"Do ministers differentiate between persons who are seriously emotionally disturbed and persons who are not?" and "do ministers refer to specialized community agencies, those persons who are seen by them as seriously emotionally disturbed?" were the central questions explored. [...]

Thesis (MSc (Clinical Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2010. / The Clinical Psychology training program at the University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus) is based on the theoretical paradigm of General Systems Theory. The functioning of systems in terms of patterns, structure, organization and relationships can therefore also be applied to the trainee and his/her partner relationship system which is characterized by circular patterns of interaction. Ernst (2008) states that within the context of General Systems theory it became evident that the trainee does not function in isolation but as part of a system. The trainee undergoes significant changes throughout the training year if training is effective and this in turn may also impact on the trainee's partner relationship. This investigation was done to establish the effect of a DVD Counselling Programme on the partner-relationship of the trainee in Clinical Psychology with his/her partner/spouse. This is done in order to provide feedback to the trainers of the Clinical Psychology training at Medunsa. This may also possibly assist in establishing a more scientifically founded aid for the trainees in Msc. Clinical Psychology and their partners/spouses. It was a qualitative research project, in which person centered interviews were held with participants and thematically analyzed by three independent clinicians. The entire research project and findings are contextualized in accordance with General Systems Theory. The results indicated that the DVD had a moderate effect on 4/6 of the sample population that reported that their relationship improved in respect of the nature and quality based on mutual understanding, emotional closeness, obtaining of relational skills, effective communication and awareness regarding the impact of the training year on their relationship. The impact of the DVD was somewhat limited in that not all the participants watched it and the manner iIi which some of the trainees approached their partners/spouses, which may have had an effect on how the DVD is received and experienced.

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Thesis (Dip.App.Psych.) -- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Psychology, 1976?

Introduction: An insufficient number of studies have been carried out in the Middle East exploring the variables that contribute to breast cancer patients’ psychological distress. In addition, very few studies exist that evaluate the role of structured psychotherapeutic interventions in enhancing breast cancer patients’ psychological well-being and quality of life. This study has been designed to address this limitation by conducting a mixed-method approach to explore women’s experiences with the diagnosis of breast cancer and with two structured psychotherapeutic interventions, namely, ‘crisis counselling’ and ‘psycho-education’. Methods: A total of 201 women with early stage breast cancer from the State of Qatar were recruited and randomised into either the control group or one of the treatment groups (crisis counselling and psycho-education). The aim of the quantitative approach was to evaluate the short- and long-term benefits of the crisis counselling and psycho-education interventions, in terms of improving patients’ psychological well-being, quality of life and treatment compliance. This was achieved by asking all patients to complete the DASS21 and QLQ-C30 instruments at different points in time and by monitoring their compliance with treatment. Later, a qualitative approach was utilised: twelve Arab patients from the treatment groups were invited to attend focus-group interviews in order to explore their experience with the diagnosis of breast cancer and with the study interventions. Results: the qualitative results of this study revealed that fear of social stigma, difficulty coping with fatigue and body image changes, and altered intrafamilial/sexual relationships contribute significantly to Arab women’s psychological distress. The quantitative results revealed that both of the study interventions were effective in improving women’s psychological well-being and quality of life over time but had no impact on patients’ compliance with treatment. In addition, the study showed that psycho-education conferred a greater advantage than did the crisis counselling model, especially on improving women’s psychological well-being over time. Conclusion: The results of this study will significantly aid health care professionals in the State of Qatar to improve the care of breast cancer patients, through awareness-raising education about the disease and its associated social stigma and by initiating changes to the psychotherapeutic services through the implementation of crisis counselling and psycho-education interventions in the future.

Age is such an important clinical issue within the context of later life Counselling Psychology, and yet research based on older clients’ accounts is lacking. This thesis explores how older clients experienced age difference in therapy with therapists who were perceived to be significantly younger; and aims to understand the meaning of these experiences. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with eight older adults who, at or after the age of 65, had received at least 6 sessions of individual psychotherapy, using any approach, and with a therapist who was perceived by them to be at least 20 years younger. Interview transcripts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The analysis highlighted these older adults’ experiences of age difference in the given circumstances. These experiences were considered not only as unique to each individual but also as bound up with intersubjective aspects of the therapeutic relationship. Two super-ordinate themes emerged: (1) TEMPORALITY & AGEING including certain sub-themes, namely time perspectives: an awareness of time; facing multiple losses; relevance of age difference in the therapeutic relationship; and (2) THERAPEUTIC RELATIONAL WORLD including sub-themes: quality of relating; therapy as emotional release and transcending/expanding of the self. The research provides an insight into the lived age difference experience of older individuals within the context of their therapeutic relationship; and indicates that age difference entered into their therapeutic experience in complex and diverse ways. In particular, age difference seems to be embedded in the intersubjective interaction between client and therapist. Factors such as temporality and ageing appear to be the important organisers of the participants’ therapeutic experiences this including the age difference aspect. The findings are discussed in the light of the phenomenological and intersubjective perspectives; along with suggestions for future research, and implications for Counselling Psychology.