly lack of culture-centered therapy in higher education in Nigeria. Supportively, narratives from focus group discussion with students are presented to intensify the lack of inclusion of culture-centered curriculum. As a result, the paper advocates for methodological and clinical integration of cultural perspective (indigenous knowledge system) into higher education’s teaching of psychology otherwise the noble idea of culture-centered therapy would continue to be an illusion. Hence, the African therapist to say the least would be irrelevant in his/her cultural milieu and to the clients who may urgently need culture-bound therapy as means of maintaining mental health and sustainable development.
Abstract
The military personnel whose duty is to undertake operational duties are often exposed to trauma and stress; and some develop psychological distress as a result. The burden of mental health distress related to military occupational life is substantial as some military personnel and families flourish while others are not able to cope. Overtime, deployed military personnel and families become psychologically dysfunctional as a result of trauma and acute stress syndrome which result to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and emotional burn-out. Although, little attempt has been made to assess and meet the mental health needs of the military community holistically. This negligence is costly considering that the psychological health of the military family has been found to be directly related to the readiness, well-being and retention of service members. More so, the impact of negative attachment reactions on the cognitive development of children as a result of separations related to military deployment and postings have been observed. But at the moment, the government and NGO’s have focused mainly on the physical welfare needs of the wounded military personnel only, while the mental wellbeing of their families who are victims of counter-insurgency operations have been overlooked. The study therefore examined the application of psychotherapy in the Nigerian Armed Forces. The researchers also discussed common psychotherapeutic techniques relevant to the treatment of military personnel and families with the need to adopt a preventive approach to mental health promotion.
Authors: Philemon A. Agashua, Jonathan I. Ugese, Funke T. Olofin
Department of Psychology Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna
Email: philagash@gmail.com Mobile number: +23408057972305
Abstract
The issue of mental health affects everyone, particularly wellness of life such as emotional stability and stress free among others. Contextually, most African countries are beleaguered by poverty, wars, terrorism, insecurity and superstition leading to emotional distress, trauma, malnutrition, substance abuse, and other psychological problems. Therefore, provision of psychotherapy and its importance cannot be overemphasized, as it is essential for promoting mental wellness in the face of accumulated tension, which if not taken care of would lead to many illnesses. Example at hand is the aftermath of the just concluded political election in Nigeria, which have left many vulnerable that include loss of loved ones amidst myriad of other psychological problems. Accordingly, this paper wishes to survey the numerous contributions psychotherapy would make towards the development of mental wellness in African, using Nigeria as a case study, particularly in the form of providing advocacy for relaxation and stress management. Hence, data collected from 10 counsellors-in-training would be used as evidence-base narratives to support integration of psycho-therapeutic intervention to daily experiences of life aimed at achieving greater wellness of life.