Psychological Consultations in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Practice and Evolution

Context: The work retraces the painful journey of this science, the struggles of the precursors and the happy outcome thanks to the association of practicing psychologists, united within the National Union of Clinical Psychologists, on the other hand. This practice, it should be noted, remained for a long time in the scientific ghetto in the DRC, thus making the masters of yesterday as the holders of a scientific approach very inaccessible to their successors. Which earned them attributions linked to mystical-religious considerations.

Objectives of the work: To constitute a capacity building tool and to offer an orientation, in the discipline, to students and other scientists who are interested in psychological consultations on the one hand, and to describe the progression curve of the activity in the framework of psychological practice.

The culture of psychological consultations in the DRC dates back to the second half of the 20th century by university professors, notably those from the University of Kisangani who migrated to the University of Kinshasa on the one hand, and those from the Institute National Pedagogical on the other hand. During this period until the 1990s, psychological services were not known to the public nor were they structured. Since 2000 to the present day, the need for psychological interventions has increased by 85%, in the context of the mental health of the population, especially with the social intrusion of pandemics and the repeated wars in the East of the country.

Conclusion: Psychological consultations, through their practice, help to understand the client’s real psychological experience and ensure efficient psychotherapeutic support or treatment.

Prof. Ruth Bukabau

Dr Ruth Bukabau Babuya is a professor and clinical psychologist at the University of Kinshasa, where she serves in the departments of psychology, demography, and criminology. She also teaches at the Evangelical University of Bukavu. Her research focuses on the psychopathology of children, adolescents, and women, and she is a specialized educator for children with autism. In addition to her academic work, Dr Bukabau is a consultant at the Fistula Clinic of Saint Joseph Hospital and the Congolese Center for Children and Families (CCEF). She is a member of various professional organizations, including the Association of Urologists of Congo, the International Association for Research in Educational Science (AFIRSE), and the National Union of Clinical Psychologists of Congo (UNPC), where she also serves as treasurer.

Common sense or nonsense? Ideas that have held back and advanced the treatment of OCD

OCD is a chronic and disabling condition which was once thought untreatable. The first seeds of optimism regarding OCD treatment emerged from South Africa after the second world war. Since then, the development of psychological and psychiatric treatments for OCD has been characterised by a series of dead ends, and pivotal turning points.

This address will provide a brief retrospective overview of some of these ideas, the people behind them, and their links to South African psychologists and psychiatrists. The crucial role of intrusive thoughts and safety-seeking behaviours in the development and maintenance of OCD will be discussed. Factors which negatively impact on the effective delivery of psychological treatments for OCD, including pop psychology, the invalidity of traditional CBT techniques when applied to OCD, therapist drift, and therapist beliefs will be reviewed. This presentation will then consider some of the possible broader implications for the future development of our field.

Dr Blake Stobie

I trained at UN, Pietermaritzburg. I am the Director of the Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma at the Maudsley Hospital, London, and the private practice London Psychologist. I have written book chapters and journal articles, collaborated on a video game on OCD based on a graphic novel, appeared in TV documentaries on anxiety treatments, and a TedX talk. I manage national clinics to treat treatment-resistant OCD, and UK terror attack victims.

Religious Orientation and Self Esteem as Predictors of Subjective Happiness and Prosocial Behaviour among a Sample of Undergraduates

Prosocial behavior and subjective happiness are important social and cognitive lubricants that help students to cope and maintain focus in the midst of social, economic, and academic challenges in order to attain success. However, the interplay of religious orientation and self-esteem on prosocial behavior and subjective happiness has been less considered in literature, especially among the population of university undergraduates. Thus, this study examined the predictors of religious orientation and self-esteem on subjective happiness and prosocial behavior among a sample of undergraduates. Using purposive and convenience sampling techniques, 250 undergraduates were selected. The sample comprised of male=110 and female= 140 aged between 17 – 32 years (Mean =20.82; SD = 2.70). The participants responded to measures on prosocial behavior, subjective happiness, religious orientation and self-esteem. Two hypotheses were formulated and tested with Multiple Regression Analysis.

The findings showed that religious orientation [r (2,247) β= .24, p<.01] and self-esteem [r (2,247) β= .28, p<.01] had significant independent and joint [F(2, 247) =18.80, p <.01] prediction on prosocial behavior. Similarly, the findings revealed a significant independent predictions of religious orientation [r (2,247) β= .23, p<.01], and self-esteem [r (2,247) β= .29, p<.01] on subjective happiness. Also, the joint prediction of religious orientation and self-esteem on subjective happiness were significant [F (2, 247) =18.91, p <.01].

Based on these findings, the study therefore recommends that parents must play a significant role to ensure that religious orientations on rendering help to others are taught in their daily devotions to their children.

Keywords: Prosocial behavior, subjective happiness, religious orientation and self-esteem.

Prof. Olukayode Afolabi

I have B.Sc, M.Sc, & Ph.D DEGREES in Psychology from Nigeria’s premier University of Ibadan and have been a University Lecturer in the last 24 years.

Based on my love and dedication to the Nigerian Psychological Association, in 2012, I was elected the Editor-in-Chief of the Association’s journals (three in all). By the second year, another journal, Nigerian Psychological Research was added. These journals were published annually for the five years that I served as the Editor-in-Chief. No single volume/edition was omitted.

During the five-year period (2012-2017) and based on my capabilities and dedication to duty, I was, in addition, (2013), made the South West Coordinator of the Association. At the period as well, I was able to successfully organise annual zonal conferences. The conferences were well-attended.

As I completed my tenure as both the Editor-in-Chief and the South West Coordinator (in 2017), I was elected as the Vice President of the Association for four years (two terms). During the period, I was in charge of membership mobilization and registration as well as being in charge of the State Chapters. This tenure was completed in 2021

In 2020, I became the President-Elect (for one year). Thus, in 2021, I was sworn-in as the President of the Association for two years. I was re-elected in 2023. Joyfully, between the last three years and now, I have led major reformations in the leadership of psychology in Nigeria that have led to the integration of psychology in the Nigerian Public Service. In conjunction with the National Universities Commission, the psychology curriculum in Nigerian Universities have been successfully reviewed in line with the best global practices. This implied that psychology graduates from Nigeria can successfully compete with their counterpart worldwide. We have also mentored emerging scholars across Nigeria to serve appropriate manpower needs.

Psychology in DR Congo, from 1954 to the present days

From 1954 to 2024, 70 years of existence of Lovanium, a pioneering university in the DRC under the colonial yoke, within Faculty Institute of Psychology and Pedagogy attached to the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters.

Several Belgian studies of the period reveal colonial objectives and interests, characterized by intentional biases of the authors (Maistriaux, d’Ombredane).  The Institute of Psychology and Pedagogy of Lovanium had favored studies of measurement and appreciation of the intelligence of the Congolese, no significant difference with the white man.

In 2002, the clinical psychology option appeared at the University of Kinshasa, 48 years after work and school psychology options. Already in 1983, six clinical psychologists from the CNPP and seven others created the Association of Clinical Psychologists of Zaire (UPCZ).  The term “UNION” symbolizing the struggle of a profession.

In 2003 creation of the profession of clinical psychologist, publication Official Journal/RDC n°7 and 8/2004. All these official documents make the UNPC the first association of officially recognized psychologists in the country.

In 2017 UNPC joined PAPU (Pan-African Union of Psychologists). In 2019 UNPC and PAPU are organizing an international conference in Kinshasa. A member of the UNPC sits on the executive committee of PAPU.

Prof. Olea Balayulu

Oléa Balayulu Makila is a PhD from the University of Bourgogne Franche Comté in France, currently Professor of Clinical Psychology and Psychopathology at the University of Kinshasa and visiting professor at several other universities in the DRC. He is also an Expert in the National Mental Health Program at the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Prevention (MSPHP), National President of the National Union of Clinical Psychologists.

Call for increased psychometric practice in Africa

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior, hence psychologists are actively involved in the study and understanding of mental processes, brain functions, and behavior. By inference, the science of psychology centers on psychometrics, which is the measurement or quantification of behavioral properties or constructs. While it is much easier to understand and appreciate the measurement of physical properties, it is a herculean task quantifying human behavior; because of its complexity and dynamism. Considering the challenges faced by most nations in Africa, especially in terms of behavioral dispositions to corruption, terrorism, cultism, banditry, inter-ethnic, communal and religious conflicts, and the like; the call for more scientific approach to understanding the behaviors of Africans would require the use of home-made psychological tests. In an environment where African scholars rely more on foreign psychological tests, the practice of the profession becomes limited in effectively capturing the behavior of Africans. Trying to understand how Africans behave, why they behave the way they do, prediction and modification of their behaviors is a great challenge for the psychologists. There is therefore a call for conscious intensive advocacy, training and practice in the field of psychometrics.

Psychologists in Africa are more exposed to foreign developed and standardized psychological tests than locally manufactured tests. Consequently, students in higher institutions tend more to studying variables that these tests capture, in the African environment, even when their prevalence may be low. Due to limitedness in tests to capture the unique behavioral problems in Africa, many pertinent “African behavioral problems” are left unstudied. Practitioners in the field also find it difficult to address some behavioral issues due to unavailability of psychological tests. It is on this note that this paper would promote the importance of locally developed psychological tests that would readily capture prevalent behaviors in African, and outline some tips on how to develop and validate psychological tests for African use.

Prof. Benjamin Ehigie

Professor Osayawe Bejamin Ehigie has a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Psychology, from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1982-86), Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in Industrial and Organisational Psychology, from the University of Ibadan (1987-1988); Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) Degree from the University of Ibadan (1988-1993). Professor Ehigie received the University of Nigeria Bursary Award for academic excellence during his first degree, made the best result in his M.Sc. class and was offered a lecturing job in the University of Ibadan. He passed through the academic ranks and was promoted to the rank of full Professor in 2006.

Professor Ehigie has served the University of Ibadan as a Faculty Sub-Dean (Postgraduate), Acting Head and substantive Head of Psychology Department, Editor and Sub-editor of several journals, Foundation National Coordinator and President of the Nigerian Association of Industrial and Organisational Psychologists (NAIOP), a Fellow of the Nigerian Psychological Association (NPA), a Fellow of NAIOP, a Certified Management Consultant, a Professor of Industrial and Organisational Psychology, with research specialization in Psychometrics and Consumer Psychology.  He is the Dean, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Ibadan. He is a recipient of several research grants and was awarded the Visiting International Scholar position at Dickinson College, Pennslyvania, USA, (2004-2005). He is a Visiting Professor, and external examiner to several universities in Nigeria He teaches in the University of Ibadan School of Business, a consultant to the University of Ibadan Consultancy Services, International Psychometric Centre, and some other institutions.