The purpose of this research was to investigate and describe the experience of lesbian parents and their adolescents regarding the adolescents’ development of a sense of self in the lesbian home, in order to compile guidelines that can provide help to these parents. The subject was investigated from both a pastoral base theory (normative perspective) and a Gestalt theoretical perspective (paradigmatic perspective). A qualitative approach was followed for the purpose of this study, with semi-structured interviewing with the adolescents and their parents respectively. Adolescents were also requested to make collages that served as an additional data gathering method. The sample group consisted of five adolescent boys and four adolescent girls, some of who were siblings, from six lesbian families respectively. Seven of the twelve parents were biological mothers from previous heterosexual marriages, and the remaining five women had no children of their own. From the literature review and the empirical results of this study, it appears that there are certain positive as well as negative aspects of a lesbian home that influence an adolescents sense of self. In lesbian homes where both parents are involved with the adolescents, share household duties equally and have a quality relationship with each other as well as with the adolescents, the adolescents are generally well-adapted, happy and able to handle challenges in order to develop a healthy sense of self. The positive influence that Christian religious certainty has on the overall development of the adolescents and on the sense of self, was confirmed through this study. On the other hand, adolescents experience the following aspects as challenging and impeding in their development of a healthy sense of self: Conflict and criticism from the companion parents are humiliating and destructive for the adolescents. Stigmatising, teasing and rejection from the hetero-normative society, as a result of their parents’ sexual orientation, appear to be the largest obstacle in their psychosocial development, which also influences their sense of self directly, because they react in a shy, negative and evasive way to the stigmatisation and withdraw themselves from situations that can be painful and humiliating. From the research findings, it appears that the absence of a father figure and financial tension in lesbian families are impeding to the adolescents’ healthy development of a sense of self. Due to the complexity of the aspects that can have a negative influence or impede on an adolescent’s healthy development of a sense of self within the lesbian parent relationship, the researcher realised that professional help, support and guidance might be necessary for some of the lesbian parents and adolescents in order to promote the adolescents’ development of a sense of self and the establishment of a unique identity. At the end of this study, the researcher was able to compile guidelines for lesbian parents as well as pastoral counsellors to help and guide them in their support to adolescents in order to enable them develop a healthy sense of self. / PhD (Pastoral Studies), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The purpose of this research was to investigate and describe the experience of lesbian parents and their adolescents regarding the adolescents’ development of a sense of self in the lesbian home, in order to compile guidelines that can provide help to these parents. The subject was investigated from both a pastoral base theory (normative perspective) and a Gestalt theoretical perspective (paradigmatic perspective). A qualitative approach was followed for the purpose of this study, with semi-structured interviewing with the adolescents and their parents respectively. Adolescents were also requested to make collages that served as an additional data gathering method. The sample group consisted of five adolescent boys and four adolescent girls, some of who were siblings, from six lesbian families respectively. Seven of the twelve parents were biological mothers from previous heterosexual marriages, and the remaining five women had no children of their own. From the literature review and the empirical results of this study, it appears that there are certain positive as well as negative aspects of a lesbian home that influence an adolescents sense of self. In lesbian homes where both parents are involved with the adolescents, share household duties equally and have a quality relationship with each other as well as with the adolescents, the adolescents are generally well-adapted, happy and able to handle challenges in order to develop a healthy sense of self. The positive influence that Christian religious certainty has on the overall development of the adolescents and on the sense of self, was confirmed through this study. On the other hand, adolescents experience the following aspects as challenging and impeding in their development of a healthy sense of self: Conflict and criticism from the companion parents are humiliating and destructive for the adolescents. Stigmatising, teasing and rejection from the hetero-normative society, as a result of their parents’ sexual orientation, appear to be the largest obstacle in their psychosocial development, which also influences their sense of self directly, because they react in a shy, negative and evasive way to the stigmatisation and withdraw themselves from situations that can be painful and humiliating. From the research findings, it appears that the absence of a father figure and financial tension in lesbian families are impeding to the adolescents’ healthy development of a sense of self. Due to the complexity of the aspects that can have a negative influence or impede on an adolescent’s healthy development of a sense of self within the lesbian parent relationship, the researcher realised that professional help, support and guidance might be necessary for some of the lesbian parents and adolescents in order to promote the adolescents’ development of a sense of self and the establishment of a unique identity. At the end of this study, the researcher was able to compile guidelines for lesbian parents as well as pastoral counsellors to help and guide them in their support to adolescents in order to enable them develop a healthy sense of self. / PhD (Pastoral Studies), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Thesis (M. Diac. (Spelterapie)) / Die navorser het met hierdie intervensiestudie hanteringsriglyne vanuit ʼn Gestaltperspektief vir ouers met ʼn eiesinnige kleuter ontwikkel. Om bogenoemde te bereik, is slegs die eerste drie fases, asook Stap 1 van Fase 4 van Rothman en Thomas se Design & Development-model voltooi. Fase 1, naamlik die probleemanalise en projekbeplanning, het gefokus op die identifisering en betrek van respondente, die verkryging van toegang tot en samewerking van respondente, ʼn behoeftebepaling van die populasie, die analisering van die geïdentifiseerde probleem en die bepaling van die doelstellings en doelwitte. Deur die bestudering van bestaande literatuur en natuurlike voorbeelde, sowel as die identifisering van funksionele elemente van suksesvolle modelle is Fase 2, naamlik die insameling en sintese van data, suksesvol voltooi. Tydens Fase 3, naamlik die ontwerpfase, is ʼn waarnemingsisteem ontwikkel en prosedures vir die intervensie gespesifiseer. Deur die ontwikkeling van ʼn prototipe is Stap 1 van Fase 4, naamlik vroeë ontwerp en ontwikkeling, voltooi. Gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings is vanuit die bevindinge gemaak. / Social Work

Thesis (M. Diac. (Spelterapie)) / Die navorser het met hierdie intervensiestudie hanteringsriglyne vanuit ʼn Gestaltperspektief vir ouers met ʼn eiesinnige kleuter ontwikkel. Om bogenoemde te bereik, is slegs die eerste drie fases, asook Stap 1 van Fase 4 van Rothman en Thomas se Design & Development-model voltooi. Fase 1, naamlik die probleemanalise en projekbeplanning, het gefokus op die identifisering en betrek van respondente, die verkryging van toegang tot en samewerking van respondente, ʼn behoeftebepaling van die populasie, die analisering van die geïdentifiseerde probleem en die bepaling van die doelstellings en doelwitte. Deur die bestudering van bestaande literatuur en natuurlike voorbeelde, sowel as die identifisering van funksionele elemente van suksesvolle modelle is Fase 2, naamlik die insameling en sintese van data, suksesvol voltooi. Tydens Fase 3, naamlik die ontwerpfase, is ʼn waarnemingsisteem ontwikkel en prosedures vir die intervensie gespesifiseer. Deur die ontwikkeling van ʼn prototipe is Stap 1 van Fase 4, naamlik vroeë ontwerp en ontwikkeling, voltooi. Gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings is vanuit die bevindinge gemaak. / Social Work

Bereavement of a miscarriage is complex because of factors that are unique to this loss. There is no visible child to mourn for, no memories or shared life experiences. The death is sudden and there usually a lack of recognition of the significance of such a loss by society. In addition, women who miscarry are often in need of the absent social and emotional support that is provided with other types of bereavement. The suppression of appropriate mourning due to society’s inhibitions may cause further stress and long-term emotional consequences. Prenatal loss is unique in the sense that the parents do not know the object of loss as it would be with the death of a loved one who has been part of their lives and social structure. The anticipated child is both a fantasy child and an internal entity within a woman’s body. The loss of a baby is also the loss of part of a women’s self. The researcher is of the opinion that a miscarriage is a traumatic experience which, if not thoroughly dealt with, can cause great damage to a sufferer’s life. According to her, projective techniques in the form of play therapy can encourage women to talk about their miscarriage in order to deal with suppressed emotions. The purpose of this research was to determine to what extent projective techniques could be used in respect of a mother’s emotional experience of a miscarriage. For this study the qualitative research approach was used. The participants were selected by making use of purposive sampling as a form of non-probability sampling. During the empiric research two respondents attended eight in-depth interviewes with a therapeutic component. The first interview comprised a semi-structured interview schedule. Six interviews followed where projective play therapeutic techniques were used. The empirical data was obtained from the interview schedule and the researcher was the primer instrument of gathering information. The value of meaning that the participants attached to the subject was of great importance. The empirical data showed that the two participants were better enabled to deal with their miscarriages after the interviews. Thus, regarding the experience of the two paricipants, it was possible to answer the research question positively. It seems as if projective techniques can indeed be used in respect of a mother’s emotional experience of a miscarriage. / Dissertation (MA (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Social Work / unrestricted

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Seksuele misbruik is 'n brutale vorm van kindermishandeling wat kommerwekkende afmetings in Suid-Afrika aanneem. Hierdie traumatiese gebeurtenis het emosioneel 'n geweldige negatiewe impak op die kinderslagoffer. Hierdie studie is gerig deur die uitgangspunt dat terapeute, deur middel van Gestaltspelterapie, hierdie kinderslagoffers moet lei in die hantering van hierdie trauma en die gevolge daarvan. Die gebrek aan riglyne vir die terapeut om die seksueel misbruikte kind in die middelkinderjare te hanteer is as navorsingsprobleem geformuleer. Die doel van die studie was dus om vanuit 'n Gestaltspelterapeutiese benadering riglyne vir terapeute daar te stel in die hantering van die seksueel misbruikte kind in die middelkinderjare ten einde die kind te bemagtig. Om hierdie doel te bereik, is die navorsingsproses deur kwalitatiewe navorsing gerig en individuele gevallestudies voltooi deur die terapeutiese proses met drie kinderslagoffers te deurloop. Die data wat bekom is kon deur middel van data-analise en literatuurkontrole aangewend word om riglyne saam te stel. Daar is dus in die doel van die ondersoek geslaag, naamlik die daarstelling van riglyne vir die hantering van die seksueel misbruikte kind in die middelkinderjare. / Sexual abuse is a brutal form of child abuse that has reached exasperating proportions in South Africa. This traumatic event has an enormously negative emotional impact on the child victim. This study is directed by the premise that therapists', by means of Gestalt play therapy, should guide these victimized children in dealing with this trauma and its consequences. The research problem for the study was formulated as the lack of guidelines for the therapist to deal with the sexually abused child in middle childhood. The aim of the study was to provide therapists' with guidelines designed from the approach of Gestalt play therapy for dealing with and empowering the sexually abused child in middle childhood. In order to achieve this goal, qualitative research was employed, while individual case studies were carried out by applying the therapeutic process to three victimized children. The data obtained was analyzed, checked against existing literature, and used to compile the guidelines. Thus, the goal of the research was achieved, namely to provide guidelines for dealing with the sexually abused child in middle childhood. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

Bestaande navorsing aangaande die terapeutiese intervensie met die dwelmafhanklike adolessent is beperk, veral navorsing wat fokus op die bewuswordingsproses tydens die terapeutiese intervensie. In hierdie studie is gepoog om die benuttingswaarde van Gestalthulpmiddels ten opsigte van die verhoging van bewuswording by die dwelmafhanklike adolessent, tydens die terapeutiese proses vas te stel. Die navorsingsproses is deur kwalitatiewe navorsing gering om in hierdie doel te slaag. Die navorsingsinligting is met behulp van 'n uitgebreide literatuurstudie, asook deur middel van die waarneming en bestudering van twaalf gevallestudies bekom. Die benuttingswaarde en die toepassingsmoontlikhede van die Gestalthulpmiddels binne die Gestaltterapeutiese proses met die dwelmafhanklike adolessent, is verken en beskryf. Deur middel van die prossesering en integrering van die bevindinge wat tydens die empiries ondersoek verkry is, kon die data vir praktiese doeleindes toegepas word. 'n Riglyn wat vir die verhoging van bewuswording by die dwelmafhanklike adolessent gebruik kan word is aanbeveel. SUMMARY Existing research on the therapeutic intervention with the drug-addicted adolescent is limited, especially research that focused on the awareness process during therapeutic involvement. This study attempt to determine the face value of Gestalt helping aids throughout the improved awareness of the drug-addicted adolescent during the therapeutic process. A qualitative research approach was followed to achieve this goal. The research data is gained by a detailed literature study, as well as by the observation and study of twelve case studies. The value and the possibilities of application of the Gestalt helping aids in the Gestalt therapeutic process with the drug-addicted adolescent, is examined and described. By processing and integrating the assumptions obtained during the empirical study, the data could have been practically applied. As suggested out of this study a guideline can be developed for the improvement of awareness of the drug addicted adolescent. / Social work / M.Diac (Play Therapy)

Alkoholmisbruik is tans n sosiale kwessie in Suid–Afrika, asook in die res van die wêreld. Die kind in sy middelkinderjare lewensfase se belewenis van sy alkoholmisbruik–gesin kom in verskillende ontwikkelingsterreine na vore, in sy daaglikse interaksie met sy gesin asook in sy wyer skakeling . Alhoewel hy homself gedurende hierdie fase in n losmakingsproses om onafhanklikheid bevind, bly sy gesin steeds vir hom n bron van sekuriteit, hulp en ondersteuning. Vir die navorsingsmetodologie is die proses in tabelformaat weergegee met behulp van n onderverdeling in vier fases. Tydens die eerste fase, die aanvanklike beplanning en probleem–formulering, het hoofsaaklik drie aspekte aandag geniet, naamlik die navorsingsonderwerp, probleem–formulering en die doel met die nodige doelwitte. Die doel van die kwalitatiewe studie wat vanuit die probleem–formulering voortgespruit het, was om plattelandse kinders in die middelkinderjare se belewenis van alkoholmisbruik in hul gesinne waarvan hul deel vorm, te beskryf. Tydens die formele beplanning in die tweede fase is die inligting deur middel van triangulering ingesamel en is op die navorsingsbenadering en –strategieë gefokus. Vanuit verskillende bronne is inligting verken om die plattelandse kind in die middelkinderjare lewensfase wat deel vorm van die alkoholmisbruik–gesin se belewenisse, te beskryf. n Literatuurstudie het die samestelling en uiteensetting moontlik gemaak vir n profielstudie vanuit n paradigmatiese perspektief van die kind. In die derde fase is aandag gegee aan die empiriese ondersoek waartydens triangulering praktykgerig voortgesit is met behulp van sinsvoltooing met vyf kinderrespondente, voltooiing van n selfontwerpte vraelys wat opgevolg is met semi–gestruktureerde onderhoude met vyf ouers en vyf onderwysers. Gedurende die vierde fase het die interpretering en integrering van die bevindinge gerealiseer. Die gevolgtrekkings waartoe gekom is, is veral geleë in die leemte op nasionale vlak en op die platteland ten opsigte van spesifiek die kind se belewenis van sy alkoholmisbruik–gesin asook sy omgewing. Dit het ook duidelik geword dat daar aandag gegee moet word aan alkoholmisbruik as verskynsel en die alkoholmisbruikte–huweliksverhouding en dat onkunde bestaan ten opsigte van ouerskap en die belewenis van die kind as betrokkene by sy alkoholmisbruik–gesin. Om hierdie redes word aanbeveel dat daar gefokus moet word op die kind se proses, maar ook dat ouers, onderwysers en maatskaplike werkers wat deel vorm van die ondersteuningsnetwerk vir hierdie kinders, die nodige kennis en insig deur middel van opleidingsprogramme behoort te ontvang. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Alkoholmisbruik is tans n sosiale kwessie in Suid–Afrika, asook in die res van die wêreld. Die kind in sy middelkinderjare lewensfase se belewenis van sy alkoholmisbruik–gesin kom in verskillende ontwikkelingsterreine na vore, in sy daaglikse interaksie met sy gesin asook in sy wyer skakeling . Alhoewel hy homself gedurende hierdie fase in n losmakingsproses om onafhanklikheid bevind, bly sy gesin steeds vir hom n bron van sekuriteit, hulp en ondersteuning. Vir die navorsingsmetodologie is die proses in tabelformaat weergegee met behulp van n onderverdeling in vier fases. Tydens die eerste fase, die aanvanklike beplanning en probleem–formulering, het hoofsaaklik drie aspekte aandag geniet, naamlik die navorsingsonderwerp, probleem–formulering en die doel met die nodige doelwitte. Die doel van die kwalitatiewe studie wat vanuit die probleem–formulering voortgespruit het, was om plattelandse kinders in die middelkinderjare se belewenis van alkoholmisbruik in hul gesinne waarvan hul deel vorm, te beskryf. Tydens die formele beplanning in die tweede fase is die inligting deur middel van triangulering ingesamel en is op die navorsingsbenadering en –strategieë gefokus. Vanuit verskillende bronne is inligting verken om die plattelandse kind in die middelkinderjare lewensfase wat deel vorm van die alkoholmisbruik–gesin se belewenisse, te beskryf. n Literatuurstudie het die samestelling en uiteensetting moontlik gemaak vir n profielstudie vanuit n paradigmatiese perspektief van die kind. In die derde fase is aandag gegee aan die empiriese ondersoek waartydens triangulering praktykgerig voortgesit is met behulp van sinsvoltooing met vyf kinderrespondente, voltooiing van n selfontwerpte vraelys wat opgevolg is met semi–gestruktureerde onderhoude met vyf ouers en vyf onderwysers. Gedurende die vierde fase het die interpretering en integrering van die bevindinge gerealiseer. Die gevolgtrekkings waartoe gekom is, is veral geleë in die leemte op nasionale vlak en op die platteland ten opsigte van spesifiek die kind se belewenis van sy alkoholmisbruik–gesin asook sy omgewing. Dit het ook duidelik geword dat daar aandag gegee moet word aan alkoholmisbruik as verskynsel en die alkoholmisbruikte–huweliksverhouding en dat onkunde bestaan ten opsigte van ouerskap en die belewenis van die kind as betrokkene by sy alkoholmisbruik–gesin. Om hierdie redes word aanbeveel dat daar gefokus moet word op die kind se proses, maar ook dat ouers, onderwysers en maatskaplike werkers wat deel vorm van die ondersteuningsnetwerk vir hierdie kinders, die nodige kennis en insig deur middel van opleidingsprogramme behoort te ontvang. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Bestaande navorsing aangaande die terapeutiese intervensie met die dwelmafhanklike adolessent is beperk, veral navorsing wat fokus op die bewuswordingsproses tydens die terapeutiese intervensie. In hierdie studie is gepoog om die benuttingswaarde van Gestalthulpmiddels ten opsigte van die verhoging van bewuswording by die dwelmafhanklike adolessent, tydens die terapeutiese proses vas te stel. Die navorsingsproses is deur kwalitatiewe navorsing gering om in hierdie doel te slaag. Die navorsingsinligting is met behulp van 'n uitgebreide literatuurstudie, asook deur middel van die waarneming en bestudering van twaalf gevallestudies bekom. Die benuttingswaarde en die toepassingsmoontlikhede van die Gestalthulpmiddels binne die Gestaltterapeutiese proses met die dwelmafhanklike adolessent, is verken en beskryf. Deur middel van die prossesering en integrering van die bevindinge wat tydens die empiries ondersoek verkry is, kon die data vir praktiese doeleindes toegepas word. 'n Riglyn wat vir die verhoging van bewuswording by die dwelmafhanklike adolessent gebruik kan word is aanbeveel. SUMMARY Existing research on the therapeutic intervention with the drug-addicted adolescent is limited, especially research that focused on the awareness process during therapeutic involvement. This study attempt to determine the face value of Gestalt helping aids throughout the improved awareness of the drug-addicted adolescent during the therapeutic process. A qualitative research approach was followed to achieve this goal. The research data is gained by a detailed literature study, as well as by the observation and study of twelve case studies. The value and the possibilities of application of the Gestalt helping aids in the Gestalt therapeutic process with the drug-addicted adolescent, is examined and described. By processing and integrating the assumptions obtained during the empirical study, the data could have been practically applied. As suggested out of this study a guideline can be developed for the improvement of awareness of the drug addicted adolescent. / Social work / M.Diac (Play Therapy)