Loss and grief in African families : a narrative pastoral counseling approach

Abstract

This research case was divided into five facets (amacala) and was carried out in Mthatha at the Eastern Cape Province and in the University of Pretoria in Gauteng Province. The first phase of this project was aimed at introducing a general introductory chapter to this study, the second phase was a research methodology, the third phase was literature review of the related publications, the fourth phase was the pastoral therapeutic process and interviews, the fifth phase was the final phase that cycled off this dissertation with the summary of findings and the conclusions of the research project with recommendations. The uniting factor to help these weak three grouping families would be the theocentric family based on Trinitarian unconditional love covenant, grace, empowering and intimacy. The pastoral care narrative counseling should be based on narrative therapy supported by the Word of God basically in Acts 4.10&12, John 1: 12-13. The marriage question seemed to be source or relationship counselling which also needed theocentric approach to return to family origin of God. The Eurocentric, Africentric and Asiacentric approaches are not the answers to the infected and affected African families experiencing loss and grief and both European and Asian families have the same origin as that of African family, the theocentric family of God. This need further investigate especially to the extended family in Africa and Asia and Asiatic family on Asiatic side. Polygamy also would need much attention since it could be a source of traumatic event to both African and Asian families. Church involvement to counselling was not yet clear how parishioners were trained to help the pastor in the therapeutic activities.