Abstract
South Africa suffers a scourge of domestic violence. Colonial oppression upset the delicate balance between ‘discipline’ and ‘protection’ in traditional cultures. The full consequence of a patriarchal mindset of male control is unleashed on girls and women. The aim of this article is to investigate how the cycle of domestic violence can be broken and what role pastoral counsellors can play with regard to both victims and offenders in order to prevent history from repeating itself. The article also investigates the extent to which legislation has succeeded in protecting individuals. Pastoral care and counselling comprise both spiritual and emotional support. The combination of two counselling methods compatible with religious themes such as ‘hope’ and ‘new life’, namely logotherapy (Victor Frankl) and narrative pastoral counselling, is presented as an effective response to domestic violence.
Highlights
Amongst the proliferation of therapeutic methods, some of which will be briefly discussed, narrative counselling and logotherapy are identified as appropriate methods for pastoral care with people who have experienced domestic abuse and struggle to find hope, healing and meaning in life
This study investigates how the power of words can contribute to helping people with emotional disturbances caused by domestic violence today
Keyes et al (2012:107, 110) identified mood, alcohol and drug abuse, and disruptive behaviour disorders, and antisocial behaviour. These findings indicate that victims of domestic violence are at risk of developing emotional disorders later in life
Summary
Amongst the proliferation of therapeutic methods, some of which will be briefly discussed, narrative counselling and logotherapy are identified as appropriate methods for pastoral care with people who have experienced domestic abuse and struggle to find hope, healing and meaning in life. This study investigates how the power of words can contribute to helping people with emotional disturbances caused by domestic violence today.
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