Scant literature is available on victims of sexual abuse who are still presiding in the same environment in which the sexual abuse occurred. Sexual abuse has been shown to cause symptoms of depression, feelings of low self-worth, low moral judgment and feelings of guilt. This study attempted to enhance the career resilience of a sexual abuse survivor by means of life design counselling. The research questions focussed mainly on the characteristics of sexual abuse and career resilience, the influence of sexual abuse on career resilience and how life design counselling can contribute to the career resilience of survivors of sexual abuse. The study was based on a single case study (intrinsic) design and a QUALITATIVE-quantitative approach. The observations and qualitative findings suggested that childhood sexual abuse (CSA) did influence the survivor?s intrinsic representations about herself as well as about others. The findings confirm the impact of CSA on survivors, highlighting previous research on CSA and its influence on future development (personal and emotional), as well as future career resilience and career adaptability. Life design counselling made it suitable as an intervention to be used with survivors of sexual abuse since it explores clients? subjective identity forms as influenced by their experiences and culminates in the writing of new stories. The study contributed to a more complete and comprehensive understanding of CSA and indicated that the life design counselling therapeutic intervention positively enhanced the participant?s self-insight. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Educational Psychology / MEd / Unrestricted

One of the main challenges experienced during adolescence is that of developing a coherent sense of self, or self-identity (Becht, 2016; Bester & Quinn, 2010; Erickson, 1977). This study used a parallel (or convergent) interactive multi-method design, embedded in an intervention, to explore the possible effects of group based life design counselling on the sense of self of female adolescent peer supporters. The possibility of assisting more individuals by using intervention techniques in groups was also explored. The research study is embedded in a constructivist paradigm and, working from an interpretive stance, the researcher collected, analysed and reported on quantitative and qualitative data to gained insight into the participants’ experiences surrounding narrative group life design techniques and their possible impact on enhancing the sense of self. The overall findings indicate that the intervention programme enhanced the sense of self of the participating peer supporters. The mixed-method research results from this study provide a clearer view of how groups of adolescents can be supported to become better equipped to negotiate transitions in their lives, by enhancing their sense of self. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Educational Psychology / PhD / Unrestricted

Worldwide, the estimated prevalence of intellectual disability in developed countries is between 2% and 3% (Foskett, 2014). As a developing country, the South African Government show signs of taking the necessary steps in including persons with disabilities in the general workforce (Department of Social Development of the Republic of South Africa, 2015). Forthrightly, post school options for learners from special schools are limited (DSD, DWCPD & Unicef, 2012) and, historically, they have been encouraged to pursue work encompassing basic skills, with little or no autonomy – and denied opportunities in the formal sector. The study aims to explore the value of implementing life design counselling as a means to educate and prepare learners from the vocational school setting (learners with intellectual/mental disability) for opportunities after the completion of their formal schooling; and encourage debate around the training of the relevant role players. Moreover, to counter the adverse thinking the learners – and teachers and parents – may be participating in. Through the comparison of the value the learners ascribe to their current career guidance/counselling and when supplementing life design counselling to the already implemented model; the learners are introduced to innovative/novel options and guided through the process with support. The quantitative findings of the study did not confirm nor refute the assumption of the intervention resulting in an increased career adaptability for the participant. Even so, the qualitative findings supported the aims of the intervention. The participant was able to, and expressed wanting to continue to, construct his concept of self within his systems of functioning, while also actively pursuing his vocational choices and the means to attaining them. Overall, the researcher found the life-design approach used in the study highly applicable to the participant and the context in which the study was conducted. The possibilities and limitations from this study could promote further research in the vocational schooling sector, equipping the role players to better service the demarcated category of learners (learners with intellectual disability). / Mini Dissertation (MEd (Educational Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2021. / Educational Psychology / MEd (Educational Psychology) / Unrestricted

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the relationship between top academic achievement in Grade 12 and certain characteristics of career adaptability. The career construction theory and the counselling model for life designing constituted the theoretical framework for the study. This research study of limited scope was conducted according to an interpretivist metatheoretical paradigm. I followed a qualitative methodological paradigm based on a case study design. Purposive sampling was used to select participants according to their top academic achievement. A very important factor in all case studies is the collection of data from multiple sources. Therefore, data collection methods included the Career Adapt-Abilities Inventory, individual interviews, life line and life story. A deductive style of analysis was used to identify themes (concern, control, curiosity, confidence). Inductive analysis was used to identify subthemes. Based on the findings of the study the salient aspects of career adaptability were established as being concern, control, curiosity and confidence. The importance of career adaptability when negotiating change was demonstrated by participants in their orientation and preparation for the future, making decisions after careful planning and exploration, and seeking information, as well as having confidence in their own ability and choices. Finally the findings of my research study suggest a significant relationship between Grade 12 top academic achievement and certain characteristics of career adaptability. Additionally findings suggest that other variables such as participation in extracurricular activities, gender, race and socioeconomic circumstances should not be excluded and therefore need to be investigated further. Copyright / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted