Talking Heals: Therapy for Liberian Women & Youth

School is back in session and our mental health facilitators-in-training are preparing to start their first therapy group under supervision of a clinical psychologist. These trainees started in the spring semester with extensive workshop time. Then, they recruited their first adolescent client during the spring semester and completed the full eight weeks of therapy with them under the supervision of a clinical psychologist. The outcomes were excellent! The students started with moderate levels of depression symptoms and ended therapy experiencing no symptoms!

Because the facilitators-in-training are continuing to learn the Interpersonal Psychotherapy model we use and to learn how to manage the dynamics of a group for group therapy, they are starting off leading one therapy group of four adolescents each. Once they gain more experience, they will lead several groups at a time and the group size will increase. They are also shadowing the more experienced facilitators of our women’s program for additional learning.

Our women’s program continues year-round and we’re currently in our ninth phase of therapy groups for the program. And we’ve recently expanded into a new district! 

THANK YOU for your continued support. Your generosity ensures that young people in Liberia can access effective therapy, providing healing and a healthy foundation for a brighter future.

Gratefully,

Saundra

I am thrilled to report that we have now provided group talk therapy to over 2,500 women! Thanks to your on-going support, our program continues to reach women in new communities who are benefiting from group therapy. Our team is hard at work preparing for the next therapy cycle, identifying new underserved communities, doing outreach, and screening women to see if they are experiencing moderate or severe depression to determine whether they can benefit from our therapy program.

Now with a proven program, we are expanding into adolescent mental health care using our same group therapy, adapted for adolescents, in secondary schools. We are just in the initial phase right now, training four community members to facilitate group therapy for students ages 12 - 18 years old. When school starts again in the fall, our team will be able to provide group therapy right in the schools.

Thank you for your generosity and trust in our work.

Please reach out if you'd like to learn more or have any questions. I'm always happy to meet a champion of Restore Hope.

Gratefully,

Saundra

saundra@restorehopeliberia.org