A Psychology of Indigenous Healing in Southern Africa

An analysis of KwaZulu-Natal clinical psychologists’ multicultural experience

In this article, perspectives of South African clinical psychologists (based in KwaZulu-Natal) regarding multicultural issues in clinical practice and training are presented. The discussion focuses on emergent themes from 13 qualitative semi-structured interviews. Themes from interviews were analysed using thematic analysis and techniques from a grounded theory approach. While the study focused on a number of contextual multicultural issues both in service delivery and in training, this article documents the experiences of clinical psychologists regarding multicultural challenges and concerns, as well as approaches and capacities used to improve service delivery in this area. These perspectives are important in the multicultural and multilingual South African context, where there is limited literature in this area as well as related aspects such as cultural competency. There are many different belief systems as well as historical and sociopolitical factors that may influence how clinicians and individuals presenting for treatment may understand their experience and symptoms. This article seeks to document some of the challenges this may present in terms of service delivery in this context. Understandings of the term cultural competence as well as suggestions (primarily as noted by participants) to address the gap between training, competencies, and the realities of service delivery are also presented. Questions and considerations for future research are also raised.

Still Standing Inside: A Local Idiom Related to Trauma among Namibian Speakers of Khoekhoegowab

Euro-centric psychiatric conceptualizations often ignore the interplay of local with universal factors in psychological suffering. Emic, locally focused perspectives can enrich etic knowledge to provide culturally sensitive care and to better elucidate the role of culture in mental illness. This study explored the idiom Tsûsa ǃNaeǃkhais xa hâǃnâ/mâǃnâ/ǂgâǃnâhe hâ (a terrible event has entered a person and remains standing inside), which was understood to relate to experiences of trauma and post-traumatic stress, among speakers of Khoekhoegowab, a southern-African click language. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 participants from six urban and rural communities in Namibia. Questions probed perceptions of the idiom in terms of etiology, course, and risk and resilience factors from a socio-ecological framework. Five key themes were identified using thematic analysis: origin in a shocking event; intrusive recurrence of memories, "it keeps on coming back"; the close interplay between mental and physical suffering; the importance of active engagement in healing through prayer and acceptance; and the role of the community in both alleviating and amplifying distress. Our findings highlight local norms and strategies for adaptive coping, and the benefits of exploring local idioms to elucidate the braiding together of universal and cultural elements in psychological distress.

Cross-cultural indigenous training: The South African experience

In this paper, the author explores the relevance of indigenous training from a cross-cultural perspective. We start by examining the broader context of traditional Western psychology and its relevance in a multicultural society. A brief description of the indigenous paradigm is followed by a discussion of differences between Western and indigenous psychology, and a proposal of cultural eclecticism as a potential frame for their integration. Next, we discuss the South African context in relation to comparative-cultural aspects of medical and psychological services.

 The author’s clinical experience informs her increased awareness of culturally inadequate service at the state hospital, developing curiosity about African indigenous healing, and subsequent encounters and collaboration with African traditional healers. Ultimately, the author develops culturally sensitive training that explores cultural biases and generates cross-cultural knowledge and competence.

 In conclusion, the author advocates that in the area of globalisation and multicultural societies, psychological training and clinical practice, should include dialogue and facilitate collaboration between Western and indigenous knowledge, hopefully leading to a more holistic and culturally inclusive service to a population of different backgrounds. Such collaboration and integration of Western and indigenous knowledge may be a source of professional stimulation as well as a benefit to health-care consumers.

Empirical and Heuristic Phenomenological Case Study of the HeartMath Global Coherence Initiative

Along with the creativity of vast technological advances, humanity’s endemic destructiveness continues. Planetary healing needs motivated this research. The aim was an empirical and heuristic phenomenological investigation into and an evaluation of the theoretical and technological implications of the HeartMath Global Coherence Initiative. The single case study, and limited amount of data, indicated the null hypothesis. Methodology included HeartMath Inner Balance tool and newly developed Global Coherence application (app). Data collection involved linked empirical measures and experiential journaling. Quantitative data analysis, which consisted of statistical analysis of correlations between six existing Global Coherence magnetometers and empirical measures of meditation records, from Inner Balance and Global coherence apps, respectively, yielded unexpected findings, both significant and insignificant, in the form of trends towards global and local group coherence, respectively. Qualitative findings essentially revealed variations on the, interrelated, consciousness themes of wholeness, holistic healing, energy healing and meditation. In addition to various limitations and implications, interpretation of integrative findings indicated theoretical and practical support for the HeartMath mission and vision of developing and promoting personal, social and global coherence.

The African Indigenous Lens of Understanding Spirituality: Reflection on Key Emerging Concepts from a Reviewed Literature

In this paper, we will present a reflection on reviewed literature on African indigenous understanding of spirituality, highlighting the influence of this concept on notions of the self, motivation and well-being. The indigenous understanding of spirituality is central to the understanding of the self as distinct, but positioned within the relational-collective self. This African indigenous perception of the self is grounded within the autonomous experience of the tenets of spirituality, which is explored in this paper through the lens of self-determination theory. The experience of autonomy, which is represented in this paper as choice and consent, competence and relatedness within spirituality, is considered as an intrinsic motivation factor for African indigenous communities to achieve well-being. Hence, we argue for the relevance of identifying and exploring ways that an understanding of the African indigenous spiritual belief systems, and the various ways that this understanding impacts on well-being for African indigenous communities, can be unearthed and scrutinized.

Black South African caregivers’ understanding and responses to their children with autism spectrum disorder symptoms: a qualitative study

The purpose of this study was to investigate Black South African caregivers’ understanding and approaches to securing a cure for their children with autistic spectrum disorder symptoms. Qualitative data were collected focusing on exploring caregivers’ narratives. A purposive sampling technique was used to draw study participants who were of Black South African background and had a child with a diagnosis of an autistic spectrum disorder. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data collected and to give analytical meaning to the narratives. The results yielded four dominant themes regarding the level of caregivers’ understanding of autistic spectrum disorder and the options they followed in searching for the cure of their children’s illness. The study drew attention to the feelings of frustration experienced by caregivers in their discovery that the use of both indigenous and Western approaches to autistic spectrum disorder symptoms yielded little benefits. Given these findings, a number of recommendations were made to improve policy and practice in the mental health treatment of children with autistic spectrum disorder symptoms among Black South African clients.

The Psychology and Content of Dreaming in Africa

As understood in mainstream Western psychology, people dream for themselves and are essentially self-contained in their overall mechanism of dreaming. This article argues that although this Eurocentric perspective on dreaming is largely universal and not to be ignored, it needs to be recognized alongside other dream perspectives. The article examines the concept of dreaming from an African perspective. Its aim is to demonstrate that dreaming from an African psychological perspective goes beyond the Eurocentric paradigm suggesting that in the African-centered paradigm, the individual can dream for others. In the African perspective, there, at times, occurs the phenomenon of triangulation in dreaming where dreams originate from another source to give messages to the individual for the benefit of others. The article presents three anecdotes and some resulting implications that highlight descriptive elements of African dream theory. A number of questions for further reflections and research emanating from the discussion are highlighted.

Mental Health in Namibia

Psychological distress is inherently constructed within contexts and the unique, cultural meaning systems that have developed to understand mental illness. Moreover, cultures naturally develop their own systems of healing, grounded in traditional practices. Western psychology and psychiatry have, through globalisation and colonial histories, imposed systems of mental health care and definitions of mental illness. In doing so, local understandings and ways of being regarding mental health have often been eclipsed. This is no less true in Namibia. However, much of the existing mental health literature from Namibia explores mental illness from a Western lens of psychopathology. This article discusses the relevant research about mental illness in Namibia and situates this within related literature from other Southern African countries. Several cultural factors across diverse groups in Namibia are important to more fully understand what mental illness and treatment are throughout this country. The cultural role of diverse conceptualisations of mental illness is discussed in order to explore potential areas of growth in Namibian mental health and intervention. The nature of traditional healing in other Southern African contexts is also addressed, given that although traditional healing exists in Namibia, researchers have not yet explored it within the context of psychological distress. Recommendations for mental health and psychological treatment in Namibia are discussed.

South African clinical psychology’s response to cultural diversity, globalisation and multiculturalism: a review

This article reviews responses of South African clinical psychologists to multicultural issues within an increasingly diverse and globalised context. Psychological perspectives on diversity, multiculturalism, and globalisation are presented initially as background to a review of multicultural and cross-cultural clinical psychological research conducted within the South African context. The discussion is located within the context of South African psychologists’ historical response to multicultural issues, within a unique socio-political situation. Implications for ongoing development of relevant clinical psychology services to address the diverse needs of all sectors of South African society are also discussed.

The role of rural universities in developing psychology in South Africa

This article discusses the role of rural universities in developing psychology in South Africa in relation to issues in the transformation from apartheid to democracy. Particular focus is on disadvantages, advantages, and unique opportunities. Special implications and applications include community psychology, indigenous healing, and multicultural counselling.

An overview of illness conceptualizations in African, Hindu, and Islamic traditions: towards cultural competence

Increasingly, research, teaching, and practice emphasize the need for cultural competency among healthcare practitioners. Most training programmes include modules on cultural competency based on a knowledge, skills, and awareness model. In line with the knowledge and awareness objectives of cultural competency, this article focuses on the conceptualization of illness from an Islamic, Hindu, and African perspective. It discusses spiritual illness, a category of illness recognized in all three traditions but marginalized in mainstream literature. This marginalization has given rise to debates as to whether a separate Islamic psychology, a Hindu psychology, African psychology (or other Psychology) should exist. This article explores these areas briefly concluding with arguments on the need for current teaching, research, and practice to take more cognizance of cultural views of illness.