Children who have sensory integration disorders face many physical, social and emotional challenges. Unusual emotional and behavioural reactions to sensory stimuli are often displayed. These children are referred to professionals including Gestalt play therapists, although formal training in sensory integration is limited to the scope of occupational therapy. Gestalt play therapists routinely utilize sensory rich activities during therapy. This study sought to explore and describe how Gestalt play therapists establish sensory contact with children who have sensory integration disorders. A combined qualitative and quantitative approach was utilized. A questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were used to gain rich descriptive data. Participants felt that the therapeutic process with these children was markedly different than with other children. Participants who were aware of their own sensory difficulties demonstrated an increased ability to accommodate these children in therapy. A need for increased knowledge and/ or training in sensory integration was strongly expressed. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

This study was directed to explore the practicability of play therapy as a support system to primary schools in order to offer the child an optimal learning opportunity. A need exists to support primary schools, to establish therapeutic services which will be available to all children with emotional, behaviour and social problems. Gestalt play therapy can be used as a source of support within the context of the primary school. It is important that the therapist and teacher have sufficient knowledge around the different developmental phases of the child. In this study the focus was on the general characteristics, cognitive, social- and moral development of the primary school child. A qualitative approach and by utilizing semi-structured interviews, were used in order to collect the data concerning the study. Results from the empirical research indicated that there is a definite necessity for therapeutic services, as support systems at primary schools, in order to assist the child to reach his/her maximum potential. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Spelterapie)

The aim of the qualitative study was to explore and describe the utilisation of Gestalt Play Therapy in Occupational Therapy intervention with traumatised children. An applied study was conducted and the case study strategy was used with a flexible design. Objectives for the study included conducting literature reviews regarding the profile of the traumatised child and Occupational Therapy and Gestalt Play Therapy intervention with the traumatised child. The empirical study included data collection and analysis, with data gathered through semi-structured interviews. The gathered data was analysed with the use of Creswell's Data Analysis Spiral. The empirical data showed that Occupational Therapists do utilise Gestalt Play Therapy in their intervention with traumatised children by drawing on their combined knowledge base of Gestalt Play Therapy and Occupational Therapy. Occupational Therapists then conduct a holistic assessment and treatment aims are set according to the assessment with a focus on providing holistic intervention. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)

Many fields of interest, of which Pediatrics is one, exist in Occupational Therapy. In the field of Pediatrics there are also diversity fields of interest. Many diagnostic groups are treated in the field of Pediatric Occupational Therapy. The traditional Pediatric Occupational Therapy process aims at treating the child holistically with regards to his cognitive, perceptual, motor and emotional areas of development. It seems that there is a tendency to focus on the more tangible aspects of development rather than the less visible elements such as emotional needs and problems. The question that might be asked is whether Pediatric Occupational Therapists are in fact equipped to deal with emotional needs and problems. Due to the nature of their work, there is a strong possibility that Pediatric Occupational Therapists can encounter children who suffer from emotional problems. These children are more often than not seen by Occupational Therapists although the therapists might prefer to rather work on the more tangibly aspects of development. This research study was aimed at assessing the need amongst Pediatric Occupational Therapists to deal with emotional problems. After completing the study it was possible to make valuable conclusions and recommendations. Gestalt Play Therapy was also proposed as a possible approach in dealing with children's emotional needs and problems in the course of their Occupational Therapy intervention. OPSOMMING Arbeidsterapie omsluit `n breë spektrum van spesialiteitsrigtings, waarvan Pediatrie een is. Binne die veld van Pediatrie blyk daar egter verdere diversiteit te wees met betrekking tot die diagnostiese groepe wat binne hierdie veld hanteer word. Die tradisionele Pediatriese Arbeidsterapie proses het ten doel om die kind holisties te benader met verwysing na die kognitief -perseptuele, motoriese en emosionele ontwikkelingsareas van die kind. Dit blyk egter dat daar `n geneigdheid is, en moontlik ook groter gemak bestaan om eerder aan die meer sigbare aspekte soos byvoorbeeld perseptuele en motoriese ontwikkeling te werk. Die vraag kan dus gevra word of Arbeidsterapeute genoegaam toegerus is om ook aan die emosionele behoeftes en probeleme van die kind aandag te kan gee. Die moontlikheid dat Arbeidsterapeute vanwee die diversiteit met betrekking tot die diagnostiese groepe wat ter sprake is in kontak kan kom met kinders wat ook emosionele behoeftes en probleme het bestaan. Alhoewel hierdie kinders opgeneem word in die Arbeidsterapie proses, is behandeling dikwels net op die tasbare ontwikkelings areas gerig. Die navorsing was spesifiek daarop gerig om te bepaal of daar wel `n behoefte bestaan onder Arbeidsterapeute om kinders se emosionele behoeftes aan te spreek. Na afloop van die studie, en nadat alle toepaslike inligting geïntegreer is, is daar waardevolle afleidings gemaak en is hierdie behoefte onder Arbeidsterapeute bevestig. Gestalt Spelterapie is ook voorgestel as `n moontlike benadering wat geïntegreer kan word ten einde die Arbeidsterapeut instaat te stel om meer effektief te werk te gaan met die kind se emosionele behoeftes en probleme. / Social work / D.Phil.

This study describes three case studies with three children diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, the focus of the dissertation being the sensory processing issues that these children experience, the limited intervention regarding this subject, and the possible emotional connotations that may accompany these difficulties. In the study, three children partook in six Gestalt Play Therapy sessions, where sensory stimulants were utilised as a medium of expression. The data was analysed, with the emphasis on the children's responses to the sensory work and the emotions that could be linked to this experience. A detailed description of the sessions is provided. It was found that these children were able to make use of the Gestalt Play Therapy setting, along with the sensory work, as a means of emotional expression. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

The aim of the study was to measure the presence of work engagement and wellbeing among Gestalt play therapists in South Africa. A literature study was undertaken to examine the concepts of work engagement and well-being, and a conceptual framework was given of the Gestalt play therapist and the work that they do with traumatized children within the South African context. This literature study forms the theoretical framework in which the study was done. After completion of the literature study, the empirical study was conducted. The researcher made use of a biographical questionnaire and four psychometric instruments to compile research data; it is the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Subjective Happiness Scale and Scales of Psychological Well-being. The data obtained was quantatively analysed, research findings were discussed and recommendations were made. The empirical data indicated work engagement and well-being to be statistically significant present in Gestalt play therapists in South Africa. / M. Diac. (Play Therapy) / Social Work

The researcher found little information in literature reviewed about how Gestalt Play Therapy is being used in the treatment of visually impaired children. The aim of the study was to expand knowledge regarding this issue. A basic qualitative research study of an exploratory and descriptive nature was undertaken to describe how this therapy may be used in the treatment of such children. A representative sample was drawn from the population, consisting of gestalt play therapists who previously provided assistance to these children, using a purposive non-probability method. Data collection took place through the execution of semi-structured telephone interviews. Collected data was analysed using the Thematic Content Analysis to search for related themes (in line with the objectives of the study) in transcribed interviews. The general conclusion drawn from the empirical data was that gestalt play therapy can be used to good effect in the treatment of visually impaired children. / Die navorser het gevind dat daar weinig inligting in die literatuur beskikbaar is oor hoe gestaltspelterapie in die hulpverlening aan visueel gestremde kinders benut kan word. Die doel van die navorsingstudie was dus om kennis uit te brei rakende die benutting van gestaltspelterapie in die hulpverlening aan visueel gestremde kinders. 'n Basiese kwalitatiewe navorsingstudie met 'n verkennende en beskrywende aard is onderneem om te beskryf hoe gestaltspelterapie benut word met betrekking tot visueel gestremde kinders. 'n Verteenwoordigende steekproef is getrek, volgens 'n doelgerigte nie-waarskynlikheidsmetode, vanuit die populasie bestaande uit gestaltspelterapeute wat al van tevore hulp aan visueel gestremde kinders verleen het. Data-insameling het plaasgevind deur middel van semi-gestruktureerde telefoniese onderhoude. Die versamelde data is volgens die Tematiese Inhoudsanalise ontleed deur verbandhoudende temas (ooreenkomstig die doel van die studie) in getranskribeerde onderhoude te soek. Die algemene gevolgtrekking wat vanuit die empiriese bevindinge gemaak kan word, is dat gestaltspelterapie wel in die hulpverlening aan visueel gestremde kinders benut kan word. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)

The changed appearance as a result of burns for a child in middle childhood years has several implications in terms of its physical, emotional, and social development. It seems that the burnt child in middle childhood years can benefit from therapeutic assistance, and specifically, empowerment. As far as the researcher could determine, Gestalt play therapy has not yet been utilized for this purpose nor has there been research done in connection to this. For the purpose of this study, the value of the Gestalt play therapy process, as described by Oaklander, in empowering the burn victim in the middle childhood years is explored and described. Consultations with experts as well as a literature review was undertaken in order to obtain background information about the Gestalt play therapy process, with specific reference to the empowerment aspect as well as the implications of the burn wounds and burn marks on the burn victim in the middle childhood years. The literature studied produced a theoretical framework within which this study was performed. Following the literature review, an empirical investigation into Gestalt play therapy was used, with the focus on empowerment. A qualitative study was conducted with a single case study as data collection method. For the duration of the empirical study, 17 therapeutic sessions were conducted with the participant, within the framework of qualitative research investigation. Data collected was described, analysed, and verified through a literature study. This study came to the conclusion that the Gestalt play therapy process is valuable in the empowerment of a burn victim in middle childhood years. It was particularly the therapeutic relationship and the elements that focused on the strengthening of the self, which was valuable in empowering the participant. The information is described in an article according to the guidelines for the Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk journal entitled: “Empowerment of a burn victim through the Gestalt play therapy process”. Various elements are discussed respectively as used in the case study to empower the child. Section A provides an introduction and explanation of the study, which includes the rationale and problem statement for the study and research methodology. The article that followed, is discussed in Section B. Conclusions and recommendations that arose from this study are discussed in Section C. Section D contains the compiled bibliography, and appendices are in Section E. / Thesis (MA (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The changed appearance as a result of burns for a child in middle childhood years has several implications in terms of its physical, emotional, and social development. It seems that the burnt child in middle childhood years can benefit from therapeutic assistance, and specifically, empowerment. As far as the researcher could determine, Gestalt play therapy has not yet been utilized for this purpose nor has there been research done in connection to this. For the purpose of this study, the value of the Gestalt play therapy process, as described by Oaklander, in empowering the burn victim in the middle childhood years is explored and described. Consultations with experts as well as a literature review was undertaken in order to obtain background information about the Gestalt play therapy process, with specific reference to the empowerment aspect as well as the implications of the burn wounds and burn marks on the burn victim in the middle childhood years. The literature studied produced a theoretical framework within which this study was performed. Following the literature review, an empirical investigation into Gestalt play therapy was used, with the focus on empowerment. A qualitative study was conducted with a single case study as data collection method. For the duration of the empirical study, 17 therapeutic sessions were conducted with the participant, within the framework of qualitative research investigation. Data collected was described, analysed, and verified through a literature study. This study came to the conclusion that the Gestalt play therapy process is valuable in the empowerment of a burn victim in middle childhood years. It was particularly the therapeutic relationship and the elements that focused on the strengthening of the self, which was valuable in empowering the participant. The information is described in an article according to the guidelines for the Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk journal entitled: “Empowerment of a burn victim through the Gestalt play therapy process”. Various elements are discussed respectively as used in the case study to empower the child. Section A provides an introduction and explanation of the study, which includes the rationale and problem statement for the study and research methodology. The article that followed, is discussed in Section B. Conclusions and recommendations that arose from this study are discussed in Section C. Section D contains the compiled bibliography, and appendices are in Section E. / Thesis (MA (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The aim of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of professionals utilizing sensory-motor play (SMP) with young children (YC) in Gestalt play therapy in order to provide recommendations for professionals and to create an awareness of the value of SMP in Gestalt play therapy. Coming from an occupational therapy background, the researcher became aware of the potential value of utilizing sensorymotor play in Gestalt play therapy with YC. SMP, being a vital part of the sensory integration developmental process of YC, promotes body awareness through muscle movement and control. Awareness is one of the major aims of Gestalt play therapy. All the senses contribute to YC's awareness, including the frequently unacknowledged vestibu lar and proprioceptive senses. In order to treat YC holistically, the developmental importance of SMP should be acknowledged and integrated in the therapy process. Professionals young children working in this field, coming from diverse educational backgrounds, do not necessarily have the knowledge or experience of the utilization of SMPwith YC. A qualitative research approach with a case study research design was adopted in order to explore and describe the experiences of professionals regarding the utilization of SMP with YC in Gestalt play therapy, through applied research. The empirical data was collected by conducting two focus group discussions with professionals from diverse educational backgrounds. Two main themes with different sub-themes and categories were identified by analysing the data. The main themes are that participants are of the opinion that SMP enhances the therapeutic relationship and that SMP has a self-regulatory function. The researcher concludes that professionals gained a new awareness regarding the subject of discussion and experienced that uti lizing SMP in Gestalt play therapy with YC can promote and facilitate whole body/mind awareness and integrated healing. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.