Abstract
Despite its successes in the United States and Europe, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has a short history in South Africa. Local cultural realities and social conditions have been cited as obstacles to the implementation of CBT at community health centres. Yet, CBT's successes in ameliorating a variety of psychological conditions, including symptoms of PTSD, necessitate examination of its relevance and applicability in South African communities. The present study reports on counsellors' attitudes and opinions to CBT for the treatment of psychological trauma. We presented a two-day workshop on CBT and assessed counsellors' opinions and attitudes prior to and following the workshop. Results are discussed in the context of the high rate of traumatic events that occur in South African communities.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Beck, A.T. (1976). Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. NewYork: International Universities Press.
Boudewyns, P. A., & Hyer, L. (1990). Physiological response to combat memories and preliminary treatment outcome in Vietnam veterans: PTSD patients treated with direct therapeutic exposure. Behavior Therapy, 21, 63–87.
Bowley, D. M., Khavandi, A., Boffard, K. D., Macnab, C., Eales, J., Vellema, J., et al. (2002). The malignant epidemic: Changing patterns of trauma. South African Medical Journal, 92, 798–802.
Carey, P. D., Stein, D. J., Zungu-Dirwayi, N., & Seedat, S. (2003). Trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder in an urban Xhosa primary care population: Prevalence, comorbidity, and service usepatterns. Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases, 191, 230–236.
Cooper, N. A., & Clum, G. A. (1989). Imaginal flooding as a supplementary treatment for PTSD in combat veterans: A controlled study. Behavior Therapy, 3, 381–391.
Foa, E. B., Dancu, C. V., Hembree, E. A., Jaycox, L. H., Meadows, E. A., & Street, G. P. (1999). A comparison of exposure therapy, stress inoculation training, and their combination for reducing posttraumatic stress disorder in female assault victims. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 67(2), 194–200.
Foa, E. B., Hembree, E. A., & Dancu, C. V. (1999). Prolonged Exposure (PE) Manual (Rev. Version). Unpublished manuscruipt.
Foa, E. B., & Kozak, M. J. (1986). Emotional processing of fear: Exposure to corrective information. Psychological Bulletin, 99, 20–35.
Foa, E. B., & Meadows, E. A. (1997). Psychosocial treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder: A critical review. Annual Review of Psychology, 48, 449–480.
Foa, E. B., & Riggs, D. S. (1993). Posttraumatic stress disorder in rape victims. In R. Oldham, M. B.Riba, & A. Tasman (Eds.), American Psychiatric Press review of psychiatry (Vol. 12).Washington,DC: American Psychiatric Press.
Foa, E. B., & Riggs, D. S. (2001). Brief Recovery Program (BRP) Manual. Unpublished manuscript.
Foa, E. B., Rothbaum, B. O., Riggs, D., & Murdock, T. (1991). Treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in rape victims: A comparison between cognitive-behavioral procedures and counseling. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59, 715–723.
Foa, E. B., Steketee, G., & Rothbaum, B. O. (1989). Behavioral/cognitive conceptualizations of posttraumatic stress disorder. Behavior Therapy, 20, 155–176.
Jewkes, R., & Abrahams, N. (2002). The epidemiology of rape and sexual coercion in South Africa: An overview. Social Science and Medicine, 55, 1231–1244.
Joseph, S., Williams, R., & Yule, W. (1997). Understanding post-traumatic stress: A psychosocial perspective on PTSD and treatment. New York: Wiley.
Kagee, A., & Naidoo, A. V. (in press). Building communities of peace: The South African model. International Journal for the Advancment of Counselling.
Keane, T. M., Fairbank, J. A., Caddell, J. M., & Zimmering, R. T. (1989). Implosive (flooding) therapy reduces symptoms of PTSD in Vietnam combat veterans. Behavior Therapy, 20, 245–260.
Marks, I. M., Lovell, K., Noshirvani, H., Livanou, M., & Thrasher, S. (1998). Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder by exposure and/or cognitive/restructuring:Acontrolled study. Archives of General Psychiatry, 55, 317–325.
Rothbaum, B., Meadows, E. A., Resick, P., & Foy, D. W. (2000). Cognitive-behavioral therapy. In E. B. Foa & T. M. Keane (Eds.), Effective treatments for PTSD: Practice guidelines from the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (pp. 320–325). New York Guilford Press.
Rush, J., & Beck, A. T. (1978). Cognitive therapy of depression and suicide. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 32, 201–219.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kagee, A., Suh, EJ. & Naidoo, A.V. South African Counsellors' Attitudes Towards Cognitive Behavioural Techniques to Ameliorate Trauma: Effects of a Training Workshop. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling 26, 313–320 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ADCO.0000035533.68012.4a
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ADCO.0000035533.68012.4a