The Roles of Psychotherapy in Collective Trauma Recovery and Social Healing in Africa

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

This study explores the role of psychotherapy in addressing collective trauma and fostering social healing within African societies affected by historical and contemporary violence, displacement, and social disruption. Adopting a qualitative research design, the study utilizes secondary data analysis drawn from peer-reviewed journals, policy documents, and case studies focusing on post-conflict mental health interventions across Africa. Guided by trauma theory, psychosocial models, and indigenous African healing frameworks, the study examines how psychotherapy can be adapted to promote both individual recovery and community resilience. Findings reveal that psychotherapy contributes significantly to collective trauma recovery by facilitating narrative reconstruction, emotional expression, and meaning-making among survivors. When integrated with culturally grounded practices such as communal dialogue, spiritual rituals, and the Ubuntu philosophy psychotherapy enhances social cohesion and reconciliation. However, the dominance of Western therapeutic models often limits relevance and accessibility in African contexts, highlighting the need for culturally responsive, community-based adaptations. The study concludes that psychotherapy, when contextualized within African worldviews and social systems, holds transformative potential for both personal and collective healing. It recommends the development of hybrid therapeutic frameworks that combine evidence-based psychological methods with indigenous healing practices. Additionally, governments and mental health institutions should invest in capacity building for culturally competent therapists and promote interdisciplinary collaboration between psychology, anthropology, and peacebuilding fields.