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Toolkit for Mental Health Providers Working with Survivors of Conversion Practices in Africa
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October 30, 2025
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The Toolkit for Mental Health Providers Working With Survivors of Conversion Practices in Africa is a resource designed to equip practitioners with the knowledge, frameworks, and tools to provide affirming, trauma-informed care. Grounded in the cultural, historical, and systemic realities of the African context, this toolkit bridges the gap between theory and practice, empowering providers to support survivors of conversion practices in ways that are sensitive, effective, and ethical.
Purpose and Scope of the Toolkit
This toolkit seeks to address the long-term harm caused by conversion practices, which attempt to suppress or alter an individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Survivors often face enduring psychological, emotional, and social challenges, compounded by systemic stigma and societal rejection. This resource enables providers to navigate these complexities and deliver survivor-centered care that promotes healing and empowerment.
The toolkit provides mental health practitioners with:
- Clarity on terminology and concepts to ensure accurate, respectful, and affirming communication when working with LGBTIQ individuals. This includes an understanding of sexual and gender diversity contextualized within African cultural and historical frameworks
- A foundation in the cultural, historical, and systemic forces that shape LGBTIQ experiences in Africa, including the legacies of colonialism, religious stigma, and systemic discrimination
- Insights into the lived realities, pathways, and needs of survivors of conversion practices, highlighting both the harm they endure and their capacity for resilience
- Practical strategies for creating safe, affirming, and empowering therapeutic relationships tailored to survivors’ unique needs
- Tools and resources to support providers’ self-care, reflective practice, and professional ethics, recognizing the emotional demands of this work
Key Objectives to Support Mental Healthcare Providers
The toolkit aims to:
- Equip mental health providers with the contextual knowledge needed to offer culturally responsive, affirming care in African settings
- Deepen understanding of survivors’ experiences, needs, and recovery pathways to guide survivor-centered interventions
- Introduce evidence-based frameworks, including affirmative practice and traumainformed care, to create safe, ethical therapeutic environments
- Offer adaptable tools and guidelines that address survivors’ unique challenges while supporting providers in maintaining their own well-being
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