Summary

Introduction to Psychology, Counselling, and Social Work: A Textbook for Students, Teachers, and Personnel in Helping Professions by Dr Ilongo Fritz Ngale of Eswatini University is a most welcomed addition to the academic and professional literature landscape of Eswatini and SADC. The book comes at a most opportune moment when there are pressing and preoccupying issues of student educational and psychosocial disorientation, HIV and AIDS ravages, overload and even burnout of caring services’ professionals during the COVID – 19 pandemic. Ilongo’s work is one of the first of its kind to introduce and combine three key helping professions which are psychology, counseling, and social work.

It is an audacious effort which should be applauded and lauded for ‘’taking the bull by the horns’’ by giving a thorough and academically sound introduction to the three subject areas which have been marginalized and even derided for so long by the public and decision makers in most African countries. It is in this context of awareness raising and reaching out to all stakeholders of these triple critical domains of individual, public and community interest that the present work should be situated and appreciated.

That said, this work attempts to introduce psychology, counseling, and social work, not only in a theoretical sense but also in a pragmatic perspective, which highlights the roles of psychologists, counselors, and social workers in addressing the individual, physical, psychological, social, and community challenges of humankind. Helping professions of which psychology, counseling, and social work form part are essentially meant for the provision of human and social services. In other words, helping professions comprise specific verbal and non-verbal interactions transpiring between helpers and clients through triple stages of structuring of opening, core interaction and closing section, for the resolving of complex communicative tasks and existential issues.

The present work seeks to highlight the interdisciplinary nature of psychology, counselling, and social work which despite their different origins, have slowly moved toward many of the same theoretical conclusions, borrowing from each other and mutually enriching each other. Ilongo’s work is a herculean effort to demonstrate the much needed interdisciplinary collaboration in training and practice between psychologists, counsellors, and social workers which though complicated through intra and inter-professional challenges, could challenge attitudes, values, and professional orientations related to training in silos.

Ilongo’s work is interesting for both the casual reader and professionals because it presents in simple language an in depth introduction to psychology, counseling, and social work, which subjects almost everyone has heard of, but very few are aware of their technicalities. The scope of the work for an introductory document is truly vast and quiet comprehensive, without being too erudite as to derail readers from the essence of psychology, counseling, and social work. The fact that it extensively covers topical and contemporary issues of community psychology, social psychology, HIV and AIDs counseling, adoption, and others, make this book to be a must read and buy for students at all levels of Eswatini’s educational system, but especially those at tertiary and professional levels.

The book will also be valuable for social and community change agents and organizations, security personnel, administrators, health personnel, legal practitioners, teachers, and the public at large. It goes without saying that Ilongo’s book has come to stay in the academic and social dimensions of Eswatini and beyond because it effectively addresses topics that each and every one can relate to in this era of rapid social transformations, which is fraught with issues of family crises, drug addiction, violence, unemployment, HIV and AIDS ravages, COVID – 19 pandemic, self-alienation, psychic and social fragmentation, youth disorientation, and many others.

Of notable import, Ilongo’s book covers such vital topics as 21^st century skills of which most students, decision makers, curriculum designers, are sorely ignorant, thereby accounting for much of the rampant unemployment, underemployment and even unemployability of our school products.

By addressing 21^st century skills, the present work would raise awareness among the general public and decision makers in relation to the following labour market and educational issues: critical life skills’ training and the ever-growing mismatch between labour market demands and the quality of graduates. Ilongo’s book also places emphasis on adult education which has become an alternative to formal education, by providing insight into the philosophical underpinnings of andragogy or the adult teaching and learning processes, for the benefit of learners, facilitators and designers of such programmes.

The charm of this book is that it can also serve as resource material for motivational speaking, 21^st century life skills’ development, school curriculum design, and as the theoretical and practical bases for decision-makers’ guidelines in the development of pragmatic community transformation programmes. Dr. Ilongo’s book is a lofty primer. I consider it a must-read for the general public and all professionals.