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Book presentation: Friendship Bench brings hope to Friedensau!
On June 15, 2025, the Friedensau Theological University will present the culturally sensitive counseling approach “Friendship Bench”.
Book presentation: Friendship Bench brings hope to Friedensau!
Today, June 15, 2025, an important event will take place on the campus of the Friedensau Theological University. The psychosocial counseling service “Friendship Bench” will be presented between 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., which includes an open invitation to residents, visitors and students. The goal is to encourage conversation and share information.
The “Friendship Bench” is a culturally sensitive counseling approach that supports people in difficult life situations. Consultants are trained laypeople who are able to create a trusting atmosphere for discussion. This innovative approach has its roots in Zimbabwe, where the project was started by grandmothers. Today there are numerous initiatives based on this model around the world. Prof. Dr. Dixon Chibanda, the founder of the project, presents the workings of the “Friendship Bench” in his book “The Friendship Bench”. reports Meetingpoint-JL.
Training and availability
The “Friendship Bench” has been available in Germany since April 2025. At the Friedensau Theological University, the counseling approach is led by Prof. Dr. Dr. Silvia Hedenigg and Prof. Andreas Bochmann (Ph.D.) are offered both in person and online. An English-speaking group of international students is currently training, while a German group of students and university employees will begin their training at the end of June. Interested parties can register by email to Silvia.Hedenigg@thh-friedensau.de or Andreas.Bochmann@thh-friedensau.de writes APD.
The “Friendship Bench” follows a psychosocial concept that combines culturally sensitive and client-centered approaches. The focus on solution orientation in the discussions is particularly emphasized. Internationally, the project has already been implemented in the USA, Canada and Great Britain, and over 100 publications prove its effectiveness. Originally developed in Zimbabwe in the 2000s, it was born out of necessity: in 2004, for example, there were only two psychiatrists in Harare for over 12.5 million people. To address this precarious situation, grandmothers in particular were trained in talk therapy to offer psychosocial help
Integration of indigenous elements
The lay therapists who are part of the “Friendship Bench” model support people with mental or neurological disorders. An integrative approach combines indigenous elements with cognitive behavioral therapy to mitigate emotional difficulties. The project is largely altruistic; Not all grandmothers receive compensation for their important work. The Friedensau Theological University, which is sponsored by the Free Church of the Seventh-day Adventists, also offers a comprehensive range of courses in Christian social work and theology informs APD.