{"id":19736,"date":"2026-11-10T21:30:35","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T21:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.peseschkian-stiftung.de\/mental-health-ethiopia"},"modified":"2026-11-10T21:30:35","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T21:30:35","slug":"mental-health-ethiopia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/en.peseschkian-stiftung.de\/de\/mental-health-ethiopia\/","title":{"rendered":"Mental health project in Ethiopia"},"content":{"rendered":"
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2006<\/p>\n\n\n\n

start of the project<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

partner universities: Addis Ababa, Jimma, Bahir Dar<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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250+<\/p>\n\n\n\n

participants completed the basic course<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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40+<\/p>\n\n\n\n

certified positive psychotherapists<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThose who have completed their training are training themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The International Academy for Positive and Transcultural Psychotherapy \u2013 Prof. Peseschkian Foundation has run a mental health project in Ethiopia since 2006. Personal contact with the country\u2019s leading psychiatrists and university lecturers made cooperation possible with Addis Ababa University, Jimma University and Bahir Dar University. The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education in Addis Ababa are fully informed about the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In basic and master courses in positive and transcultural psychotherapy, Ethiopian health professionals learn \u2013 for a symbolic fee \u2013 a resource-oriented, short-term therapeutic procedure that lets them treat patients effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Training the trainers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ethiopian specialists go on to become international trainers of PPT, so they can train their compatriots independently. Afterwards they can join the World Association of Positive and Transcultural Psychotherapy (WAPP) and become part of the international network of positive psychotherapists \u2013 ensuring professional exchange and long-term quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A representative of the foundation in Ethiopia has volunteered for the project from the start and makes sure the courses run successfully on site. Many international lecturers teach their Ethiopian colleagues pro bono in block seminars.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Certificate
Registered in Ethiopia: the Positive Psychotherapy Association\u2019s certificate, November 2019.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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In thirteen years, more than 250 participants completed the basic course and over 40 master-course graduates became \u201cCertified Positive Psychotherapists\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Why positive psychotherapy fits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The method is particularly suited to countries shaped by both poverty and change. It reaches people regardless of their level of education or belief. Stories and proverbs suit narrative cultures and reach people on an emotional level, and the humanistic worldview behind the method has a positive effect on civil society beyond therapy itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Young professionals in particular benefit from the qualification, which gives them an incentive to stay in the country and helps prevent brain drain.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What makes it work<\/h3>\n\n\n\n