This research is aimed at the needs of counsellors working with children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. A lack of sufficient guidelines for this field has been identified in the relevant literature. This shortage has been confirmed by experienced counsellors working with children. To reach the required goal a number of objectives were set. This included setting up a theoretical framework by way of a literature study as well as consultation with experts in the field; studying the developmental needs of children in the mid childhood phase and how these needs are influenced by HIV/AIDS; the need for guidance of children affected by AIDS as well as the role that counsellors can play in this regard. An empirical study was undertaken during which focus group interviews were held with a group of lay counsellors as well as a group of trained counsellors. Ten participants took part in the focus groups. Applied research was undertaken as the researcher aimed at establishing the true needs of counsellors working in the field. The empirical data showed the following: Ø Counsellors feel that they have a specific role to play during the therapy with AIDS-affected children. Ø Counsellors have definite views on the needs of children affected by AIDS. Ø Counsellors have listed specific skills and training needed by therapists working with these children. Ø Counsellors have listed definite shortcomings and needs that they experience in their work with AIDS-affected children. The basic need for the establishing of a protocol to be used in guidance of children infected and affected by AIDS was one of the key findings of the study. / Dissertation (MSD (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Social Work and Criminology / Unrestricted

Attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) describes children that show inappro-priate behaviour in two categories, i.e. 1) Inattention and 2) Hyperactivity-impulsivity and which are maladaptive and inconsistent with their developmental level. ADHD impacts the whole life of a child diagnosed with it. One of these areas that is impacted is the relationship between child and parent. As found in a thorough literature study, much research has been done on the relationship between parents and their children diagnosed with ADHD. No research has been done on parents’ experience of the dialogic relationship, according to the Gestalt theory, with their children that are diagnosed with ADHD. The dialogic relationship was research specifically in the context of the five principles of the dialogic relationship, i.e. inclusion, presence, confirmation, commitment to dialogue and non-exploitation. In this qualitative study nine parents’ experience of their dialogic relationship with their child in the middle childhood, diagnosed with ADHD was explored and described. A case study was used as research design to study how participants give meaning to the phenomenon that is being studied. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven mothers and two fathers after which data was thematically analysed. The trustworthiness of the study and ethical aspects applicable to the study were discussed and the limitations of the study were listed. It was found that parents apply inclusion and presence in their relationship with their child with ADHD. The application of confirmation and commitment to dialogue is a bigger challenge because the children’s behaviour results in parents reacting negatively rather than giving acknowledgement. Sometime it is difficult for parents to commit to the dialogue because the children withdraw from the interaction. The researcher made recommendations for parents of children with ADHD, for professionals who are working with children with ADHD and for further study in this field. / Thesis (MA (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) describes children that show inappro-priate behaviour in two categories, i.e. 1) Inattention and 2) Hyperactivity-impulsivity and which are maladaptive and inconsistent with their developmental level. ADHD impacts the whole life of a child diagnosed with it. One of these areas that is impacted is the relationship between child and parent. As found in a thorough literature study, much research has been done on the relationship between parents and their children diagnosed with ADHD. No research has been done on parents’ experience of the dialogic relationship, according to the Gestalt theory, with their children that are diagnosed with ADHD. The dialogic relationship was research specifically in the context of the five principles of the dialogic relationship, i.e. inclusion, presence, confirmation, commitment to dialogue and non-exploitation. In this qualitative study nine parents’ experience of their dialogic relationship with their child in the middle childhood, diagnosed with ADHD was explored and described. A case study was used as research design to study how participants give meaning to the phenomenon that is being studied. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven mothers and two fathers after which data was thematically analysed. The trustworthiness of the study and ethical aspects applicable to the study were discussed and the limitations of the study were listed. It was found that parents apply inclusion and presence in their relationship with their child with ADHD. The application of confirmation and commitment to dialogue is a bigger challenge because the children’s behaviour results in parents reacting negatively rather than giving acknowledgement. Sometime it is difficult for parents to commit to the dialogue because the children withdraw from the interaction. The researcher made recommendations for parents of children with ADHD, for professionals who are working with children with ADHD and for further study in this field. / Thesis (MA (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

ENGLISH : Modern fathers often insist that men and women receive equal child rearing responsibilities during marriage and after divorce. It is therefore important to an increasing number of fathers in divorce proceedings, to be considered in the ruling over custody of the child/ren. Research with reference to single fathers and as head of a family was until recently limited. The goal of the research was to explore the experiences of single parenthood by the father with custody of children in their middle childhood years. A qualitative research approach was considered as the most appropriate approach for this study, since the aim of the study was to understand “the world” of the divorced father with custody of his child/ren in their middle childhood years. Furthermore, the aim of the study was to determine how single fathers experience parenthood and how it influences their lives. Through purposive sampling six (N=6) single fathers with custody of their child/ren in their middle childhood years were involved in the study. The researcher conducted a semistructured interview with each of the identified fathers. The researcher managed to compile a theoretical framework regarding custody, the effect of the divorce on a parent as well as the child/ren in the middle childhood years and the experience of single parenthood by the single father, by means of a literature study and discussions with experts. A decade ago, single parent families with the father as the head were a rare phenomenon. The situation is starting to change as the courts are more willing to grant divorced fathers custody of their child/ren. In the past, it was the norm that custody of the children was automatically granted to mothers. At present, the courts are using the best interest of the child/ren; and the ability of a parent to care for the child/ren as guideline. Since it is not always easy for the court to determine which parent should be granted custody of the child/ren, reports from social workers as well as the family advocate are requested. If one of the parties oppose the ruling, a report from a psychologist may be requested. During the empirical study, the data was analysed. The semi-structured interviews made it possible for the researcher to follow up particular themes that emerged from the interviews, while the participants were able to give a fuller picture. Each of the interviews was transcribed and processed according to Creswell’s qualitative data-analysing process. In view of the research information the researcher reached the conclusion that the fathers are successfully fulfilling their roles as single parents. The single fathers do experience role strain but with the assistance of their established support systems they manage to master their roles and tasks. As devoted fathers they wanted to continue full-time parenting after their divorce. The fathers are willing to make the necessary sacrifices and changes that come with single parenthood. They acknowledge that there are challenges but that the positive outweighs the negative. For future research, it is recommended that a bigger sample of single fathers with custody of their child/ren in their middle childhood years should be researched to obtain representative data in terms of fathers’ experiences of single parenthood. The father’s child/ren, family members and domestic workers can also be included in future research in order to provide valuable information about the role of the single father and the impact on the father’s functioning. AFRIKAANS : Hedendaagse vaders dring dikwels daarop aan dat mans en vroue gelyke kinderopvoedingsverantwoordelikhede geniet tydens getroude lewe en ná egskeiding. Dit is gevolglik vir ‘n toenemende aantal vaders in egskeidingsgedinge belangrik om in aanmerking geneem te word met die beslissing oor die beheer en toesig van die kind/ers. Navorsing met betrekking tot vaders as enkelouers en hoof van die gesin, was tot onlangs beperk. Die doelstelling van die navorsing was om die belewenis van enkelouerskap deur die vader met beheer en toesig oor kinders in die middelkinderjare te ondersoek. ‘n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is as die geskikste navorsingsbenadering vir hierdie studie beskou aangesien die doel van die studie was om die geskeide vaders, wat beheer en toesig verkry het oor hulle kind/ers in die middelkinderjare, se leefwêrelde te begryp. Voorts is daar met die studie beoog om vas te stel hoe geskeide vaders enkelouerskap beleef en hulle lewens daardeur beïnvloed word. Ses (N=6) geskeide vaders aan wie beheer en toesig van middeljarige kind/ers toegeken is, is deur middel van ‘n doelgerigte steekproeftrekking by die ondersoek betrek. Die navorser het met elk van hierdie vaders ‘n semi-gestruktureerde onderhoud gevoer. Met behulp van literatuurstudie en gesprekke met kundiges het die navorser daarin geslaag om ‘n teoretiese raamwerk saam te stel ten opsigte van beheer en toesig, die effek van egskeiding op ‘n ouerpaar en ‘n kind in die middelkinderjare, asook die belewenis van enkelouerskap deur die vader. Tien jaar gelede was enkelouergesinne met ‘n vader aan die hoof ‘n vreemde verskynsel. Die situasie is egter besig om te verander soos die howe geredeliker beheer en toesig van kinders aan geskeide vaders toevertrou. In die verlede was die norm dat beheer en toesig van kinders outomaties aan moeders toegeken word. Tans gebruik howe egter die kind/ers se belange, en die ouers se vermoë om na die kind/ers om te sien, as riglyn. Aangesien dit nie altyd maklik is om te bepaal watter ouer beheer en toesig oor die kind/ers behoort te kry nie, word verslae deur maatskaplike werkers, asook ‘n aanbeveling van die gesinsadvokaat aangevra. Indien een van die partye die bevindinge teëstaan kan ‘n verslag deur ‘n sielkundige aangevra word. Tydens die empiriese studie is die inligting geanaliseer. Die semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude het die navorser in staat gestel om sekere temas, wat tydens die onderhoude na vore gekom het, op te volg, terwyl die respondente in staat gestel is om hul omvattende verhaal te vertel. Elk van die onderhoude is getranskribeer en ooreenkomstig Cresswell se kwalitatiewe data-analiseproses verwerk. Op grond van die navorsingsbevindinge kom die navorser tot die gevolgtrekking dat vaders hulle goed van hul taak kwyt as enkelouers. Die enkelvaders ervaar rolspanning, maar met behulp van goed gevestigde ondersteuningstelsels slaag hulle daarin om die rolle en take te bemeester. As toegewyde vaders wou hulle graag hul ouerskap voortsit ná die egskeiding. Die vaders is bereid om die nodige opofferinge en veranderinge te maak wat ouerskap van hulle vereis. Hulle erken wel dat dit nie sonder uitdagings is nie, maar die positiewe weeg vir hulle meer as die negatiewe. Vir toekomstige navorsing word aanbeveel dat navorsers op ‘n groter aantal enkelouervaders met beheer en toesig oor hulle kind/ers in die middelkinderjare fokus om sodoende meer verteenwoordigende inligting te bekom oor hierdie vaders se belewenis van enkelouerskap. Die vaders se kind/ers, familielede, vriende en huishulpe kan ook betrek word by toekomstige navorsing, aangesien hulle waardevolle inligting kan verskaf oor die rol van die enkelvader en die impak daarvan op sy funksionering. Copyright / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

The study is aimed at looking at the emotional needs the HIV/Aids affected coloured child in middle childhood. An in depth literature study was done and shortcomings have been identified with regard to the HIV/Aids affected child, in specific the experience of the child within the period before the loss of a parent because of HIV/Aids. A number of objectives were set in order to reach the goal of this study. By the consultation of literature and experts working in the field of HIV/Aids affected children in middle childhood, a theoretical framework was set up which included the following aspects: HIV/Aids in Sub Sahara Africa, the impact of HIV/Aids on the South African society, the HIV/Aids infected and –affected child, the impact of HIV/Aids on the family, the psycho social-, emotional- and social development of the child in middle childhood and cultural diversity in South Africa (with specific reference to the coloured culture and counselling for these children). During an empirical study, semi-structured interview techniques were applied as a method for data collection in order to assess the emotional needs of the HIV/Aids affected coloured child in middle childhood. Interviews focused on the HIV/Aids child and the following aspects were handled: the child’s wishes at that specific time in life (excluding the parent’s HIV/Aids status), the child’s experience of other’s interest in his own well being, the duration of the child’s knowledge of the parent’s HIV/Aids status, concerning changes (at school or at home) in the life of the child due to the parent’s HIV/Aids status, the child’s future custody and his feelings and ideas about it, individuals whom this child can talk to about his feelings of distress/anger/hurt, the child’s feelings about the knowledge concerning the parent’s HIV/Aids status and the child’s experience of newly acquired responsibilities at home (or towards his siblings) since the parents were HIV/Aids infected. Applied research was undertaken to aid the researcher in enhancing the awareness of professionals in practice with regard to the emotional needs of the affected coloured children in middle childhood. The professionals can then be empowered to understand and handle the problems which can be caused by the unfulfilled emotional needs of the HIV/Aids affected children. A qualitative research approach was used in gathering data, in order to get a full understanding of the emotional needs of the HIV/Aids affected child. A phenomenological strategy within an exploratory study was used aiming to understand and interpret the research question. The research question for this study is: “What are the emotional needs of the HIV/Aids affected coloured child in middle childhood?” Empirical data was obtained by means of an interview schedule and verified the following: -- The HIV/Aids affected coloured child in middle childhood experiences the need for emotional safety, which is threatened by the knowledge of the possibility of the death of a parent, and insecurity considering their future custody. The child is experiencing a variety of emotions of which bereavement is the most common one. The child’s emotional safety is also threatened by other factors associated with the parent’s HIV/Aids status. -- The HIV/Aids affected coloured child in middle childhood expresses the need to debriefing. It is common that these children do not have someone to share emotions with. Proof of above mentioned assumption can be ascribed to three factors namely: the people involved are not aware of the need for debriefing, the perception that it is better for the child not to express their emotions regarding the parent’s HIV/Aids infection and last, the lack of skills on ‘know how’ in approaching and handling this specific situation. -- The HIV/Aids affected coloured child in middle childhood experiences intense emotions concerning the parent’s HIV/Aids status whereas bereavement, concern and sympathy are identified. A few of these children are partly in denial about their parents’ HIV/Aids status and claim that the parents will die because of Tuberculoses. A number of these children totally deny the fact that their parents are sick. To assist the child in handling the related emotions and the traumatic situation, it will be beneficial to get therapeutic support. -- The HIV/Aids affected coloured child in middle childhood experiences drastic change when the parent’s HIV/Aids status is disclosed, or the moment the child starts to realise that something is wrong. The HIV/Aids parent is concerned about the impact of disclosure on the child and therefore delays this process. When the parent’s HIV/Aids status is disclosed, the child experiences a crisis and does not have the inner strength or required skills to handle his emotions and the situation which he is confronted with. -- The HIV/Aids affected coloured child in middle childhood experiences a need for acceptance by peer group members and therefore fear that they will discover their parent’s status. It became clear that in cases where the peers have found out about the HIV/Aids infected parent, their reactions were negative. Because of this, the HIV/Aids affected child experiences anger and grief. -- The HIV/Aids affected coloured child in middle childhood experiences a lack of concentration at school, which has a direct negative impact on his school performance. School attendance is also influenced negatively because of the other children’s negative attitude towards them. Seeing that school, as a formal institution, will influence the child’s social-, emotional- and psycho social development, it is of importance that the HIV/Aids affected child is supported in his scholastic functioning. This study exposed the emotional needs of the HIV/Aids affected coloured child in middle childhood which holds possibility for future research. The information collected can be utilized for further studying purposes and the intervention of children in similar situations. / Dissertation (MSD (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Social Work / unrestricted

Children constitute a large part of the client group that social workers deal with on a daily basis. Establishing a helping relationship between the child client and the social worker is crucial for accurate assessments and successful interventions. In the rural areas there are limited resources for social workers and that impedes referrals for therapeutic interventions with children. The social worker is then expected to be able to intervene in order for children to deal with their problems and improve their well-being. If the social worker is unable to establish a relationship with the child client, then his/her assessments and interventions would be affected detrimentally. The literature is clear that an established helping relationship is necessary in order for social workers to be able to intervene successfully. This study endeavoured to qualitatively explore the relationship building experiences in the initial phase of social work intervention between social workers and child clients in their middle childhood years. The findings of the study showed that it is indeed a wonderful and motivating experience to be able to establish a helping relationship with a child and to be allowed to influence the child’s life. But social work is practical and sometimes has to focus on immediate needs and crisis decisions instead of solely focusing on building a helping relationship. First impressions are lasting and the helping relationship often has to be built swiftly and in difficult circumstance. There are a few major constraints to establishing the helping relationship in the initial phase of social work. Limited time and resources prevent social workers from committing to individual intervention with a child. Children are wary of social workers due to the stigma of statutory work, and building rapport is thus difficult as a result of the resistance the social worker experiences from the child client and/or his parents. Rural social workers often have to travel to the child client as the child does not have the means to come to the social worker, and these guest locations are usually not child- and/or intervention-friendly. The participants observed that the children are not familiar with play material which limits the initial relationship building activities that one can employ. An interesting experience that the social workers had, was that they withdrew from certain individual interventions with children for fear that they might worsen the child’s experience due to their lack of skills in working with children on sensitive matters. Certain professional attributes of the social workers aid the initial relationship building experience with children. It was observed that the natural appeal between the social worker and child plays a significant role in establishing the relationship and that it cannot be forced. Based on the findings of the study certain recommendations could be made towards further research in the future. Apart from discussing their experiences and constraints in relationship building during the initial phase, the children and social workers also made suggestions for practice. These suggestions were captured in guidelines for the readers of this report. Propositions are made to non-government organisations for training opportunities for social workers in the field. A few recommendations are also made to researchers who propose to do research with children as participants. / MSW, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Children constitute a large part of the client group that social workers deal with on a daily basis. Establishing a helping relationship between the child client and the social worker is crucial for accurate assessments and successful interventions. In the rural areas there are limited resources for social workers and that impedes referrals for therapeutic interventions with children. The social worker is then expected to be able to intervene in order for children to deal with their problems and improve their well-being. If the social worker is unable to establish a relationship with the child client, then his/her assessments and interventions would be affected detrimentally. The literature is clear that an established helping relationship is necessary in order for social workers to be able to intervene successfully. This study endeavoured to qualitatively explore the relationship building experiences in the initial phase of social work intervention between social workers and child clients in their middle childhood years. The findings of the study showed that it is indeed a wonderful and motivating experience to be able to establish a helping relationship with a child and to be allowed to influence the child’s life. But social work is practical and sometimes has to focus on immediate needs and crisis decisions instead of solely focusing on building a helping relationship. First impressions are lasting and the helping relationship often has to be built swiftly and in difficult circumstance. There are a few major constraints to establishing the helping relationship in the initial phase of social work. Limited time and resources prevent social workers from committing to individual intervention with a child. Children are wary of social workers due to the stigma of statutory work, and building rapport is thus difficult as a result of the resistance the social worker experiences from the child client and/or his parents. Rural social workers often have to travel to the child client as the child does not have the means to come to the social worker, and these guest locations are usually not child- and/or intervention-friendly. The participants observed that the children are not familiar with play material which limits the initial relationship building activities that one can employ. An interesting experience that the social workers had, was that they withdrew from certain individual interventions with children for fear that they might worsen the child’s experience due to their lack of skills in working with children on sensitive matters. Certain professional attributes of the social workers aid the initial relationship building experience with children. It was observed that the natural appeal between the social worker and child plays a significant role in establishing the relationship and that it cannot be forced. Based on the findings of the study certain recommendations could be made towards further research in the future. Apart from discussing their experiences and constraints in relationship building during the initial phase, the children and social workers also made suggestions for practice. These suggestions were captured in guidelines for the readers of this report. Propositions are made to non-government organisations for training opportunities for social workers in the field. A few recommendations are also made to researchers who propose to do research with children as participants. / MSW, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The research that was conducted focused on the perceptions of educators regarding co-operation with the play therapist in dealing with the child who has been multi-traumatized. The objective of the research was to determine the perceptions of educators regarding co-operation with the play therapist in dealing with the multi-traumatized child. In order to achieve this objective, information was gathered and a theoretical framework was drawn up through an extensive literature study and consultation with experts. An empirical study was conducted by making use of two separate focus groups. Empirical data was gathered through the use of focus group discussions. Fourteen respondents where included in this study. Applied research was used. The data gathered through the empirical study was used by the researcher to make recommendations regarding the co-operation between educators and play therapists in order to improve the therapeutic insets made by the play therapist. The researcher made use of an exploratory research design and the following research question underlined this study: What are the perceptions of educators with regards to working together with the play therapist in dealing with the multi-traumatized child. A focus group guideline was used during the focus group discussions in order to gather the empirical data. Out of the empirical data the following themes were identified: · Educators experience behavioral, emotional, and academical problems with the multi-traumatized child; · Educators has a need for information, skills and co-operation with others in dealing with the multi-traumatized child; · Educators have both positive and negative perceptions regarding play therapy; and · Educators do have a need for co-operation with the play therapist in dealing with the multi-traumatized child. The research showed that there is a need for co-operation between educators and play therapist in dealing with the multi-traumatized child. Co-operation between these two role players is not only in the best interest of the child but it also strengthens the input of both educators and play therapist in dealing with the multi-traumatized child. / Dissertation (MSD (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Social Work / unrestricted

The objective of this research was to establish what the influence of gestalt group playtherapy on the self-esteem of primary schoolgirls in a children’s home would be. The goals of the research were to build a knowledge basis by means of a literature study and consultation with experts in the field. The aim of this knowledge basis was the needs and developmental characteristics of the middle childhood years, the characteristics and problems encountered by the children’s home child, to assess by means of an empirical study what the influence of gestalt group playtherapy on the self-esteem of the child in the middle childhood years in a children’s home would be and the nature and scope of gestalt therapy. The study also had the further aim to make recommendations for the use and appropriate application of social workers working in the field of children’s welfare, especially the children’s home. For the empirical study the dominant-less-dominant model was used. The dominant data collection measure that was used, was of the quantitative kind with a small component of qualitative study to support the last mentioned quantitative investigation. Six respondents were identified and engaged in eight group playtherapeutic sessions. Applied research was used as the researcher aimed to find a solution for the problem of low self-esteem in specific children, namely the primary school child in the children’s home. The research resorted under the sub-category of intervention-knowledge-development. This type of research focuses on the practical application of research. The research design that researcher utilized, was the quasi-experimental design where one group pretest-posttest was being used. This design is useful to assess how an independent variable would influence a specific group. The data collection methods used were questionnaires, unstructured observation and the study of respondent’s case records. Empirical data results indicated the following: - the child in a children’s home has weak self-esteem; - the child in a children’s home has problems binding with the peer group; - respondents could already identify and regulate emotions in themselves and understand that emotions are not always correctly observed and interpreted in others; - respondent were very negative towards the children’s home and their committal to the home; - gestalt group playtherapy has a significant influence on the self-esteem of the above mentioned child. The research lead to specific recommendations addressed to parents, teachers, social workers and housemothers aiding them regarding the improvement of a child’s self-esteem. / Dissertation (MSD (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

The purpose of this research was to determine family patterns which limit the optimal functioning of the child in middle childhood with Bipolar Disorder and Cerebral Palsy. To achieve this goal a thorough literature study was performed with regard to the child with Bipolar Disorder and Cerebral Palsy. The nature, causes and state of these two conditions in the family were investigated. Cresswell's combined model of research namely the "dominant-less-dominant" model of investigation was used. The less dominant part of the research was quantitative where the "Hudson scale: Index of Parental Attitudes" was used. This is a standardised questionnaire that aims to measure the attitudes of parents. The qualitative part of the research produced more information regarding the above-mentioned aspects. Unstructured interviews with the family, as well as the multi-disciplinary team currently involved with the family were conducted. The "One shot case study" was used to determine the significance of negative family patterns. This is an in-depth study of a single unit and required that the researcher become part of the family and family activities for a specific period of time. From this specific family, patterns were identified which limit the child with Bipolar Disorder and Cerebral Palsy to optimal functioning. From the results it was clear that significant family patterns exist in this family which limit the child. The research question could therefore be answered and certain themes could be identified. With regard to dimensions of family functioning, significant patterns around affection, behaviour control, value transmission, structure, communication and external systems were identified which limit the child to optimal functioning. Through this the researcher comes to the conclusion that family functioning has a significant influence on the optimal functioning of the child with an affective disorder and disability. With these results in mind, it is important that families are guided in the handling of children with affective disorders and disabilities, so that these children too, can reach optimal functioning. / Thesis (MSD (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted