What is the Impact of Western Psychology on the Counselling Ministry of the African Churches within the United Kingdom: A grounded theory approach to Integration in Pastoral Counselling?

A number of the African churches both within Africa and in the Diaspora are rich in their understanding of the bible and the use of the same in ministry. This ministry includes counselling which is the focus of this research. But then they do not seem to be very open to integrate western psychology into their counselling ministries. This thesis seeks to research into the pastoral counselling ministry of the African churches within the United Kingdom as an example of the churches in the Diaspora that have been exposed to the concept of Western psychology

With the use of integrated correlational conversation model, grounded theory methodology and practical theology as an overarching framework, this research will study the impact of this exposure of the African churches to Western psychology and seek to compare this with what prevails in the churches in Africa currently. Being a grounded theory research methodology, the findings will be allowed to evolve. The thesis will then offer its recommendation depending on the findings of the research. It is expected that the outcome of this research would enrich the curriculum of the churches and theological institutions in Africa as they seek to consider integration between counselling and psychology and or other disciplines as the findings may reveal.

Ibidun Daramola: r01ibd0@abdn.ac.uk