Text in Afrikaans / During the initial stages of Gestalt play therapy qualitative assessment is vital within the therapeutic relationship, to gain information about the child in order to strengthen this relationship, enhance awareness and for further interventions. Research confirmed the lack and problems with current assessment tools, within various helping professions, which were addressed in this study. The board game, as a Gestalt assessment tool, was compiled for the primary school child and focuses on the therapeutic relationship, sensory stimulation and the process of the child (Schoeman-3-aspect model). Information was gathered by a literature review, semi structured interviews with two professionals and by observing the application of the board game. Valuable information was gathered concerning the child and was strengthened by literature. Relevant conclusions and recommendations were made. This board game can be effectively used by play therapists in the initial stages of assessment with the primary school child, for relationship building, sensory stimulation and determining the child's process. / Social Work / M.Diac.

This exploratory and descriptive investigation used the case study as research strategy to indi cate how writing may be used as a specialised form of therapy for an adolescent in the phase of mid-adolescence. The study researched and consolidated a body of knowledge concerning writing in a therapeutic context, while highlighting the Gestalt therapeutic approach. Its empirical integration culminated in a method for the use of therapists who irrespective of their therapeutic orientation wish to apply writing in therapy with adolescents. The dissertation argues that writing practised from a Gestalt therapeutic perspective should move gradually from being a tool of self-expression to becoming one of self-nurturing. It should guide the client through a process of self-regulation to a point of self-support. In such a process, writing in therapy will evolve into writing as therapy, a therapy practised by the client her- or himself as a means of achieving equilibrium. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

Gestalt Therapy emphasises the importance of relationships and according to the I-Thou philosophy of Buber, people who form part of a relationship must become aware of each other’s uniqueness and the differences between them in order to act honestly and sincerely towards each other. Gestalt Play Therapy strives to reach such a relationship during the therapeutic relationship. The aim of this study was to explore the utilisation of dyadic Gestalt Play Therapy in order to enhance an I-Thou relationship between the parent and the adolescent. As an application of the qualitative applied research approach, a case study was done whereby the parent became part of the therapistadolescent relationship. The integration of the conclusions from the literature study and the empirical study contributed to the exploration and description of the way dyadic Gestalt Play Therapy can be utilized to enhance an I-Thou relationship between the parent and adolescent. / Social Work / M.Diac (Play therapy)

The world is dominated by digital media that have become central to many children’s lives. Children born in the last 30 years have become known as ‘digital natives’, as digital technology has always been part of their experiential field. The use of such media in play therapy could offer innovative ways of enhancing dialogue with those children in whose field they are included, as they have been to date unexplored in play therapy interventions, possibly resulting in missed therapeutic opportunities. This mixed methods research took the form of an email questionnaire sent out to play therapists in South Africa to ascertain whether digital technology is being used in therapy and, if so, which digital media are being used and how. Additionally, a focus group interview was conducted using the same questionnaire to ensure data triangulation. The data gathered were analysed qualitatively, and an understanding was gained regarding the current use of digital media in play therapy. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

In South Africa the Center for Child Youth and Family Studies is training practitioners yearly to work as play therapists from a gestalt approach. Once these practitioners successfully complete their training and qualify they could begin practicing play therapy from a gestalt approach. Each of these recently qualified play therapists is then responsible for organising and committing to their own supervision. Therapists who do not attend supervision risk stagnation and burn out due to a lack of positive interaction in relation to receiving knowledge and support from those more experienced in gestalt play therapy and from their peers. At present there is a perceived lack of supervision resources based on a gestalt approach particularly for those recently qualified play therapists working from a gestalt approach that are geographically distant from the areas where training takes place. This study sought to answer the question of what supervision resources are currently available to recently qualified play therapists working from a gestalt approach in South Africa. In order to answer this question combined quantitative and qualitative research approaches were used. An internet survey questionnaire was completed by recently qualified play therapists working from a gestalt approach which formed part of the quantitative section of the research. Structured interviews were conducted via Skype with professionals experienced in the field of Gestalt therapy theory and supervision from a gestalt approach and this formed part of the qualitative section of the research. Overall the results from the merged data indicate a lack of supervisors qualified to give supervision based on a gestalt approach. This factor contributes to the overall lack of supervision resources based on a gestalt approach for recently qualified play therapists working from this approach. Geographical distance from supervision resources places financial and time constraints on recently qualified play therapists that prevent them from accessing supervision based on a gestalt approach. Despite this results indicate those recently qualified play therapists working from a gestalt approach are attempting to meet their responsibility and requirement for supervision. / Psychology / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

Gestalt Therapy emphasises the importance of relationships and according to the I-Thou philosophy of Buber, people who form part of a relationship must become aware of each other’s uniqueness and the differences between them in order to act honestly and sincerely towards each other. Gestalt Play Therapy strives to reach such a relationship during the therapeutic relationship. The aim of this study was to explore the utilisation of dyadic Gestalt Play Therapy in order to enhance an I-Thou relationship between the parent and the adolescent. As an application of the qualitative applied research approach, a case study was done whereby the parent became part of the therapistadolescent relationship. The integration of the conclusions from the literature study and the empirical study contributed to the exploration and description of the way dyadic Gestalt Play Therapy can be utilized to enhance an I-Thou relationship between the parent and adolescent. / Social Work / M.Diac (Play therapy)

Movement intervention in a Gestalt therapeutic setting using structured activities and free improvisation is a successful method in creating awareness of contact-making styles for late adolescents. An overview of the existing literature regarding the theoretical aspects of the interrelatedness of movement therapy, awareness, contact-making styles and the use of movement as a therapeutic intervention within a Gestalt context was presented. This included a description of the meta-theoretical assumptions that underpinned the research. A case-study consisting of eight late-adolescent females using the exploratory and descriptive nature within the qualitative research model was applied. All participants reported growth and awareness within themselves. The researcher concludes that movement intervention within a Gestalt therapeutic context can support an approach that adapts itself to the developmental phase of the individual and is a creative way of maintaining interest and focus. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

Text in Afrikaans / The purpose of this study is to describe a gestalt technique for therapists who are involved with children who are experiencing loss. A play therepeutic approach is described and the underlying principles integrated and applied. In the first chapter the details of the the research methodology is described. In the second chapter the gestalt approach and how it relates to play therapeutic intervention is discussed. The third chapter is a literature study which describes the child's conceptualization of death. In the fourth chapter the technique which is developed is discusssed. This technique comprises six themes which are projected by way of instructions on a card. The child chooses a card during every session and it is therapeutically played out. There is a central theme of a treasure box, and a box is made to keep memorabilia of the deceased. The therapeutic intervention helps the child to make a treasure box of memories in their hearts. / Social work / M. Diac (Play Therapy)

Text in Afrikaans / During the initial stages of Gestalt play therapy qualitative assessment is vital within the therapeutic relationship, to gain information about the child in order to strengthen this relationship, enhance awareness and for further interventions. Research confirmed the lack and problems with current assessment tools, within various helping professions, which were addressed in this study. The board game, as a Gestalt assessment tool, was compiled for the primary school child and focuses on the therapeutic relationship, sensory stimulation and the process of the child (Schoeman-3-aspect model). Information was gathered by a literature review, semi structured interviews with two professionals and by observing the application of the board game. Valuable information was gathered concerning the child and was strengthened by literature. Relevant conclusions and recommendations were made. This board game can be effectively used by play therapists in the initial stages of assessment with the primary school child, for relationship building, sensory stimulation and determining the child's process. / Social Work / M.Diac.

This exploratory and descriptive investigation used the case study as research strategy to indi cate how writing may be used as a specialised form of therapy for an adolescent in the phase of mid-adolescence. The study researched and consolidated a body of knowledge concerning writing in a therapeutic context, while highlighting the Gestalt therapeutic approach. Its empirical integration culminated in a method for the use of therapists who irrespective of their therapeutic orientation wish to apply writing in therapy with adolescents. The dissertation argues that writing practised from a Gestalt therapeutic perspective should move gradually from being a tool of self-expression to becoming one of self-nurturing. It should guide the client through a process of self-regulation to a point of self-support. In such a process, writing in therapy will evolve into writing as therapy, a therapy practised by the client her- or himself as a means of achieving equilibrium. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)