Cheryl Dueck Smith, D.Arts, LMFT, assistant professor of marriage and family therapy, traveled to Kenya June 22-July 7, 2024, with the organization Conexa as part of Project Pamoja. Organized and led by Ugandan and Kenyan mental health leaders, the project brings trainers and therapists with experience in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to bring trainings, workshops and mentorships to a community in need of relational and systemic work. Staff facilitated a four-day EFT training for local clinicians, engaged in collaborative conversations with marriage and family therapy students in local universities and led a Hold Me Tight/Created for Connection workshop for pastors.
Dueck Smith is trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples and uses the model with clients as well as teaching it to students. She also offers marriage enrichment workshops for churches. Prior to coming to FPU, Dueck Smith and her family lived in Zambia for spent four years. “I am beyond excited to be part of this as it uniquely brings together so many parts of my life and experience,” Dueck Smith said.
Conexa East Africa’s Pamoja (Together) Project “helps restore and transform communities entrenched in trauma by partnering with local leaders to integrate evidence-based Emotionally Focused Therapy methods into new cultural contexts for relational healing,” according to organization materials. More at promo video