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Healing Horizons: A South African Odyssey

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This unique professional development program offers psychologists and therapists an immersive experience in South Africa, blending cultural exploration, indigenous healing practices, and Jungian psychology. The tour is designed to enhance participants' understanding of both external African cultural contexts and the internal world of therapists engaged in optimising their effectiveness as effective practitioners.

 

Email: [email protected] for a detailed information package

Background

In many African cultural contexts, becoming a healer is not a choice but a calling, often dictated by ancestors. This journey begins with a crisis, known as "thwasa" among the Xhosa, leading to a long apprenticeship with an indigenous healer. During this time, the apprentice engages in rituals, shares and interprets dreams, and participates in nightly and early morning dance routines where insights are exchanged. They also learn diagnostic skills (vumisa), where the body reveals knowledge leading to healing, akin to embodied transference.

Similarly, in the psychodynamic world, therapists often have personal histories that guide their professional paths, encapsulated in the notion of "vocation" (vocāre, meaning "to call") and the Jungian archetype of the wounded healer.

 

This Professional Development Program aims to provide insights from both indigenous healing practices and Jungian Depth psychology. Participants will gain skills to integrate these practices into their work, enhancing their understanding of the therapeutic relationship, the unconscious, and embodied countertransference, ultimately informing their clinical practice.

Key Components:

The program offers the following:

  1. Cultural Immersion and Indigenous healing:
  • Explore South African landscapes and cultural heritage
  • Engage with indigenous healers and traditional healing practices
  • Understand local idioms of distress and healing approaches
  • Study the "calling" of healers in African cultures (e.g., thwasa among the Xhosa)
  • Learn about diagnostic skills (vumisa) and embodied knowledge in traditional healing

 

  1. Jungian Psychology Focus:
  • Seminars on Carl Jung's theories and their applications
  • Exploration of archetypes, myths, and dreams
  • Collaboration with experts from the Jung Society, Cape Town, Southern Africa

  1. Personal and Professional Growth:
  • Experiential learning through Holotropic Breathwork, active imagination, writing, and dream work
  • Reflection on the concept of individuation in personal and professional contexts
  • Opportunities for participants to present papers and lead discussions

 

  1. Therapeutic Practice Enhancement:
  • Gain insights into the therapeutic relationship and unconscious processes
  • Develop skills in embodied countertransference
  • Apply learnings to contemporary psychotherapy practice

  1. Professional Development Credits:
  • Align with continuing professional development (CPD) requirements

 

The professional development program will be led by guides with expertise in psychology, psychotherapy, and local culture. This program offers a transformative journey that bridges traditional wisdom with modern therapeutic approaches. Participants will gain valuable insights to inform their clinical practice while experiencing personal growth and cultural enrichment.

See Brochure for more details

Inclusions:

  • 4 Days Accommodation at Bulungula Lodge in Transkei
  • 8 Days Accommodation in Cape Town
  • All Airport transfers, including Transport to the Winelands and Stellenbosch on Leisure day in Cape Town
  • Education Sessions, Professional Development and Workshops led by World Class Scholars, Researchers and Clinicians in Contemporary Psychology, Jungian Analysis and Indigenous Healing Practices.
  • Guides and Traditional Healers Fees in Transkei
  • Breakfast and Lunch for 7 days in Cape Town. Self Catering. Food will be supplied for breakfast, lunch and snacks at the accommodation from the 7th of April until the 12th of April

Exclusions:

  • Accommodation in Johannesburg on the 29th of March and MPonga Game Resort on the 4th of April
  • All Flights: including International and Domestic Flights within South Africa.
  • Entrance Fees to Game Parks, Wineries and Tours
  • Gratuities
  • Meals for the 5 nights in the Transkie Region: including Bulungula Lodge and MPonga Private Game Resort
  • Meals (Evening) in Cape Town.
  • Restaurants, Cafes, Wineries - Including Alcohol
Interest
  • Presenter: Adj. Professor Robert Schweitzer
  • Presenter: Mercy H Nqandeka
  • Presenter: Professor Chris Stones
  • Presenter: Dave Misso
  • Presenters: Renee Ramsden and Jeffrey Rink

Adj. Professor Robert Schweitzer is a distinguished academic, researcher, and clinician at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Australia. He holds the position of Adjunct Professor in the School of Psychology and Counselling. Prof. Schweitzer completed his postgraduate training in South Africa, where he worked closely with indigenous healers and developed an understanding of their practices, which has continued to evolve as his learning in contemporary models of psychotherapy has evolved.   Since moving to Australia, he played a pivotal role in establishing the clinical psychology program at QUT, demonstrating his commitment to advancing the field of psychology education. His research interests span a wide range of areas within clinical psychology, including phenomenological approaches, qualitative and quantitative methodologies, psychotherapy process and outcome studies.

Throughout his career, Prof. Schweitzer has made significant contributions to the field of psychology through his research, publications, and mentorship of students. His work continues to influence the development of clinical psychology practice and education in Australia and beyond.

Mercy H Nqandeka: Mercy is a PhD Candidate at Stellenbosch University. Hombakazi Mercy Nqandeka is an agriculturalist and entrepreneur dedicated to community empowerment and cultural preservation. She holds a BSc in Crop and Soil Science and an Honours in Soil Science from the University of Fort Hare, South Africa, along with dual master's degrees from the National University of Ireland and SupAgro in France. Facing employment challenges, she returned to her village in 2019 and founded Hombacrafts in 2020, a Xhosa beading company that preserves traditional crafts and provides economic opportunities. A prolific author, her works celebrate Xhosa culture, and her latest book, "Don’t Upset ooMalume: A Guide to Stepping Up Your Xhosa Game," was published in 2022. Currently pursuing a PhD in Health Sciences at Stellenbosch University, she researches indigenous health systems. Additionally, she shares her expertise internationally, having lectured at Utrecht College University in 2023. Hombakazi's efforts have made her a beacon of hope and inspiration for her community and beyond.

Prof Chris Stones: Chris was formerly professor of Psychology and Head of Department at Rhodes University and later at the University of Johannesburg.  His areas of focus include adolescent, adult and couples’ psychotherapy, corporate-based consulting, medico-legal and forensic psychology - which includes psychological profiling.

Dave is a Counselling Psychologist with over 40 years of clinical experience and has a deep commitment to integrating innovative therapeutic models
into practice. As a PhD candidate, his research focuses on incorporating metacognitive strategies into treatment interventions for men who use
domestic violence, offering new insights into improving client engagement and treatment outcomes. Dave has collaborated with leading figures in
various therapeutic disciplines, including narrative therapy, solution- focused therapy, and sensorimotor psychotherapy.

He has collaborated and co-authored papers with Dr Giancarlo Dimaggio, Professor Robert Schweitzer and colleagues and the late Prof. Paul Lysaker, contributing
significantly to the evolving field of metacognition in psychotherapy.

Renee has been working in private practice in Cape Town for 40 years. She is a founder member of the Southern African Association for Jungian Analysts (SAAJA) and a training analyst. She specialises in dream-analysis and has been teaching alchemy and psychology as presented by C.G. Jung to SAAJA candidates, the wider professional group and interested members of the public for 25 years. She has a longstanding interest in shamanism, ancient goddess cultures and their relevance for the feminine in our current world. She is currently serving on SAAJA’s Executive Committee as President. She is also co-facilitator of SAAJA’s Jung and Film events.

 

Jeffrey has been facilitating Ecopsychology retreats since 1998, which affords him the opportunity to integrate his interest in the natural environment and traditional African culture with his profession as a psychologist. Jeffrey has presented papers on Clinical Hypnosis and Ecopsychology at professional conferences, appeared on radio and television shows, and given many public talks on these topics.

www.ecopsychologyafrica.com

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