Page 191 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 8

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illness and AIDS must be faced directly rather After discussing a bit more detailed about coun-
than denied, and responded to compassionately selling depressed persons, and about HIV and
rather than with punishment in Christian coun- AIDS counselling and prevention, the chapter
selling (p. 244). ends with four conclusions for the Christian
counsellor:
What compassionate caring means, is illu- Avoid quick fixes to problems that traverse ge-
strated and reflected by telling about Jamba, nerations and crisscross educational training
a young man with anxiety problems. He has a systems – discern which indigenous practices,
life story with various stress factors, including methodologies, or contemporary psychological
a frightening treatment by a traditional healer. perspectives will be helpful!
From both, a traditional African and a Christi-
an perspective, one might call him possessed. Be committed to study, self-improvement, and
But is this the only perspective? “In the situation professional excellence!
of people like Jamba, there is much controver-
sy as to the cause of their suffering, as well as Understand the dynamics that underlie sym-
about appropriate treatment. Christian counsel- ptoms of mental illness in Africa, get a holistic
lors cannot evade this debate. Our deliberation view!
centres on four aspects: psychological, physical,
theological, and demonic.” (p. 248) Emphasize the development of holistic approa-
ches to the practice of psychotherapy! “We need
On the whole, mental disorders are less frequent a balance that considers the wealth of African
than in the West, especially in rural regions of indigenous cultures together with knowledge
Africa, where many mentally ill live as part of from Western psychologies all tested by, and
their group and get support. AIDS is a much founded on, solid biblical truth. Such an ap-
bigger problem. proach will bring not only healing but also
transformational change to Africa.” (p. 272)
For diagnosis one cannot just follow the DS-
MIV-TR. In African Indigenous Christian Reading this book does not already provide
Counselling they assume that counsellors first training in Christian counselling. But learning
examine appropriate cultural means of diagno- about an African perspective widens my under-
sis and healing before patients present them- standing and encourages me to look for my own
selves for psychiatric or psychological help (p. “indigenous” values and resources, for a sound
253). Much help goes on the grassroots level, the biblical and God-centered approach. And I get
value of local, community-based diagnoses and many basics for a good counselling training
interventions must be recognized and included program.
into healing (on the family or community level).

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