Couple therapy is a frequently sought domain by couples who experience problems in their relationships. Couple therapy has been researched intensively, but few studies incorporate a holistic account of the therapeutic process. This study aims to explore and integrate the therapist's and the couple's experiences of change in the context of couple therapy. The ecosystemic epistemology and the narrative metaphor forms the foundation from which the therapy and the research is approached. Qualitative research methods are employed from within a naturalistic paradigm which allows for personal and unique meanings to emerge. Rich descriptions of the therapist's and the participant's stories of change are provided. Multiple perspectives are offered in the stories which reveal the reciprocal motions between the therapist's and the couples' change processes. Recurring themes are extracted from the stories which punctuate the pivotal change processes that were experienced by the therapist and the couples during the therapy. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

This dissertation is a study about the faith action called "care" and covers the area of premarital pastoral work and marital pastoral work (marriage enrichment). Much has been written about the issue that marriage pastoral care and counselling is more than just dealing with troubled marriages or marital problems. The fact can't be ignored that pastoral care and counselling when it comes to married life have an important role to play in the sense of prevention and equipping. Premarital pastoral work in the form of marriage preparation and marital pastoral work in die form of marriage enrichment, focus on the prevention and equipping approach. The focus of this dissertation is prevention and equipping. In an effort to achieve this, this study looks at how pastors are doing premarital pastoral work with prospective marital couples, and marriage enrichment with married couples. This is done according to a twofold process. The first step focuses on the content of the programmes that the pastors present to prospective marital couples when they do premarital pastoral work. The second step in the study focuses on the needs of prospective marital couples. In this regard the focus is on the themes for marriage preparation that prospective marriage couples would like to see the pastor address when doing premarital pastoral work with them. Further this research deals with the preferences of prospective couples as to the timing, duration and presentation process with regard to marriage preparation sessions. In this study empirical research was undertaken to determine how pastors of the Apostolic Faith Mission in the Western Cape are doing premarital pastoral work and marriage enrichment, and how this is related to the needs of prospective marriage couples. The research problem was to determine whether pastors are addressing the needs of prospective couples when they are doing premarital pastoral work. The purpose of this study is to provide some guidelines which pastors can utilize when they are doing premarital pastoral work and marriage enrichment. / Practical Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology)

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2005 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this thesis is to show the relevance of an application of hope care model to the Korean couples who are in conflict and confusion by being caught in the battle between Confucianism and post-modernity regarding marital values. Korean marriages face difficulties due to the increasing intluence of post-modernity in Korean culture. The disruption of the family is the most marked consequence of post-modernity, in which an attitude and value system toward life, marriage and especially self, is changing. Even though the increasing influence of post-modernity has weakened the influence of Confucianism, Korean marriage is still influenced by the tenets of Confucianism in terms of the role and status of men and women within four main areas: 1) education at home and at school, 2) sex discrimination at the workplace 3) military service for men, 4) the revival of cultural heritages as part of the rise of nationalism in response to globalization. It is said that the church has to take initiative to prevent Korean marriages from collapsing. However, the teaching around marriage in Korean churches seems to be mingled with Confucian precepts. This raises doubt about the capacity of Korean churches to contribute positively to the strengthening of marriage relationships. Marriage counselling in Korean conservative churches is being practiced within the framework of a reductionist view on biblical counselling. This is not sufficient in a post-modern Korea by the reason that this approach has the danger of ascribing all human problems to personal sins, thereby encouraging a one-sided God-concept in which God is only concerned with sins and righteousness and has no compassion for human beings in their suffering. When marriage is troubled, this God-image can lead the couple to severe guilt feelings rather than to the hope which can improve their marriage and enhance their mutual respect. Hope care, based on appropriate God-images and a constructive self-image arising out of God's faithfulness and our new being in Christ, could help couples to achieve a constructive attitude to life, to various crises, to self and to their partners. Since hope care model includes the sacramental concept of marriage, the concept of the grace and love of God and the concept of 'mutual submission,' it could be expected to adequately deal with the fundamental Confucian values (male's dominance, female's submissiveness and hierarchy), thus contributing to the attainment of the three key goals in the Korean marriage, such as equality, marital friendship and a closer marital bond. As a result, hope could then ensure a more healthy stance in order to help couples to grow in marriage relationships. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die tesis wil krities die noutetiese model. vir hwweliksberading binne die Koreananse kultuur evalueer en dit ver gelyk met 'n hoopmodel wat op groei fokus. Vir die doel word 'n analise gemaak van die invloed van confusianisme en postmodernisme op egpaarkommunikasie in Korea. Koreaanse huwelike is deesdae onder groot druk as gevolg van die invloed wat postmodernisme op die Koreaanse kultuur het. Die ontwrigting van die familie is een van die grootste oorsake van postmodernisme, waann die houding en waardesisteme teenoor die lewe, huwelik en veral die self-konsep besig is om te verander. Hoewel die groter invloed van postmodernisme die invloed van Confusianisme verswak het, word Koreaanse huwelike nogsteeds deurslaggewend deur die leerstellings van Confusianime beinvloed. Dit beinvloed veral die rol en status van mans en vroue binne die volgende vier hoofareas 1) Opvoeding by die huis en skool 2) Seksuele diskrirninasie by die werkplek 3) Militere diens vir mans 4) Die herlewing van kultuur erfenis as deel van nasionalisme in antwoord op globalisasie. Huweliksberading 111 baie Koreaanse gemeentes word deur die noutetiese beradingsmodel bepaal. So 'n beradering is ontoepaslik in 'n postmoderne Korea, omdat dit die gevaar inhou dat aile probleme toegeskryf word aan persoonlike sondes. Die gevaar bestaan dus dat 'n eensydige Godskonsep ontwikkel, waarin God slegs met sonde en oordeel in verband gebring word en Ole met patos en empatie nie. Wanneer daar huweliksprobleme is, kan derglike Godsvoorstellinge lei tot skuldgevoelens eerder as hoop. 'n Hoopmodel maak gebruik van 'n sakramentele paradigma in huweliksterapie. Dit sluit and by die voorstelling van God as Verbondspartner en is gerig op groei en konstruktiewe verandering.

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Marriage enrichment was developed to equip couples with the necessary skills and knowledge to help them achieve a happy marriage. It is successful with respect to the improvement of the marriage relationship and the encouragement of marital satisfaction. The marriage enrichment programmes that were developed up till now, were developed for the use of residents of First World countries. The goal of this study was to identify farm workers’ experience of marriage and their needs with respect to marriage, in order to make recommendations with regard to elements that could be included in a marriage enrichment programme for farm workers. A qualitative research design was used, as semi-structured interviews with the help of an interview schedule were conducted with thirteen farm workers who live and work on two farms in different geographical areas around Stellenbosch. Information was gathered by separately interviewing marriage partners, in order to ensure that conversations were not influenced by the presence of the marriage partner. Participants not only consisted of legally married couples, but also couples who were involved in a long-term relationship. The literature study focused on the circumstances of farm workers in the Western Cape. It also focused on theories underpinning current marriage enrichment programmes, and discussed and described the content of selected current marriage enrichment programmes. General challenges facing couples and which are typically included in marriage enrichment programmes were also discussed. Three themes emerged during findings and conclusions of the study. These include various sub-themes arising from the alcohol abuse of farm workers, and distinctive qualities of happy and unhappy couples. Recommendations were made with regard to these themes, while the theories on which current marriage enrichment programmes were based, as well as its exercises and elements were kept in mind. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Huweliksverryking is ontwikkel om egpare met die nodige kennis en vaardighede toe te rus ter bereiking van ‘n gelukkige huwelik. Dit is doeltreffend ten opsigte van die verbetering van die huweliksverhouding en die bevordering van huwelikstevredenheid. Die huweliksverrykings-programme wat egter wel ontwikkel is, is vir die gebruik van inwoners van Eerste Wêreld-lande ontwikkel. Die doel van hierdie studie was om plaaswerkers se ervaring van die huwelik en hul behoeftes ten opsigte van die huwelik te identifiseer, sodat aanbevelings gemaak kan word ten opsigte van elemente wat ingesluit kan word in ‘n huweliksverrykingsprogram vir plaaswerkers. ‘n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsontwerp is benut, aangesien semi-geskeduleerde onderhoude aan die hand van ‘n onderhoudskedule gevoer is met dertien plaaswerkers wat woon en werk op twee plase in verskillende geografiese areas buite Stellenbosch. Onderhoude met huweliksmaats het apart van mekaar plaasgevind, om te verseker dat gesprekke nie deur die teenwoordigheid van die huweliksmaat beïnvloed kon word nie. Deelnemers het nie net bestaan uit wettiglik getroude egpare nie, maar ook paartjies wat in ‘n langtermynverhouding betrokke is. Die literatuurstudie het gefokus op die omstandighede van Wes-Kaapse plaaswerkers. Dit het ook gefokus op teorieë waarop bestaande huweliksverrykingsprogramme gebaseer is, en het verskeie geselekteerde bestaande huweliksverrykingsprogramme se inhoud bepaal en omskryf. Algemene uitdagings waarmee egpare te doen kry, en wat tipies in huweliksverrykingsprogramme bespreek word, is ook bespreek. Tydens bevindinge en gevolgtrekkings van die studie het drie temas na vore gekom. Dit sluit in verskeie sub-temas ten opsigte van alkoholmisbruik tussen plaaswerkers en die onderskeie eienskappe van gelukkige en ongelukkige egpare. Die aanbevelings is ten opsigte van hierdie temas gemaak, met inagneming van bestaande huweliksverrykingsprogramme se elemente, oefeninge en die teorieë waarop dit gebaseer is.

Couple therapy is a frequently sought domain by couples who experience problems in their relationships. Couple therapy has been researched intensively, but few studies incorporate a holistic account of the therapeutic process. This study aims to explore and integrate the therapist's and the couple's experiences of change in the context of couple therapy. The ecosystemic epistemology and the narrative metaphor forms the foundation from which the therapy and the research is approached. Qualitative research methods are employed from within a naturalistic paradigm which allows for personal and unique meanings to emerge. Rich descriptions of the therapist's and the participant's stories of change are provided. Multiple perspectives are offered in the stories which reveal the reciprocal motions between the therapist's and the couples' change processes. Recurring themes are extracted from the stories which punctuate the pivotal change processes that were experienced by the therapist and the couples during the therapy. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

This dissertation is a study about the faith action called "care" and covers the area of premarital pastoral work and marital pastoral work (marriage enrichment). Much has been written about the issue that marriage pastoral care and counselling is more than just dealing with troubled marriages or marital problems. The fact can't be ignored that pastoral care and counselling when it comes to married life have an important role to play in the sense of prevention and equipping. Premarital pastoral work in the form of marriage preparation and marital pastoral work in die form of marriage enrichment, focus on the prevention and equipping approach. The focus of this dissertation is prevention and equipping. In an effort to achieve this, this study looks at how pastors are doing premarital pastoral work with prospective marital couples, and marriage enrichment with married couples. This is done according to a twofold process. The first step focuses on the content of the programmes that the pastors present to prospective marital couples when they do premarital pastoral work. The second step in the study focuses on the needs of prospective marital couples. In this regard the focus is on the themes for marriage preparation that prospective marriage couples would like to see the pastor address when doing premarital pastoral work with them. Further this research deals with the preferences of prospective couples as to the timing, duration and presentation process with regard to marriage preparation sessions. In this study empirical research was undertaken to determine how pastors of the Apostolic Faith Mission in the Western Cape are doing premarital pastoral work and marriage enrichment, and how this is related to the needs of prospective marriage couples. The research problem was to determine whether pastors are addressing the needs of prospective couples when they are doing premarital pastoral work. The purpose of this study is to provide some guidelines which pastors can utilize when they are doing premarital pastoral work and marriage enrichment. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology)

The following study is designed to look at one religious group and assess some of the social service needs as seen by the study participants. Since social services cover such a broad spectrum, it was decided to limit the study to marital counseling needs and related issues as seen by individual church members.

The increasing demand for couples therapy and its present low success rate led to the question whether Glasser's reality therapy, with its innovative approach, could possibly be of value to couples therapy in South Africa. Glasser emphasizes the importance of healthy personal relationships, freedom of choice and responsibility. In therapy he focuses on the fact that each person has control of what he/she does and thinks and that he/she should take responsibility for it. On the basis of a limited qualitative study, it was found that, with certain reservations, this therapy could make a valuable contribution to the success of couples therapy. Professional persons should be encouraged to apply reality theory in couples therapy, training institutions should train their students in this regard and more comprehensive and in-depth research should be undertaken to determine its value in larger and more representative groups. / Educational Studies / M. Ed.

As sometime course facilitator of the Marriage Preparation Course of my faith community, an Anglican Church of Southern Africa, I had become curious as to what meaning the couples had constructed of their participation in these courses, particularly relating to both the content and style of facilitating the Course. The research finding determined that the main value of the Course had been that the group discussions enabled couples to explore their personal positions on a number of issues related to marriage. The adoption of participative action research as a broad model for the Course is recommended to encourage the engagement between premarital couples and the course facilitator to create/find knowledges and practices that will prepare them for marriage. Furthermore, the course facilitator should adopt a not-knowing, curious stance toward the elements of marriage under discussion, employing the narrative tools of externalisation and deconstructive questioning to facilitate the couples' meaning-making. / Practical Theology / M.Th.(Specialization in Pastoral Therapy)

The purpose of this research journey is twofold: 1. To deconstruct the Christ-church metaphor in Ephesians 5:21-33 in pastoral marital therapy. To find a more ethical interpretation of this metaphor which can be used as an aid in marital therapy in order to deconstruct patriarchal stereotypes in marriage. 2. To discover the possible value of such an interpretation for marital therapy as well as to describe the journey with a couple who helped to determine the process by which this interpretation could be used as and aid to deconstruct patriarchal discourses in marriage. / Practical Theology / (M.Th. (Specialisation Pastoral Therapy))