Professionals charged with planning treatment for abusive families often seek consultation during the process of making decisions about treatment. This study examined whether the level of experience of the consultant and the frame in which the case is presented affect conceptualizations and recommendations for treatment for cases of child abuse. To provide theoretical background for the study, a developmental ecological systems perspective on child abuse is presented. Research indicating that the most effective treatment for multiproblem abusive families addresses multiple ecological levels is reviewed. Consultants were forty members of Multidisciplinary Teams on Child Abuse and Neglect with treatment planning experience, 40 team members with related experience but no treatment planning experience, and 40 undergraduate psychology students with no experience in child protection (novices). Each consultant reviewed written copies of two case presentations of child abuse. One was presented in a frame emphasizing factors related to the individual abuser in the development of the abuse, the other in a frame presenting factors from multiple ecological levels in the development of the abuse. Consultants provided written recommendations and conceptualizations for each case, rated the effectiveness of interventions from four ecological levels in treatment of the abuse, and rated the importance of factors from the four ecological levels in development of the abuse. Results showed that the number of levels of recommendations provided increased as consultants’ experience increased. Treatment planners and consultants with related experience also rated multiple levels of intervention as more effective and as more important to the development of abuse than novices did. In ratings provided for these variables, treatment planners and consultants with related experience did not differ from each other. Individual framing of cases led to a higher percentage of individual level conceptualizations for all consultants. However, nonsignificant trends in the responses suggest that the treatment planners may be the least affected by framing of cases. The author reviews the implications these results have for clinical practice. / Ph. D.

M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Emotional abuse is present in all forms of abuse and neglect, which implies that emotional abuse has a devastating impact on all the developmental factors of the pre-adolescent in the phase where he is striving towards independence and where his relations towards his environment are crucial. The Gestalt approach forms the basis for this recommended program, and makes provision for a holistic approach, which brings the child in contact with himself, his environment and his perception there of. The study focuses on a descriptive research methodology and according to the first five phases of the intervention research design, developed a play therapeutically program for the emotionally hurt pre-adolescent within the Gestalt approach. A literature study was undertaken to establish a theoretic perspective on the following aspects:  The impact of emotional abuse on the pre-adolescent within the boundaries of the family system.  The influence of abuse on the development of the pre-adolescent and how a child can be assisted through play therapy.  A theoretic foundation of the Gestalt approach and the application of this approach within the theoretic play therapeutic process with the pre-adolescent. The above mentioned theoretic perspective answered the first research question. An empirical survey was done to supplement the literature study. A qualitative study was done and the play therapeutic program was implemented. The program was implemented through eight sessions and by utilizing eight activity forms. Through this process direct, systematic and participant observation could be recorded directly on the activity form, which took the format of a case study. The above mentioned empirical research and measuring scales answered the second research question. As a result of the study the conclusion was reached that a play therapeutic program for the emotionally hurt pre-adolescent within the Gestalt approach can be successfully implemented and that the pre-adolescent can be empowered by the use of this program. Two measuring scales confirmed the results of this program. Recommendations with regard to the content of the program as well as further research as a result of the conclusions were formulated. / Religious Studies and Arabic / D.Diac (Play Therapy)

Emotional abuse is present in all forms of abuse and neglect, which implies that emotional abuse has a devastating impact on all the developmental factors of the pre-adolescent in the phase where he is striving towards independence and where his relations towards his environment are crucial. The Gestalt approach forms the basis for this recommended program, and makes provision for a holistic approach, which brings the child in contact with himself, his environment and his perception there of. The study focuses on a descriptive research methodology and according to the first five phases of the intervention research design, developed a play therapeutically program for the emotionally hurt pre-adolescent within the Gestalt approach. A literature study was undertaken to establish a theoretic perspective on the following aspects:  The impact of emotional abuse on the pre-adolescent within the boundaries of the family system.  The influence of abuse on the development of the pre-adolescent and how a child can be assisted through play therapy.  A theoretic foundation of the Gestalt approach and the application of this approach within the theoretic play therapeutic process with the pre-adolescent. The above mentioned theoretic perspective answered the first research question. An empirical survey was done to supplement the literature study. A qualitative study was done and the play therapeutic program was implemented. The program was implemented through eight sessions and by utilizing eight activity forms. Through this process direct, systematic and participant observation could be recorded directly on the activity form, which took the format of a case study. The above mentioned empirical research and measuring scales answered the second research question. As a result of the study the conclusion was reached that a play therapeutic program for the emotionally hurt pre-adolescent within the Gestalt approach can be successfully implemented and that the pre-adolescent can be empowered by the use of this program. Two measuring scales confirmed the results of this program. Recommendations with regard to the content of the program as well as further research as a result of the conclusions were formulated. / Religious Studies and Arabic / D.Diac (Play Therapy)