Oléa Balayulu Makila

Dr. Oléa Balayulu Makila is a clinical psychologist and psychotrauma specialist with extensive experience in emergency mental health interventions across the Democratic Republic of Congo. He holds a Doctorate in Psychology and serves as President of the National Union of Clinical Psychologists (Union Nationale des Psychologues Cliniciens). Based at the University of Kinshasa's Faculty of Psychology, Dr. Balayulu leads the Research and Care Unit in Clinical Psychology and Psychopathology (URSPCP). His therapeutic approach is eclectic with a foundation in Psychotherapy with Psychoanalytic Inspiration (PIP), complemented by specialized training in psychotrauma intervention from the University of Burgundy Franche-Comté in Dijon, France, and multidisciplinary health intervention training from Centre Hospitalier Monkole. His clinical expertise centers on mental health issues arising from psychological trauma, including acute stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, phobias, OCD, and psychotraumatic conditions. He has provided critical psychological support during multiple humanitarian emergencies, including plane crashes, floods, sexual violence, the Ebola epidemic, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Monkeypox outbreak. Dr. Balayulu has collaborated with leading international organizations including WHO, UNICEF, ALIMA, Save the Children, FIFA, and CADICEC. He is recognized as a national and international trainer in psychosocial support and mental health, bringing both clinical excellence and capacity-building expertise to mental health responses in crisis contexts. Fluent in French, Lingala, and Kikongo, with working knowledge of Portuguese, English, and Swahili, he is well-positioned to serve diverse populations across Central Africa.