Supervision is a core prerequisite for the registration and ongoing education and professional development of various levels of mental health care workers in a South African context. There is, however, a dearth of South African literature that pertains to the supervision of such workers. It would appear that the dominant form of supervision of practice is dyadic, but such supervision is resource intense. This study explores a structured model of peer group supervision (PGS model) as a possible alternative to individual supervision. As the PGS model is in a preliminary, developmental phase, this research is also an exploratory investigation. The main aim of this study was to explore how a group of experienced, voluntary lay counsellors, working under the auspices of a national, non-governmental mental health agency utilised and evaluated the PGS model. Four peer group sessions were held with the group of ten lay counsellors, in their usual site of practice. A focus group discussion was then held, followed by the participants completing a semi-structured questionnaire. The intention of this research design was that the participants' perspectives be given priority in this investigation. The concurrent collection and analysis of data was achieved by employing a qualitative, interpretive grounded theory methodology (Addison, 1989). The findings considered the way in which the group utilised the PGS model, and examined the participants' experiences. The group of lay counsellors were enthusiastic about the potential for the PGS model to offer them a forum to collaboratively discuss and assist each other with their casework. The findings were then integrated with the literature pertaining to peer group supervision, as well as ideas from a variety of sources that discuss the construction of optimal learning encounters. The findings were then discussed from a perspective of situated cognition and the notions of local knowledge and communities of practice were used to propose a deeper understanding of the experiences of the group. This research undertaking resulted in the participants making some recommendations for the adaptation of the PGS model. Further recommendations for both the application of the PGS model and for research into supervisory practice are made. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.

A formative and summative evaluation of a peer counselling training programme at a college of education. The study investigates the appropriateness and feasibility of implementing a peer counselling support structure for students at an under-resourced college of education in a rural area. Existing peer counselling training programmes were explored in order to identify appropriate principles for implementation at the particular college. The exploration focused on six dimensions: peer counsellor roles and functions, - selection, -training, - support and - supervision, ethical and cultural considerations and programme evaluations. The investigation covered three phases: a survey and needs analysis, assessment of the appropriateness for, and impact of the training programme, on the 23 volunteers and an assessment of the service use and performance of these peer counsellors. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to evaluate all three phases. Qualitative analysis of the data indicated that students perceived peer counselling as a physically, socially and emotionally accessible support structure. Peer counsellors were seen to be a functional support alternative to the academic lecturers available for counselling, specifically in providing assistance with interpersonal dilemmas and in areas of mutual concern. Peer counsellor trainees assessed the training content and procedures as adequate, functional, applicable to the particular context and instrumental to certain personal developmental gains. The data were used to inform the implementation and management of future peer counselling training programmes at the college and to indicate inconclusive areas for future research. The study shows that peer counselling is a potentially effective, functional and complementary strategy to provide pastoral care at under-resourced institutions, provided that the peer counselling programme is customized for the contextual, challenges, needs and concerns of the particular institution. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.

M.A. / The Institute of Child and Parental Guidance at the Rand Afrikaans University presents a training course in Christian Lay Counselling. The aim of the course is to train people with a christian background as lay counsellors so that they can do counselling in a congregation and/or a church environment. This research entails a critical, scientific evaluation of this training programme to determine whether the experimental group's (n = 30) theoretical knowledge, counselling skills and attitudes was significantly enhanced by the training programme in comparison to the control group (n = 30). Chapter one addresses the problem and objective of the project. An overview of lay christian counselling is given in chapter two and in chapter three the training programme for christen lay counsellors of the Rand Afrikaans University is presented. The research procedures of the project are discussed in chapter four and the results of the research are given in chapter five. The results of the research are interpreted, conclusions are drawn, critique and recommendations are made based on the research findings in chapter six. The pass rate for the course in christian lay counselling was 100%. There is a negative correlation (r = -0,254) between the theoretical and practical mark for counselling skills. The growth in counselling skills is measured by using the "Group Assessment of Interpersonal Traits" (GAIT) by menas of pre- and post test procedures. The experimental group showed a marked, positive growth (p = 0,0160) in their application of counselling skills within a counselling framework. The control group showed a marked decline (p = 0,0156) in terms of the application of counselling skills within a counselling framework. The improvement in attitudes (personal growth) is measured by using the "Personal Orientation Inventory" (P01) by means of pre- and post test procedures. The experimental group showed a marked, positive growth in the following four scales of the PO1: Time Competent (Tc)(POI 1)(p = 0,0296), Inner Directed (1)(POI 2)(p = 0,0242), Feeling Reactivity (Fr)(POI 5)(p = 0,0255) and Intimate Contact (C)(POI 12)(p = 0,0013). The control group showed a marked decline (p = 0,0229) in terms of post test scores in relation to the Inner Directed scale (1)(POI 2). It would appear that the training programme for christian lay counsellors did in effect have a distinct positive influence on the experimental group's theoretical knowledge of counselling, the application of counselling skills in practise as well as the personal growth of course attendants.

Limited research has been conducted on the effectiveness of preventive programmes in addressing the needs of adolescents/youth. This study is aimed at examining the effectiveness of a training programme and whether the training conducted by the researcher contributed to equipping the peer educators with skills to undertake capacity building and empowerment programmes. The research sample consisted of fifteen peer educators who had undergone the training programme. The participants were all grade eleven pupils from the Hillview Secondary School in Newlands East. The majority of the participants in this research study reside in Newlands East. This was an evaluative research study. The data collection instruments were sessional evaluation questionnaires, verbal group evaluation and retrospective evaluation questionnaires. Secondary data were also collected from the school personnel to enhance the research findings. The research findings revealed that the peer educator training undertaken by the researcher was effective and useful in developing skills of the peer educators to initiate and implement capacity-building and empowerment programmes within the school environment. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

The devastating impact and spread of HIV/AIDS is well recognized throughout the world. HIV/AIDS counselling is one element of Voluntary Testing and Counselling (VCT), a process designed to encourage testing, provide support, care and prevention knowledge. Quality assurance,ongoing training and counsellor support are vital components for VCT to succeed. The implementation of mentorship for HIV/AIDS counsellors is recommended as an appropriate way of addressing current counselling concerns and providing professional and psychsocial support structures to produce benefits for the quality of VCT in the long term. This study aimed at contributing to the limited field of research on the topic of mentorship by conducting an in-depth examination of mentorship in general and in an HIV/AIDS context specifically. A qualitative, interpretative method, using both in-depth interviews and focus groups, was used to address three specific research questions relating to mentorship views of HIV/AIDS counsellors and mentors in KwaZulu-Natal. A grounded theory analytic technique revealed that mentorship provides multiple functions such as guidance and support to counsellors, ongoing training and monitoring counsellor performance, which inevitably contributes to more motivated counsellors and improved quality of work. This study hopes to give greater insight into mentorship, specifically from the perspective of VCT counsellors and mentors, to those key role players and policy makers that are involved in the development of programmes for HIV/AIDS counsellors. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

<p>Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust is an organisation that trains and supervises a team of women counsellors who provide a counselling service to women rape survivors. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of the counsellors and the counselling co-ordinator regarding their perceptions on whether the training provided by the personal growth and counselling skills course is adequate in dealing with rape and its complexities.</p>

<p>Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust is an organisation that trains and supervises a team of women counsellors who provide a counselling service to women rape survivors. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of the counsellors and the counselling co-ordinator regarding their perceptions on whether the training provided by the personal growth and counselling skills course is adequate in dealing with rape and its complexities.</p>