This study investigates the consequences of domestic violence for the people who are subjected to this kind of abuse. South Africa has a high incidence of domestic abuse, along with a high crime rate in general. The study aims to contribute to pastoral counselling with people who have suffered domestic abuse. The approach of the study is to bring insights from the field of psychology into dialogue with insights from Scripture and spirituality in order to provide a counselling model for pastors who are often the first to be approached for help. The South African Domestic Violence Law is evaluated. The causes of domestic violence are analysed in order to clarify why it is specifically rampant in South Africa. Disturbances that result from domestic violence are described in order to provide a deeper understanding of the effects of domestic abuse that pastors will encounter in their practice. Two counselling models that are deemed useful to pastoral counselling with victims of domestic abuse are narrative therapy as developed by White and Epston and the Logotherapy of Victor Frankl. These models provide the counsellee with the prospect of hope and meaning of life for the future. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lk2014 / Practical Theology / MA / Unrestricted

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Thesis (DD (Pastoral Family Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

See abstract in the front page: / Thesis (PhD (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Psychology / unrestricted

Narrative Therapy draws on an understanding of how discourse acts to construct, reproduce and deconstruct power relationships. Therapy is focussed on collaborating with clients in a process of re-authoring their self-stories by critically evaluating the positions made available to them in relation to dominant discourses. Whilst there is a large body of theoretical knowledge on post-structuralism and psychotherapy, very few discourse analyses of psychotherapy sessions have been published. Thus, though post-structuralist therapeutic approaches are theoretically well supported, there is an identified gap in the literature on the therapeutic processes that occur within practice. This research aims to further explore these therapeutic processes, focussing specifically on subject positioning with relation to gender in Narrative Couple Therapy, and the influence of the therapist thereupon. It is based on the analysis of a video of a Michael White Narrative Couple Therapy session, "The Best of Friends." Using discourse analysis as a methodological approach, the analysis seeks first to identify talk that signifies discourses of gender difference, and then to explore how the subjects (therapist and clients) are positioned in relation to these discourses. The analysis focuses on the therapist's activities to investigate the influence of his interactions with the partners on how they are positioned or position themselves within stories of gender difference. The analysis shows that, by working reflexively, transparently and collaboratively with the partners, the therapist assists to render power, restrictive discourses, and alternate positions visible to the clients. The therapist resists being drawn into dominant therapy discourses of expert and patient, and instead continuously recognises the knowledges and expertise that the clients bring to the therapy context. He then works closely with the clients to thicken alternative representations of self.

Afrikaans: Hierdie proefskrif wil vanuit navorsing met "n postmoderne, pastoraal-narratiewe aanslag iets vertel rondom seksueel-verwante geheime. In hoofstuk 1 val die soeklig op 'n verduideliking van die weg waarlangs die navorsing aangepak is. Deur gebruik te maak van die ABDCE-skryfformule van "n fiksieskrywer, is ruimte geskep waarbinne narratief-gebaseerde navorsing gedoen kon word. Die navorsing word derhalwe langs die weg van aksieverhale (Action), agtergrondsbegrippe (Background), die verdere ontwikkeling van die navorsing (Development), die klimaks (Climax) en einde (Ending) ontwikkel. In hoofstuk 2 word enkele aksie-stories rondom geheime uitgebeeld. Die verhaal van Tim, asook verhale en gesprekke uit Internet-gesprekslyste en verhale uit die media met besondere klem op hedendaagse kletsprogramme, word hier weergegee. Hoofstuk 3 bied 'n agtergrond van bepaalde perspektiewe rondom aspekte soos "language games", paralogie, dekonstruksie, postmodernisme, sosiaal¬konstruksionisme en narratiewe terapie. Betekenisse wat ons handelinge lei en bepaalde vrae wat aan ons praktiese denke lewe gee, word hierin uitgelig. Hoofstuk 4 bied "n dik, breedvoerige beskrywing van menslike seksualiteit. Verhale en perspektiewe rondom seksualiteit, "eksternalisering", seksuele mites in die samelewing asook 'n beskrywing van seksualiteit vanuit die etiese, Bybelse, na¬Bybelse, sistemiese en postmoderne perspektiewe word gegee. Hoofstuk 5 bied "n dik, bree beskrywing van die gesin waarin aangetoon word dat die heIe gesin, die groter gesin sowel as die gemeenskap by geheimhouding betrokke kan wees. Perspektiewe uit die Ou en Nuwe Testament word toegelig en daar word teen verafgoding van die ideaIe gesin gewaarsku. Verbond, skepping, verlossing en pneumatologie word as 'n Bybelse benadering tot die gesinslewe geïdentifiseer. Eienskappe van die moderne gesin sowel as die sogenaamde "tweede familie" word bespreek. Die verhale van Koning Dawid en Isak se gesinne dui op die bevryding van die verlammende effek wat die verlede met sy foute op die huidige gesinslewe het. In hoofstuk ses word aandag gegee aan 'n perspektief op seksueel-verwante geheime. Die geheime seksuele wereld van adolessente word ondersoek en aandag word gegee aan geheime temas wat mag voorkom. Intensiewe aandag word ook gegee aan die posisie van die terapeut in gevalle waar geheimhouding in terapeutiese sessies ter sprake kom. Hoofstuk sewe bied 'n samevattende kritiese refleksie op die navorsing, enkele gevolgtrekkings word gemaak vanuit my eie ervaring rondom die bepaalde navorsing. English: This dissertation attempts to relate something on sexual-related secrets from a postmodern, pastoral-narrative perspective. In chapter one the focus is on an explanation of the manner in which the research is done. By using the ABDCE-formula of an author of fiction, a space is created in which narrative-based research could be done. The research develops through action stories, background concepts, further development, climax and the end. Action stories concerning secrets characterize chapter two. The story of Tim, as well as stories and conversations from Internet discussion lists and stories from the media with the accent on current chat shows are shared. Chapter three supplies a background of certain perspectives on aspects like language games, paralogy, deconstruction, postmodernism, social constructionism and narrative therapy. Meanings guiding our actions and certain questions which gives life to our practical thoughts, are highlighted. Chapter four provides a thick description of human sexuality. Stories and perspectives on sexuality, externalization, sexual myths in the community as well as a description of sexuality from ethical, Biblical, post-Biblical, systemic and postmodern views are given. Chapter five gives a thick description of the family and shows that the entire family, the larger family as well as the community could be involved in secrecy. Perspectives from the Old and New Testament are shared and a warning against idolisation of the ideal family is made. Covenant, creation, salvation and pneumatology are identified as a Biblical approach to family life. The modern family, its characteristics and the so-called "second family" are under discussion. The stories of King David's as well as Isaac's families bring deliverance of the paralysing effect that the past with its mistakes might have on family life in its present form. Attention is focused on a perspective on sexual-related secrets in chapter six. The secret sexual world of the adolescent is investigated and special attention is paid to secret themes which might occur. Intensive attention is also paid to the position of the therapist regarding secrecy in therapeutic sessions. Chapter seven gives a summarized critical reflection on the research. This includes my conclusions from own experience gained in the process. / Thesis (PhD (Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

This research reports on narratives of people whose lives had been infected and affected by the devastating disease - HIV/AIDS. The core information, on which this study is based, comes from experiences of those infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS as well as from caregivers. It sweeps away statistics and places those seeking to offer help in the midst of those seeking to be helped. This mutual subject-to-subject relationship becomes the stage on which research/therapy, interviews and conversations are conducted. This study therefore opts for an approach that is informed by the experiences of those infected and/or affected and that addresses the realities of their lives. Care and/or lack of care is identified as a phenomenon, which is a direct reflection on how therapy (research) is done by those providing the care and perceived by those receiving the care. In the light of the experiences (stories) shared by the companions, it became evident that there is an existing need for alternative therapeutic ways, which seeks to embrace a therapeutic approach, which will minimize the external authority, or power of the therapist and at the same time maximizes the authority of those seeking therapy. The Narrative approach is explored as a possible therapeutic approach that could be used to empower those infected and/or affected pastorally in a less¬knowledgeable fashion that is not-controlling, not-manipulative, not¬-authoritative and not-knowing - as "guiding" metaphor which will permit the infected and/or affected to use their own thinking, understanding, emotions, creativity and own resources in a way that best fits them in bringing meaning to their own lives. The entire study seeks to emphasise the importance of a therapeutic approach, which seeks to symbolically embrace the "clouded" story of the infected and affected in a story of God's hope. In this approach the therapist simply becomes aware of the presence of a person(s) for whom the devastating reality of HIV/AIDS is an every day reality. This research does not claim to have the solutions or quick fix miracle answer to the complex HIV/AIDS phenomenon, and it neither claims to have the power to bring any neat conclusion to the HIV/AIDS story, but rather have the potential to stimulate a new story of hope and purpose in the lives of the infected and affected. This research emphasises a position where the infected and affected can inhabit and lay claim to the many possibilities of their own lives that lie beyond the knowledge, assumptions, expectations, goals and understandings of the therapist. A position in which the therapist simply becomes available to talk, listen and support. A position that will empower those infected and affected to tell: • the story of need as broadly as possible, • the story of the past, • the future story in the story of the past, • the reinterpreted story of the past, • the imagined story of the future. (Muller 1999:84) / Thesis (PhD (Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

The recent increase in the number of children orphaned and rendered vulnerable by HIV and AIDS in South Africa has placed an added burden on schools as sites of care and support. Education policies mandate schools to develop strategies to support such children, but this is no easy task in contexts where teachers are already struggling to fulfill instructional requirements. Literature reveals that teachers in under-resourced schools, where the problem is more severely experienced regard this increased pastoral role as an added responsibility that they do not feel competent to execute. Since there is unlikely to be any significant improvement in the circumstances of these children in the near future, there is a need to discover creative ways to address this problem. I was led to ask how teachers could support children to better cope in the face of adversity in a way that could be easily integrated into the academic curriculum, so as to minimise the perceived burden of providing care and support. Based on my knowledge of the value of bibliotherapy in promoting resilient coping in individuals, I was interested to see if folktales could be used in a similar way with groups of children. Working from an asset-based perspective, and proceeding from a transformative and participatory epistemology, I adopted an action research design to explore the potential of traditional folktales to enhance positive coping responses in children orphaned and rendered vulnerable by HIV and AIDS. My choice of traditional folktales was influenced by the importance that resilience theory attaches to cultural variables in the resilience process. The participants were isiXhosa speaking children who were orphaned and rendered vulnerable by HIV and AIDS (OVC) between the ages of nine and fourteen years (n=30) in Cycle One who lived in a children‟s home or with foster parents. In Cycle Two, the study was conducted in a school setting with thirty (n=30) participants. I conducted two cycles of reflective action research enquiry to ascertain how folktales could be used to enable teachers to meet both pastoral and academic requirements. In the first cycle, I used a pre-post time series design to explore if merely telling the stories would enhance the resilience of the children. Although this use of the stories was teacher-centred, I knew that it would be an easy and time-saving way for teachers to provide support, if it proved to be effective in enhancing resilience. Drawings and accompanying explanations were used to generate data pre-and post-intervention. The thematic analysis of the data revealed that, post-intervention, there appeared to be an increase in two resilience-enhancing indicators: the children appeared to have a more positive sense of self and improved positive relations with peers/friends. Critical reflection on the process also revealed ethical and methodological concerns and problems when working with vulnerable children. The findings from this cycle informed my second cycle, in which I adopted a more participatory approach to engage the children in making meaning of the stories and explore how they related to their own lives. I used participatory arts based methods such as drawings, collages, drama and more usual qualitative strategies, such as focus group discussion and observation, to generate data. The findings from this cycle suggest that using such strategies will equip teachers with tools to enhance the resilience of OVC in a way that also promotes the attainment of instructional outcomes. This study has contributed important theoretical, methodological and pedagogical insights. Theoretically, this study has contributed to the social ecological perspective of resilience by confirming that cultural resources, such as indigenous African stories (folktales) can enhance the resilience of vulnerable children. Lessons learnt from this study had a methodological contribution to the ethics of working with children and the use of culturally appropriate resources in the field, which were folktales. This study has also contributed to the meaning making implications of using folktales, which can aid the pedagogical strategies that teachers use. Although this study was meant to be small- scale research and was not intended to be generalisable, the findings do suggest that teachers could have a resource that is time efficient, effective and could assist them to reach both their pastoral and academic goals.

M.Ed. / The aim of this research study was to conduct Narrative Therapy with an adolescent with cerebral palsy and a cognitive disability, to determine his experience of the disability. The study was motivated by the fact that no research has been conducted in South Africa on therapy with adolescents living with cerebral palsy and cognitive disability. The reason being that it was believed that a client needs to have the cognitive ability for therapeutic change to occur. Recent international research has proved that therapy can be successful with clients with cognitive disabilities, if the approach or techniques are on the client’s cognitive developmental level. The goal of the study was firstly to give a voice to a seventeen-year-old adolescent with cerebral palsy and a cognitive disability to tell his story. Secondly, to determine what internal resources he has to help him cope with the disability. Lastly, to make recommendations for other therapists who want to conduct therapy with adolescents living with disabilities. A qualitative research approach with a single case study as research design from a selected sample was used. A qualitative approach is useful in studies where the meaning individuals give to there experience are investigated. The focus is on a seventeen-year-old adolescent with cerebral palsy and a cognitive disability and his experience of the disability. The researcher as therapist uses Narrative Therapy to describe and document the adolescent’s experience. Data was gathered through a variety of techniques (interviews, Narrative therapy sessions, observations and therapeutic letters), which enhanced the reliability of the study. The researcher was also the therapist who conducted Narrative Therapy and she had the opportunity to explore and describe the adolescent’s experience. From the data, certain themes and sub-themes were identified that highlighted aspects of living with a disability. / Me. H. Krige

M.A. / The aim of this study was to examine how the members of Agape came to construct themselves as a healing community. An ecosystemic epistemology and social constructionism were used as a lens by which to view the events unfolding at Agape Healing Community and to illuminate how meanings, expressed through language and ritual, are negotiated and shared. Discourse analysis was used as an analytical tool to infer meaning from the participants’ speaking and to locate these discourses in the fabric that constitutes South African society.

The present study sought to build on the large body of past research into written disclosure of traumatic memories. This research has consistently found that participants who write about their traumatic experiences realize long-term physiological and psychological health benefits. More recently, it has been found that those participants who realize the most benefits are those who progressively include more elements of a good narrative, or story, in their writing about a traumatic experience over several sessions. Therefore, research has begun to examine the role of language and the structure of language in the health benefits gained from written disclosure of traumatic memories. A guided written disclosure protocol was designed for the present study, which sought to aid participants in supplying an increasing amount of narrative structure to their written disclosures of a single traumatic experience. Participants (N = 30) completed several measures of psychological and physiological health prior to and one month after completing the guided written disclosure protocol. Analyses revealed that participants who completed all four writing sessions showed statistically significant reductions in symptoms of general psychological distress, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and intrusive and avoidant symptoms related to the traumatic experience. No significant self-reported physiological health benefits were found. The clinical and research implications of these findings are discussed.