Page 209 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 5

Trauma Recovery Training at a Seminary? Introducing Global Trauma Recovery Institute

Gladys Mwiti (Kenya)
Comment

to „Telling Trauma Stories: What Helps, What Hurts“

The human longing for connecting with hope
and life undergirds the change brought about by
psychotherapy. However, the question especially
in trauma therapy is: Whose story is it anyway?
Does the therapist assume and ascribe sym-
ptoms, present or not, based on some theore-
tical framework? Trauma specialists know that
survivors’ symptoms are as unique as individual
differences: personality, past trauma events, co-
ping skills, social connections, spirituality and
genetic dispositions. In this regard, therapists
cannot assume that all trauma survivors will
exhibit similar symptoms, if any; and not eve-
ryone who experiences a traumatic event will
indicate symptoms of PTSD. And then, PTSD
symptoms do not manifest until weeks after the Gladys K. Mwiti, PhD, Consulting Cli-
event. nical Psychologist, is founder and CEO,
Oasis Africa Center for Transformatio-
Monroe discusses studies by Pham, Weinstein nal Psychology and Trauma Expertise.
and Longman (2004) that indicated that only She is Chair, Kenya Psychological Asso-
24% PTSD diagnosis in Rwanda post 1994 ge- ciation; Interim Chair, Kenya Society for
nocide. The discussion does not appreciate the Traumatic Stress Studies; member, Board
fact that from 1995 onwards, massive work was of Directors, International Society for
done in trauma counseling and reconciliati- Traumatic Stress Studies; and member,
on in that nation. For example, for lack of re- Lausanne Congress for World Evangeli-
sources, my organization, Oasis Africa Center zation Care & Counsel as Mission Global
for Transformational Psychology and Trauma Leadership Team. Dr. Mwiti, pioneer for
Expertise has never been able to document the transformational and integrative psycho-
trauma work we did in Rwanda from 1995 to logy in Kenya desires that the Church be
1998. Using Oasis Africa’s Ripple Effect ® Model, reminded that in Christ and among us,
over those four years, we trained over 1,000 lay we have all the resources we need for the
trauma counselors in an intervention that hel- healing and transformation of the Na-
ped them address their own trauma and then tions beginning with the household of
receive skills to train other helpers and coun- faith.
sel survivors. To this day, the Rwandan people
themselves continue using this training of trai-
ners model as well as our materials to train and The caution by Monroe that therapists should
counsel one another. I am sure that if we were to not “jump right to the processing of the trauma
follow up the impact of such trauma initiatives details” is valid. The Kenya Psychological Asso-
in Rwanda, the outcomes would be remarkable. ciation was the first responder to the September
This is to say that the 2004 findings that “only 21, 2013 Nairobi Westgate Mall terror attack.
24% PTSD diagnosis in Rwanda post 1994 ge- In the first two days of the attack, we brought
nocide” does not necessarily reflect the healing together over 400 counselors and psychologists
and posttraumatic growth that has taken place and began training on Psychological First Aid
post genocide. (PFA). I serve on the Board of Directors for the

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