published_or_final_version / Social Work and Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Sociology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / The context of psychotherapy groups determine which factors are experienced as therapeutic. The nature of inpatient setting, the brief duration of the groups. and the concurrent nature of therapy were hypothesised as having a possible effect on which factors are perceived as therapeutic. For this particular study the added effect of substance dependency was taken into account. Each of these factors were discussed in a detailed review of the literature. The model of research used in the study was the attitudinal survey with the means of a questionnaire. The patients rank-ordered the relative importance of the various treatment experiences offered by Phoenix House. The primary research data was obtained by means of Yalom's (1985) therapeutic statement questionnaire. well validated in terms of reliability and validity. The statements have previously been used in a forced Q-sort method. In this study it was decided to leave it open as more factors may be rated as therapeutic than those achieved in a Q-sort. Time and expediency were also factors taken into account in using the questionnaire rating in an unforced manner. Open ended questions were used to obtain descriptive data regarding the helpfulness of group psychotherapy and their perceptions of concurrent therapy. A nonprobability sampling procedure was used. The present study addressed the following questions: 1. How do inpatients dependent upon substances perceive. in relation to other treatment methods, their group psychotherapy experiences? 2. Which aspects of the inpatient group psychotherapy experiences. as reflected in the therapeutic factors. seemto be perceived as most and least useful to people dependent upon substances? 3. How do the inpatients perceive their concurrent individual and group psychotherapy? 4. Do high and low valuers of inpatient group psychotherapy value different therapeutic factors?

Titled "Children of Addicted Parents", the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a psycho-educational group intervention for latency age children of alcoholics. The treatment group consisted of eleven children between the ages of eight and twelve, who have lived or who are living with an alcoholic parent or stepparent. Referrals were obtained from elementary school guidance counsellors, Family Service Agencies, Alcohol and Drug Programs and the Ministry of Social Services and Housing. The children and three therapists met one hour a week for nine weeks. The group's dual objectives include educating the children about alcoholism/drug addiction and its effect on the family as well as enhancing the childrens' inherent strengths by teaching strategies to increase self-esteem, problem solving and other coping skills. The program's objectives were carried out through brief lectures, discussion, film, art and therapeutic games. The treatment model has been evaluated using a quasi-experimental design. There was a significant change in the intensity of behaviour problems with a trend for a decrease in the number of problems, as well as a decrease in depression. In addition there was a tendency for an increase in self-esteem. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of how a problem-determined system developed around a case of drug addiction within the context of a system of relatedness. The epistemological framework informing this qualitative study was constructivism. The six participants who took part in the study represent the most prominent role players in the particular context of living. The individual battling with drug addiction, his parents, older sister, maternal grandmother and maternal aunt were interviewed. The methods of data collection employed were semi-structured interviews, a family-chronological event chart, genograms, and an eco-map. The interviews were interpreted using the hermeneutic approach. The different themes that emerged from each participant’s story were integrated in relation to each other and with respect to the collaborative sources of data. The most dominant themes extracted within this study are the initial reactions to Andrew’s drug addiction, life changes experienced due to Andrew’s drug addiction, support, as well as the meanings attributed to Andrew’s drug addiction. Further research into problem-determined systems in different cultures is recommended. / Psychology / Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology)) Psychology

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Sociology / Master / Master of Philosophy