HCC1128 Counselling Spiritual Conflicts in the African Context

This course explores the intersection of African Traditional Religion (ATR), Christianity, and spiritual conflict in the African context. You will examine ATR’s influence on life and spirituality, engage real-life stories of spiritual and psychological conflict, and explore the impact of colonialism, prosperity teachings, and “church hurt.” Using the 5E Model of Christian Counselling, you will develop culturally-sensitive, Christ-centred approaches to healing that affirm dignity and spiritual identity. The course empowers you to offer empathetic, biblically-grounded care that addresses both ATR pressures and modern spiritual wounds, promoting holistic healing through a Spirit-led counselling practice.

By the end of this course you should be able to:

• Identify and explain foundational beliefs and practices within African Traditional Religions (ATRS's), focussing on the relationship between spiritual, community, and daily life in African contexts.
• Classify and discuss various types of spiritual conflicts that have their roots in ATR, summarising their psychological, cultural, and social impacts on individuals and communities.
• Identify various forms of spiritual conflicts in, and because of, the church in African contexts.
• Explain and illustrate the integration of Christian counselling principles with cultural sensitivity, highlighting approaches for addressing spiritual conflicts involving ATR beliefs and 'church hurts' within a Christian framework—specifically the 5E Model of Christian counselling.

You will be required to purchase the following textbook in order to complete all counselling courses:

• Collins, G. 2007. Christian Counseling - a Comprehensive Guide (Third Edition). Thomas Nelson.