Page 71 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 8

Christian Psychology alive

Bèné Katabua

Treating Missionary Bèné Katabua
is an Educatio-
Kids with Psychological nal Psychologist
and Lecturer in
Challenges Johannesburg.
She is passionate
La pratique de la psychothérapie reste intéres- about mental-
sante en raison de la diversité des phénomènes health service de-
qui nous sommes exposés, compte tenu du ca- livery, and is cur-
ractère évolutif de l‘homme. rently in a space
Cela signifie que, comme la pratique des psy- where she can
chologues, nous pouvons traiter les gens avec align her faith with her practice at the
les mêmes Diagnostics, mais avoir adapté nos Institute of Christian Psychology. Practi-
approches basées sur le contexte particulier. cing within a Christian Psychology frame-
Une fois que l‘aspect de la foi est inclus, il ouvre work, she is able to work with people past
d‘avantage les possibilités de la façon d‘adapter the point of their psyche and also explore
notre traitement. Il ajoute également des dé- spiritual challenges where necessary. She
tails entourant le genre de personnes des diffi- has several years’ experience working with
cultés qui peuvent être recouvertes. Cet article children from a variety of backgrounds, gi-
est à traiter les enfants des missionnaires ayant ven the diverse nature of South Africa. This
des difficultés psychologiques et implique aus- is something, which intrigues her, as it per-
si bien les professionnels et les parents, tel qu‘il mits her to find creative ways to help those
a appliqué une approche holistique. L‘auteur in need. Bene is from the Democratic Re-
commence être donnant un bref aperçu dans les public of Congo and her home language is
phénomènes d’enfants de troisième culture ; qui French.
comprend les enfants missionnaires. bkatabua@icp.org.za
Certains problèmes communs au sein de ce
groupe sont ensuite discutés, avant d‘énumérer
les moyens dans lesquels les professionnels et
les parents peuvent intervenir. L‘article conclut schools, and spend time on military camps, etc.
en illustrant les défis communs auxquels font as opposed to participating in the cultural life-
face les enfants missionnaires, comme cela a été style of the natives. One would think that this
remarqué dans la pratique. would give the MK an edge above the rest, as
s/he should have an affinity for languages and
Missionary Kids form part of a broader group of an ability to adjust easily to a new situation. In-
internationally mobile children, who common- terestingly, this is not a universal truth (Davis,
ly go by the term “Third Culture Kids”. A Third Suarez, Crawford, & Rehfuss, 2013).
Culture Kid (TCK) is a child who has spent the
majority of their developmental years in a cul- There has been a surge of interest into MKs and
ture outside of their parents’. This group com- the complexities they face, due to their constant
prises of a) children of international business geographical displacements. This attention calls
people, b) children of diplomats, c) children of for interventions to be put in place for their
military personnel, and d) children of missio- reentry into their parents’ home country, as well
naries (Hervey, 2009). What distinguishes MKs as for their psychological well-being (Adams,
from the other sub-group denominations is Shaver, & White, 2003; Bikos, et al., 2009; Davis,
how much they immerse themselves into their et al., 2010; Kimber, 2012; Klemens & Bikos,
environments, given the nature of their parents’ 2009). Davis et al. (2013) explain that this mo-
work (Kimber, 2012). Whereas, the other bility is not only followed by the ability to easily
groups are more likely to attend international make friends and adapt socially. It also leads the

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