D. Litt. et Phil. / Psychogenic infertility is both a medically and psychologically complex issue for women who have tried for several years to have a baby. Irrespective of etiology, infertility may be a very intense and stressful experience for both partners, affecting their relationship, sexuality, self-esteem, body image and identity. The ‘not knowing’ of psychogenic infertility creates uncertainty and anxiety, and may represent a crisis for many women. Conceiving and raising a child has social and cultural meaning that may precipitate a sense of loss about her female identity if she is not able to have a baby. The study’s exploration of psychogenic infertility entails four aspects: - an investigation of both the overt and covert attitudes of psychogenically infertile women towards dimensions of the feminine role, and an assessment of this quantitative analysis to determine which of the feminine role factors are significant - an analysis of the twenty-one case studies to investigate the life scripts of each woman and how these relate to: her femininity and her acceptance of her feminine role; her sense of motherhood and her motherliness; her own mother-daughter relationship; and to her psychogenic infertility. - a narrative exploration with one woman which incorporates these significant factors together with elements of her life scripts, using an integrated scripts, psychodynamic and narrative approach for the analysis - a storied account of the narrative exploration with one psychogenically infertile woman, in an effort to explore the relationship between femininity and life scripts in the psychogenesis of unexplained female infertility, and to investigate the possible therapeutic value of a therapeutic intervention for women experiencing unexplained infertility, specifically an intervention that would integrate: exploration of life scripts, psychodynamic understanding and narrative re-storying of her infertility. Therapeutic intervention for women experiencing infertility is often focused on the stress experienced and on cognitive-behavioural ways of living with the distress. Literature to date does not indicate a therapeutic framework based on an approach that integrates elements of life scripts, psychodynamic, and narrative therapies to explore how scripts about femininity and motherhood may be unknowingly preventing the women from identifying with her female role of conceiving a baby.

The present study was designed to determine if Progressive Relaxation exercises would be effective in reducing the response time of a single Parkinsonian on a specific reaction time/movement time took. A 75 year old man served as the subject for this study. He performed a simple response time task at two scheduled sessions per week, for a total of ten weeks. Starting the sixth week, the subject began relaxation training at each session. Data points that represented the average of ten response scores from each session were plotted on a graph and examined by regression analysis. Regression lines representing data points projected to 100 sessions were calculated for both treatment and non-treatment halves. The response time for the one hundredth session, without treatment, was calculated to be .5744 second. The response time for the one hundredth treatment session was .1628 second. Regression analysis indicated that the progressive relaxation program reduced the response time of the subject.

What is the ideal human upright posture? Where did it come from, how did it develop, what is its significance, how is it measured? What are the cause and effect of malposture? Much has been published on the role of posture in physical as well as mental and emotional states of the individual. This study was undertaken to investigate these issues, while at the same time aiming to find the position and role of posture in the physical and psychological context of human life. The first aspect of posture investigated was its definition. What constitutes good posture is still a debated issue. The conclusion drawn was that good posture represents the state of balance in an individual at rest and during motion. Ideally this state should be achieved with all the body parts aligned on top of each other requiring minimal effort and energy expenditure. The evolutionary origin of the upright posture in man was traced in order to come to a clearer understanding of the anatomical, biomechanical and physiological mechanisms involved in posture. The positions and functions of some muscles and bones have remained, and some have changed during the development of the upright human from its quadrupedal ancestors. Maintenance of balanced posture depends mainly on the coordinated action of the stabilizing mono-articulated muscles, and their place and purpose in upright man were viewed in the light of their origins. By so doing one is able to uncover their intended use and to identify misuse of these muscles. Development throughout childhood mimics the evolutionary process. A series of postural exercises was described, which follows the childhood/evolutionary pattern, and have proven to be successful in postural rehabilitation and body¬mind integration. In order to understand the concept of the upright standing posture, control mechanisms responsible for maintaining upright posture were reviewed. These included the sensory and the neuromusculo-skeletal systems. This was duly undertaken in accordance with existing literature, it was concluded that posture is controlled in association with all human functions. Following the concept that posture affects the mind and emotions, the work and theories of prominent researchers in the body-mind and postural integration field such as Frederick Alexander, Raymond Dart, Moshe Feldenkrais, Alexander Lowen, Wilhelm Reich and Ida Rolf were reviewed and distilled. This led to evidence that treatment of the body has an effect on the mind, that structure influences function and that postural equilibrium has a beneficial influence on both mind and body. According to numerous workers malposture in man is pandemic. Ensuing literature and empirical research on total body posture, and the position of each area of the body, from the head to the feet, revealed divergent causes of this problem as well as effects of malposture, including negative self-image, psycholological problems, pain, fatigue and the inability to achieve the full human potential. Although there is no obvious cause of postural imbalance, there are many ways of preventing or rectifying the disorder. During the course of a postural rehabilitation therapy, there is a good chance of uncovering the underlying cause of the postural imbalance. This can be as deep seated as a personality disorder or as clear as the fear of an old sport injury. The incidence and extent of postural defects were investigated in two small groups of subjects with the aim to determine the range of postural deviations, and the body areas most commonly affected. All subjects studied, leaned forward with the gravity line anterior to the ankle joint. Postural defects were prevalent in all subjects. Most of the subjects were categorized as having severe postural defects or gross deformity. Postural asymmetry and kyphosis were the most common defects. The conclusions drawn from these studies were that most people, in any age group, suffer from some type of postural defect, supporting the general consensus that malposture is a pandemic condition. The effects of postural rehabilitation were also investigated. Postures improved in all the subjects over a period of twelve weeks, with a more vertical body alignment the most obvious change. Postural rehabilitation has physical and psychological consequences. This was demonstrated by improvement in posture and increased body awareness, a decrease in the tendency to become fatigued, an decrease in back and neck stiffness and improvement in mental attitudes. Postural training in general could therefore be profitable for both body and mind, and an appreciation of good posture and its resulting efficiency represents the best kind of preventative medicine. Postural training should have a place in both Education and Health. / Thesis (D Phil (HMS))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Arts, Languages and Human Movement Studies Education / Unrestricted

Text in Afrikaans / Every person yearns to function as an independent and integrated human being who experiences inner peace and wholeness. The search for a way of life that leads to wisdom and life knowledge has continued through the centuries and according to Hancock (2005:8) it began as early as 40 000 years ago. This research study takes up this search, describing human wholeness from a spiritual, philosophical and psychological perspective, in the context of specific essential characteristics. Together with this, applicable therapeutic approaches were researched to structure an intervention model to achieve wholeness. Wholeness therapy is an eclectic approach based on medical hypnoanalysis with added aspects of the rational-emotive behavioural therapy of Albert Ellis, choice theory of William Glasser and Victor Frankl’s logotherapy. By means of qualitative research a case study from a psychological practice was described, in which a person was enabled to experience wholeness through wholeness therapy which is described in full. / Educational Studies / D.Ed. (Sielkundige Opvoedkunde))

Well-being is critical to fostering improved physical, mental, and emotional health among women. Regular physical activity also has significant implications for women’s health. Addressing the barriers that women experience to exercise may help improve exercise adherence and—ultimately—help to promote well-being in women. Mind-body therapies (e.g., yoga and meditation) have long been considered health promoting efforts with a well-being emphasis. Research confirms that these therapies are generally beneficial, safe, flexible, cost-effective and accessible. In addition, gratitude has strong links to mental health and life satisfaction, and has been shown to enhance well-being and facilitate goal attainment. There is an abundance of research on yoga, meditation and gratitude practices, though there is no program that effectively combines all three. This dissertation therefore developed, implemented, and evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of a health promotion effort that integrates elements of yoga, meditation, and gratitude practice. One-hundred and eleven women participated in the study (nexperimental = 56 and ncontrol = 55). Data on adherence and feasibility were collected throughout the program. Data on study outcomes (including well-being) were collected at baseline and again following completion of the program from both groups. Qualitative data were also collected to help contextualize participant experiences in the program. The participants adhered to the yoga component of the program exceptionally well. The average participant completed 125% of the yoga classes, 86.58% of the meditations and 88.24% of the gratitude practices. Paired sample t-tests were conducted to examine pre- and post-intervention changes in well-being between and within groups. Despite the popularity and positive response to the program - 93.10% of participants in the yoga, meditation and gratitude group (YMG; n=54) reported a perceived improvement in well-being - many of the well-being findings were statistically insignificant. However, significant improvements on disposition and positive relationships were observed among the YMG group; suggesting the intervention had a significant impact on experiencing gratitude in everyday life, as well as on one’s positive assessment of personal relationships. This study lays important groundwork for future and larger scale research to create and subsequently implement successful mind-body health promotion programs for women.

A phenomenological-hermeneutic method of study was used to understand the counsellor’s process of working through shadow. After analysis, 16 themes were derived, of which 13 themes depicted the counsellor’s process of working through shadow, and three themes depicted the implications of shadow work on the counselling process. The first 13 themes chronologically demonstrate the process of shadow work from the beginning birth of shadow to the eventual incorporation of shadow into a person’s beingness. The last three themes illustrate the implications of shadow work on the counselling process, specifically addressing aspects of client empowerment, therapeutic alliance, and countertransference. / ix, 278 leaves ; 29 cm.

Elements of heuristic inquiry and interpretive interactionism were used to investigate how four master body psychotherapists came to adopt body psychotherapy and how they approach their practice, with the underlying purpose of re-examining the notion of credibility. Co-participants were purposefully selected from four body psychotherapy models: Bodynamics, Hakomi, Somatic Experiencing ® (SE) and Integrative Body Psychotherapy (IBP). Each co-participant described the experience of a transformative epiphany, either major or cumulative, that compelled her to adopt body psychotherapy as a way of practice. The analysis of the metatheme "approach to practice" was informed by Lang and Taylor's (2000) concept of artistry in practice and Jarvis's (1999) concept of the practitioner researcher. Co-participants blended the art and science of psychotherapy in their approach to practice, and acknowledged the critical role that scientific research plays as body psychotherapy continues to establish its credibility and legitimacy within the broader domain of psychotherapy.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität Hamburg, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 167-176).

Thesis (M.Ost.)--Unitec New Zealand, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-93).

Text in Afrikaans / Every person yearns to function as an independent and integrated human being who experiences inner peace and wholeness. The search for a way of life that leads to wisdom and life knowledge has continued through the centuries and according to Hancock (2005:8) it began as early as 40 000 years ago. This research study takes up this search, describing human wholeness from a spiritual, philosophical and psychological perspective, in the context of specific essential characteristics. Together with this, applicable therapeutic approaches were researched to structure an intervention model to achieve wholeness. Wholeness therapy is an eclectic approach based on medical hypnoanalysis with added aspects of the rational-emotive behavioural therapy of Albert Ellis, choice theory of William Glasser and Victor Frankl’s logotherapy. By means of qualitative research a case study from a psychological practice was described, in which a person was enabled to experience wholeness through wholeness therapy which is described in full. / Educational Studies / D.Ed. (Sielkundige Opvoedkunde))