Due to the fact that there has been a dramatic increase in the number of adolescents with unhealthy eating habits there is a growing recognition on the part of professionals, educators and parents for the development and implementation of an intervention programme for the facilitation of healthy eating habits. Relevant literature on eating behaviour indicated that low self-concept is associated with health compromising behaviours such as unhealthy eating habits. The nature of self-concept and eating habits was explained in order to determine important exogenous and endogenous factors as well as perspectives to use as a background for the development of a Psychoeducational intervention programme. Theoretical principles and practical applications of cognitive-behaviour therapy and hypnotherapy were analysed and used as a foundation for the development of the intervention programme. The researcher developed an Interactionism Model of Self-concept and Eating habits and a Psycho-educational programme involving cognitive-behaviour therapy and hypnotherapy to improve eating habits of adolescents. Valid and reliable measuring instruments were used in order to measure self-concept and eating habits. A pre-test post-test design was implemented to nine participants using the Adolescent Self-concept Scale (ASCS), Eating Habits Questionnaire for Adolescents (EHQA) developed by the researcher (2001) and Body Mass Index (BMI). Diagnostic measuring instruments also included the Emotions Profile Index (EPI), Draw A Person (DAP), Sentence Completion, Dietary Record and interview. Results from the empirical study indicated that adolescents with low self-concept and unhealthy eating habits responded positively to the Psycho-educational programme involving cognitive-behaviour and hypnotherapy. Specifically, there was a significant increase in selfconcept and a satisfactory improvement in eating habits. Recommendations for psychotherapy practice, educators and parents were made, based on the current research results. The contribution of the study lies in the fact that a hands-on practical implementation of the Psycho-educational programme was developed to facilitate the improvement of eating habits and it further contributes to the psychological well-being and healthy life-style of adolescents having positive implications for society. / Educational Studies / D.Ed. (Psychology of Education)

The Creation and Manifestation of Reality-theory was developed for this study. This theory provides an answer to why high functioning people experience problems at work, develop relationship problems, and other dysfunctions that occur in their lives. It provides an explanation as to why this happens: at a certain point in our existence a critical incident (or Initial Sensitising Event) or a series of repeated incidents is perceived by the person as traumatic. During this time of high emotion the child forms a subconscious conclusion, followed by a subconscious decision. The Hypnotic Blueprint is an accumulation of all the different subconscious conclusions and decisions formed over time at a time of intense emotionality, during which the psyche feared for its survival, repressed, gated and banished into the borders of the person's subconscious mind. Numerous other incidents occur through life that reinforce and bolster the original Hypnotic Blueprint. Simultaneously, conflicting ego-states are formed, attempting to balance the state of disequilibrium. Later in life, the original Blueprint is triggered, through the Symptom Activating Event, at a sub-conscious level and starts to operate in the person's life, attracting the circumstances and people who best replay or re-enact the original trauma on a symbolic level. This pattern will be recreated in the person's life, and will most often be the reason why the person enters therapy, or the presenting problem. Life acts as a mirror of the inner world or the psyche of the person. The inner world is mirrored by the other world, or reality. By changing our inner reality, we impact or transform our outer reality. To complete the Creation and Manifestation of Reality-theory, the Imago Developmental Stages identified by Harville Hendrix, were integrated, namely Attachment, Exploration, Identity and Competence. The therapeutic modality suggested is de-hypnotising. The study does not intend to measure the success of the therapy, but rather to establish and test the validity of the Creation and Manifestation of Reality-theory on case studies, using the Life History approach. / Educational Studies / DED(PSYCHOLOGY OF EDUCATION)

Due to the fact that there has been a dramatic increase in the number of adolescents with unhealthy eating habits there is a growing recognition on the part of professionals, educators and parents for the development and implementation of an intervention programme for the facilitation of healthy eating habits. Relevant literature on eating behaviour indicated that low self-concept is associated with health compromising behaviours such as unhealthy eating habits. The nature of self-concept and eating habits was explained in order to determine important exogenous and endogenous factors as well as perspectives to use as a background for the development of a Psychoeducational intervention programme. Theoretical principles and practical applications of cognitive-behaviour therapy and hypnotherapy were analysed and used as a foundation for the development of the intervention programme. The researcher developed an Interactionism Model of Self-concept and Eating habits and a Psycho-educational programme involving cognitive-behaviour therapy and hypnotherapy to improve eating habits of adolescents. Valid and reliable measuring instruments were used in order to measure self-concept and eating habits. A pre-test post-test design was implemented to nine participants using the Adolescent Self-concept Scale (ASCS), Eating Habits Questionnaire for Adolescents (EHQA) developed by the researcher (2001) and Body Mass Index (BMI). Diagnostic measuring instruments also included the Emotions Profile Index (EPI), Draw A Person (DAP), Sentence Completion, Dietary Record and interview. Results from the empirical study indicated that adolescents with low self-concept and unhealthy eating habits responded positively to the Psycho-educational programme involving cognitive-behaviour and hypnotherapy. Specifically, there was a significant increase in selfconcept and a satisfactory improvement in eating habits. Recommendations for psychotherapy practice, educators and parents were made, based on the current research results. The contribution of the study lies in the fact that a hands-on practical implementation of the Psycho-educational programme was developed to facilitate the improvement of eating habits and it further contributes to the psychological well-being and healthy life-style of adolescents having positive implications for society. / Educational Studies / D.Ed. (Psychology of Education)