The Afrikan Restorative Psychospiritual Model (ARPM): A Framework for Healing, Identity, and Cultural Revival

Abstract

Abstract

This article introduces the African Restorative Psychospiritual Model (ARPM), which is a historically solid and spiritually integrated framework that can be used for healing from trauma and healing for the community within African and diasporic settings. It is rooted in African epistemologies and postcolonial thinking. The ARPM develops as a response to the shortcomings of dominant Western trauma theories, which frequently ignore the importance of spirituality, heritage, and collective identity in healing. The ARPM is based on five interrelated pillars: ancestral memory, Ubuntu consciousness, spiritual grounding, narrative liberation, and cognitive decolonization. Each pillar represents a particular aspect of African resilience and provides pathways to restore dignity and identity as well as communal belonging. Based on psychology, African studies, and spiritual philosophy, this article explores the theoretical basis of ARPM, their comparative advantages, and practical applications. It also explores the systemic consequences of ARPM in clinical, educational, and policy contexts. The ARPM is ultimately a call to rethink the concept of trauma recovery, not simply as treatment for symptoms, but as a broader and spiritually anchored method that aims to liberate and reclaim the culture and intergenerational resilience.

Keywords: African psychology, trauma‑informed care, decolonization, spirituality, communal healing, Ubuntu, Ancestral Memory