The occurrence of marriages failing as a result of one member of the couple having a homosexual relationship has increased since the rewriting of the law on human rights. This resulted in a heightened need for pastoral care of members of the family that were affected by this tendency. Of cardinal importance to this study and in light of the constant debate about homosexuality in the church, a Scriptural foundation is found in the handling in cases of marriage breaking up as a result of infidelity with a homosexual partner. The Praxis model of Zerfass forms the framework in which a new pastoral therapy is sought. As background to the study an investigation is conducted to find the possible causes and resulting effects of homosexual tendencies in the areas of psychology, physiology, and social anthropology. An empirical research form part of the investigation into a practical formulating of a suitable guideline for pastoral care. With the insight gained from the research, a practice theory is developed to fill the gap with a new and appropriate approach in giving pastoral guidance to all parties who are affected when one of the members of the married couple experiences same sex attraction (SSA) or get involved in a homosexual relationship. / Thesis (M.A. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

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No description available.

This study delineates practical knowledge bases that university professors draw upon during exemplary Critical Incidents of teaching. One hundred and eight full-time, tenure track, university professors from departments of Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Engineering, English, History, Math, and Philosophy across the G-13 universities participated. Professors rated Likert scale items with reference to an exemplary incident of teaching they described. Theorized factor constructs, and items, were developed based upon a conceptual framework from a previous study. An exploratory factor analysis and oblique rotation yielded 5 factors/knowledge constructs: Pedagogical Knowledge,Delivery and Management, Content Knowledge, Monitoring and Reflection, and, Knowledge of Students. These factors closely matched 5 of 6 of the theorized factors, and showed strong correspondence with existing literature on teaching knowledge. These factors, along with their inter-correlations form an empirical and objective model of practical university teaching knowledge, demonstrating that exemplary university teaching is informed by a network of inter-related knowledge bases. / Cette étude trace les connaissances que les professeurs universitaires utilisent au cours d'Incidents Critiques exemplaire d'enseignement. Cent huit professeurs du G-13 ont participé. Les professeurs ont évalué, en utilisant l'échelle de Likert, un exemple d'incident d'enseignement qu'ils ont décrit. Des items et des facteurs de constructions théorisés ont été développés sur la base d'un cadre conceptuel d'une étude précédente. Une analyse factorielle exploratoire ainsi qu'une rotation oblique ont rapporté 5 facteurs/connaissances de constructions: la connaissance pédagogique, la livraison et gestion, la connaissance du contenu, la surveillance et réf1exion ainsi que la connaissance des étudiants. Ces facteurs étaient fortement liés à 5 des 6 facteurs théorisés, et ont démontré une forte correspondance avec la littérature. Ces facteurs, ainsi que leurs intercorrélations, forment un modèle empirique et objectif de la connaissance d'enseignement universitaire pratique, ce qui démontre qu'un réseau de connaissance inter-reliées est à à la base de l'enseignement universitaire exemplaire .

The purpose of this study was to monitor and compare levels of anxiety, depression, satisfaction and knowledge in male coronary patients and their spouses, throughout the patients stay in hospital and at one, three and six months following discharge from the hospital. A programme of in-hospital educative-supportive counselling was introduced to determine whether it significantly affected reactions. The study design took the form of a randomized controlled trial. The counselling was provided to couples during four 30 minute sessions by a coronary care unit registered nurse. Findings from the study provide evidence to support the overall contention that this simple programme confers additional benefits over and above the usual management regime. These benefits include statistically significant reductions in reported anxiety and depression, and increases in satisfaction and knowledge in both partners. The programme of support was simple and easy to implement, requiring little investment in training personnel and none in additional staff, finances or other resources. It is concluded that in-hospital counselling for coronary patients and partners is therapeutically effective and efficient. Proposals are made for practice change and recommendations are given for the direction of future research.

People with an intellectual disability experience the same range of emotional and mental needs as the general population. However, in comparison to the wealth of general counselling research, there is a relative lack of research involving clients with an intellectual disability. In particular, there is a scarcity of research exploring the clients’ subjective experiences of counselling. This thesis therefore seeks to gain a better understanding of this under-explored area of counselling practice by inquiring of the two parties most intimately acquainted with the counselling process – clients and counsellors. Complementing the views of clients and counsellors, the views of support workers and key informants are also described. Using a qualitative case study methodology, six clients with an intellectual disability were interviewed about their subjective experiences of counselling. Interviews were also conducted with their counsellors and with nominated support people. These interviews took place over a period of several months. In addition, single interviews were conducted with four key informants in order to gain an understanding of the local health and disability support services. This thesis explores the participants’ understandings of disability and counselling, discusses similarities and differences to general counselling and describes the outcomes of the six clients in this study. This thesis highlights four systemic problems that complicate the delivery of effective counselling services: (a) poverty, (b) health inequalities, (c) difficulties in the disability support workforce, and (d) social stigma. The thesis also draws attention to the need for specialised education for both counsellors and the disability support workforce. Researchers are invited to pursue further research. Practising counsellors are invited to engage in a rewarding, albeit complicated, area of professional practice.

This thesis studied genetic counselling for haemoglobinopathies within maternity settings that catered for a relatively large at-risk population. In total four separate studies were conducted, two were undertaken to assess the feasibility of counselling parents of neonatal traits and current practices of other haemoglobinopathy centres in this area.  The counselling and screening facilities available to pregnant women and their partners were also explored in a third survey and a final study looked at the knowledge/skill base of midwives at the forefront of maternity services. These studies collectively provided a unique insight into genetic counselling for carrier individuals within maternity settings in Birmingham. In the first study (Centre Survey - CS) the key findings highlighted that not all centres routinely followed up neonatal traits in the same way as those diagnosed with a major haemoglobinopathy. Likewise disparities existed in the way appointments were made and the venues used for counselling appointments. In the Neonatal Trait Survey (NTS) a knowledge, attitude scale and emotional reaction of parents were used as outcome measures to assess the effect of counselling parents of neonatal traits.  The findings highlighted a significant improvement in respondents’ knowledge of sickle cell trait (SCT) and the disorder (SCD) after counselling. Attitude responses also demonstrated significant improvement post counselling. The Antenatal Survey (ANS) provided a ‘snapshot’ of counselling experiences of at-risk women and their partners at their antenatal clinic appointments (in particular during booking clinics). The findings showed deficits in counselling of genetic risk and reproductive options (including the availability of prenatal diagnosis [PNS]). The final study, the Midwives Survey (MWS) examines the knowledge/skill base of midwives in providing counselling for at-risk couples. The findings of this survey showed that midwives did not have the necessary knowledge and counselling skills to meet the needs of this client group.

No description available.

The occurrence of marriages failing as a result of one member of the couple having a homosexual relationship has increased since the rewriting of the law on human rights. This resulted in a heightened need for pastoral care of members of the family that were affected by this tendency. Of cardinal importance to this study and in light of the constant debate about homosexuality in the church, a Scriptural foundation is found in the handling in cases of marriage breaking up as a result of infidelity with a homosexual partner. The Praxis model of Zerfass forms the framework in which a new pastoral therapy is sought. As background to the study an investigation is conducted to find the possible causes and resulting effects of homosexual tendencies in the areas of psychology, physiology, and social anthropology. An empirical research form part of the investigation into a practical formulating of a suitable guideline for pastoral care. With the insight gained from the research, a practice theory is developed to fill the gap with a new and appropriate approach in giving pastoral guidance to all parties who are affected when one of the members of the married couple experiences same sex attraction (SSA) or get involved in a homosexual relationship. / Thesis (M.A. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

In this thesis, an exploration of the factors that prohibit and/or contribute to counsellors incorporating spiritual conversations in their practice with adolescent (10-15yrs) clients takes place. Through a narrative inquiry method participants from the University of Victoria in a masters level program in Child and Youth Care or Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies describe personal and professional reasons to support the inclusion or exclusion of spirituality in counselling practices with adolescents. Results indicated that practitioners’ personal experiences of grappling with spirituality and religion, professional policies outlining if a practitioner can or cannot converse with their client regarding spirituality, and the lack of educational training to incorporate spirituality for soon-to-be practitioners all strongly played into a practitioners’ reasoning to refrain from or engage in spiritual conversations with their clients. In order to move forward it is vital that practitioners begin to recognize that children and youth are spiritual beings, that educational programs within the helping professions include spiritual training, that practitioners are supported by supervisors when they feel that the inclusion of spiritual conversations is vital in their practice, and that organizational policies are adapted to allow practitioners the necessary time and space to engage in spiritual conversations with adolescent clients. / Graduate