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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Psychological counselling and indigenous African knowledge systems in South African context
Author:Vogel, H.M.
Year:2009
Periodical:Indilinga: African Journal of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (ISSN 1683-0296)
Volume:8
Issue:2
Pages:175-188
Language:English
Geographic term:South Africa
Subjects:traditional medicine
counselling
Abstract:Psychological counselling relates to basic humanity and universal values such as the regard for human dignity, healthy socialization, and emotional health. Counselling individuals who experience emotional or relational problems is a function of the helping and health care professions. Effective counselling should provide appropriate help to people living in a contemporary and diverse society, such as South Africa. Traumatic experiences, bereavement, depression, violence and the traumatic aftermath of criminal activities are all part of the emotional turmoil experienced by many South Africans and their families. Key questions are: do Western-oriented counselling practices have a role in African-oriented settings? How effectively are counsellors who have been trained in Western-oriented counselling practices equipped to serve the diverse South African population? This article discusses selected Western approaches in the light of a discussion of indigenous African knowledge systems; suggests nodes of correspondence between the two systems of thought; and makes recommendations to promote the training of culturally sensitive counsellors. Bibliogr., sum. [Journal abstract]
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