Expansion of Kenya-based Catholic Psycho-Spiritual Institute to Nigeria in “final stage”: Founder

Credit: Fr. George Ehusani

The visit “was the final stage in the due diligence processes of the agency, towards the legal recognition and approval of the offering in Nigeria, of the two postgraduate programmes of the Institute,” he says about the the September 6 event that brought together NUC representatives led by the Executive Director, Dr Chris Maiyaki, representatives of the Veritas University Abuja (VUA) Senate, and the PSI management staff of Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, who were the host.

Credit: Fr. George Ehusani

The two programs being vetted include a Postgraduate Diploma in Psycho-Spiritual Trauma Healing, and a Master of Art's degree in Psycho-Spiritual Therapy, Fr. Ehusani says in his message to ACI Africa, adding that earlier in April, PSI signed “an affiliation agreement” with Abuja-based Veritas University “for the award of the degrees in Nigeria”.

Credit: Fr. George Ehusani

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“The Psycho-Spiritual Therapy and Counselling programme was subsequently accredited by the Kenyan Commission for University Education (CUE),” he says about the Nairobi-based entity that he lauds for training “over 150 experts from up to 27 different African countries, in Psycho-Spiritual Therapy and Counselling” since it was established in 2013.

The Abuja-based PSI founder expresses the hope that when realized, “this new development” of PSI Abuja Campus “will join the Nairobi campus in training and equipping not only pastoral agents, but also many professionals in the humanitarian services, as well as sundry volunteers.”

Credit: Fr. George Ehusani

The beneficiaries of the PSI programs in Abuja, Fr. Ehusani says, “will help facilitate integral healing, wholeness, growth and transformation, in the many individuals, families and groups across the continent of Africa, who are today suffering from psycho-trauma, depression, confusion, burn-out, midlife crisis, family dysfunction, grieving disorders, addictive disorders, including addiction to alcohol and psycho-active substances, and suicide ideation.”

“Graduates of the Psycho-Spiritual Therapy programme will be equipped to work as spiritual directors, counsellors, and  chaplains, in formation houses, hospitals, hospices, drug rehabilitation centres, correctional centres, as well as schools, colleges and universities,” the member of the Clergy of Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Lokoja further says in his message to ACI Africa.

Credit: Fr. George Ehusani

He describes PSI as “the pioneering initiative of Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, which is aimed at the wholesome integration of the tools and approaches of modern Psychological Sciences, with the rich resources of the Soul Care tradition of the Christian Church, in the training of experts and volunteers for mental health care, within the African socio-cultural and religious context.”

Credit: Fr. George Ehusani

In an interview with ACI Africa in May 2022, Fr. Ehusani said that everyone in Nigeria needs psycho-spiritual support owing to the country’s political and economic instability that has plunged Nigerians into depression and other forms of mental challenges.

Credit: Fr. George Ehusani

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“One way or the other, everyone is affected by the ongoing instability in Nigeria and everyone needs therapy,” the Executive Director of Lux Terra Leadership Foundation told ACI Africa on 26 May 2022.

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