International Association of Positive Psychology (IPPA) Spirituality and Meaning Practitioner Award 2023
Rev. Dr Sahaya G. Selvam’s Contributions to Spirituality, Meaning and Wellbeing in Africa
Religion, spirituality, meaning, and wellbeing define Rev. Dr Sahaya Selvam’s work/ministry as a Catholic priest and as a psychologist, originally from India, now serving in religious and academic contexts in East Africa, particularly among the youth.
To him, besides the categories of religion and spirituality, there is also a possibility for religious-spirituality (Selvam, 2013). Positive psychology provides a theoretical and methodological framework for his academic research and to develop and delivery interventions in the context of religious-spirituality. Character strengths (CS), including purpose and meaning, act as mediators in the relationship between a spirituality and wellbeing. In his PhD work, he explored CS as mediators in the relationship between spiritual practices such as Christian contemplation/mindfulness and recovery from addiction (Selvam, 2015a; Selvam, 2015b).
After his PhD, since 2012, functioning within academic and pastoral contexts, he developed a course outline and lobbied successfully to introduce positive psychology as a compulsory course in counselling psychology at the college. Also, he and his colleagues coordinated a psychology and spirituality study group (2012-2020). And in 2020, in collaboration with colleagues, he founded the Positive Psychology Association of Kenya (PPAK). Over 180 registered members now, PPAK offers webinars, online courses, and trains character coaches. Our Character Coaches Manual (3 volumes) has a strong focus on spirituality, meaning, and wellbeing. Recently, he obtained a grant of €35,000 to train 50 character coaches. The coaches form character clubs reaching out to at least 500 youth in one year. There are other 75 coaches trained outside this project. The efficacy of the programme on wellbeing is also being scientifically verified.
The ‘Quiet Days” – another initiative coordinated with Ms. Mwangi since 2014 – is a monthly day-long programme where individuals come together to learn and practice Christian contemplative practices. About 35 participants enjoy facilitated silence appreciating its outcome in terms of meaning and wellbeing. School of Spirituality is yet another initiative that Fr Selvam facilitates. In its third year now, it caters to 40 to 50 people annually. It consists in 40 weeks of online input (an hour-long) and monthly face-to-face practice of contemplation in a Catholic context. “One Minute Spirituality” is also a YouTube channel that he runs.
Recently, together with his research assistant, with a grant of $10,000, he carried out a study on the rise of secularisation among young adults in Nairobi, Kenya. They have also focused on how these youth build their meaning systems apart from religion in Africa (Selvam & Ngure, 2022).
In his one-on-one and group therapy sessions especially to young adults, including those from sexual minority communities, he employs a psychospiritual approach integrating personal growth in CS, meaning and purpose, and the practice of contemplative techniques. He believes, as Damon William and Steger have argued, purpose/meaning is strongly correlated to happiness and wellbeing. he offers systematic training to other therapists in psychospiritual techniques.
In short, drawing on insights from positive psychology, he brings a scientific approach to his academic and spiritual interventions around meaning and wellbeing enabling flourishing individuals and thriving communities.