Could use of spirituality and faith in counselling unlock the hope for the true healing and wholeness for victims of violence?
A victim’s journey of self-reconciliation is one that shouldn’t be walked alone. With the guidance of psychologists and spirituality techniques, counselling facilities are empowering women and reaffirming their dignity through spiritual wholeness and true healing.
Advanced Circle Keeper, therapist and co-founder of Indi Afrique Merrishia Singh-Naicker incorporates an indigenous therapy technique that uses spiritual tools for all cultures.
Member of the Parish Pastoral Council Mahadi Bhuthelezi and her husband use scripture and real-life experiences to teach and counsel couples in marriage.
“We offer pre and post marriage counselling modules starting with culture shock to negotiating the relationship; intimacy in marriage, who is perfect, becoming the visible sign, facing reality to collective wisdom.”
Nicole Dickson, founder of Institute for Creative Conversation believes that pastoral therapy should liberate and nurture wholeness centred in spirit.
“The practice may include prayer, and exploring how the person sees God as being present to them during this time. We often converse about scripture with regards to our understanding of the human relationship”
Singh-Naicker believes that the victim does not have to be of Christian faith to benefit from spiritual-based counselling.
“We choose to offer a space that promotes healing for people regardless of religious affiliations or any other dividing factor. Therefore we counsel in a way that will respect and embrace diversity”.
Dickson shares a similar sentiment as she believes that the practice should honour inclusivity.
“It is important for us to establish an ethical way of working with anyone experiencing gender based violence regardless of faith”.
Bhuthelezi believes that it is the spirit of forgiveness and openness that have begun in the healing of hurting marriages. “Because we are in the Marriage and Family Ministry, our success stories have been of couples being able to openly share their deepest and innermost fears, secrets, and concerns while also finding a way to forgive each other”.
Dickson believes that what defines a success story is the when there is a sparkling moment for a woman.
“If there is a sparkling moment in which she is able to recognise her experience as abuse or discovering for herself that she is not responsible for the abuse by another. This shift in thinking starts to invite the possibility of an alternative story and empowering each woman to make a choice”.
Singh-Naicker believes the success stories have a positive ripple effect through the community.
“We witnessed women taking back their power, acknowledging their worth and empowering themselves by making choices that benefit them and their families, and their relationships and organisations becoming more just and equitable,” Singh-Naicker said.
The contact numbers of the counselling organisations above are as follows:
- Institute for Creative Conversation (0630905093, www.i4cc.co.za)
- indi Afrique training and development (072 246 010, www.indiafrique.yolasite.com)
- Relationship and Marriage Wellness Coaches (083 992 0387, Marriagerelationships7@gmail.com)
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