One in five children are born highly sensitive (HS), with nervous systems that are more sensitive to sensory subtleties. The highly sensitive child (HSC) presents with behaviour that is often a way of coping with sensory overload from their environment. The symptoms of HS are often mistaken for shyness, introversion, timidity and a low sensory threshold. Because of their lack of understanding, teachers mislabel and misdiagnose these children as being mentally ill, or as suffering from, inter alia, ADHD or learning problems. When such children (HSC) are misunderstood, they begin to feel ‘different’ and ‘flawed’, which can lead to low self–esteem. The purpose of this study is to explore perceptions by HS children in middle childhood, to explore how aware they are of HS, and to discover the extent to which they have been affected by negative labelling often caused by being misunderstood, misdiagnosed and misinterpreted. The structured interviews conducted with HSC comprised of an interactive story, which had been written and illustrated to create explicit awareness of HS. After the storybook had been read, an interview schedule on HS was applied. Next, a focus group interview was conducted with the teachers to gather more rich data, thereby ensuring its trustworthiness. The aim was to explore the teachers’ perceptions of HSC in middle childhood. This exploration was necessary for making effective recommendations for managing and supporting HSC, so that the children can reach their full potential. Many HSC are gifted, and often become visionaries and pioneers in their particular fields. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

One in five children are born highly sensitive (HS), with nervous systems that are more sensitive to sensory subtleties. The highly sensitive child (HSC) presents with behaviour that is often a way of coping with sensory overload from their environment. The symptoms of HS are often mistaken for shyness, introversion, timidity and a low sensory threshold. Because of their lack of understanding, teachers mislabel and misdiagnose these children as being mentally ill, or as suffering from, inter alia, ADHD or learning problems. When such children (HSC) are misunderstood, they begin to feel ‘different’ and ‘flawed’, which can lead to low self–esteem. The purpose of this study is to explore perceptions by HS children in middle childhood, to explore how aware they are of HS, and to discover the extent to which they have been affected by negative labelling often caused by being misunderstood, misdiagnosed and misinterpreted. The structured interviews conducted with HSC comprised of an interactive story, which had been written and illustrated to create explicit awareness of HS. After the storybook had been read, an interview schedule on HS was applied. Next, a focus group interview was conducted with the teachers to gather more rich data, thereby ensuring its trustworthiness. The aim was to explore the teachers’ perceptions of HSC in middle childhood. This exploration was necessary for making effective recommendations for managing and supporting HSC, so that the children can reach their full potential. Many HSC are gifted, and often become visionaries and pioneers in their particular fields. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Text in Afrikaans / The utilization value of the paradoxical theory of change in Gestalt Play Therapy with adolescents Adolescents undergo significant changes on physical, emotional, and cognitive levels during this development stage. These changes have a great influence on their self-awareness. Most adolescents experience great problems with who they are and who they should be according to the expectations of others. This causes a never-ending process of efforts to change. Change can only take place if the adolescent is who he is, but not if he tries to be what he is not. The consequence hereof is that change cannot take place in the adolescent, because he should first become aware of who he is. The awareness of who he is leads to change. The paradoxical theory of change is all about being who one is and not about trying to be what others expect one to be. The adolescent should be accompanied to become aware of who he is, by utilization of the paradoxical theory, in order to be able grow and change. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the utilization value of the paradoxical theory of change in Gestalt Play Therapy with adolescents. In order to achieve this goal, the research process was directed by qualitative research, and triangulation was utilized as a technique for gathering information. Out of the processing and integration of conclusions drawn during the empirical investigation, data could contribute to exploration and description of the assessment of the paradoxical theory of change in Gestalt play therapy with adolescents. The aim of the investigation was therefore achieved, namely the exploration and description of the utilization value of the paradoxical theory of change in Gestalt Play Therapy with adolescents. / Play thearapy / M.Diac.

Text in Afrikaans / The utilization value of the paradoxical theory of change in Gestalt Play Therapy with adolescents Adolescents undergo significant changes on physical, emotional, and cognitive levels during this development stage. These changes have a great influence on their self-awareness. Most adolescents experience great problems with who they are and who they should be according to the expectations of others. This causes a never-ending process of efforts to change. Change can only take place if the adolescent is who he is, but not if he tries to be what he is not. The consequence hereof is that change cannot take place in the adolescent, because he should first become aware of who he is. The awareness of who he is leads to change. The paradoxical theory of change is all about being who one is and not about trying to be what others expect one to be. The adolescent should be accompanied to become aware of who he is, by utilization of the paradoxical theory, in order to be able grow and change. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the utilization value of the paradoxical theory of change in Gestalt Play Therapy with adolescents. In order to achieve this goal, the research process was directed by qualitative research, and triangulation was utilized as a technique for gathering information. Out of the processing and integration of conclusions drawn during the empirical investigation, data could contribute to exploration and description of the assessment of the paradoxical theory of change in Gestalt play therapy with adolescents. The aim of the investigation was therefore achieved, namely the exploration and description of the utilization value of the paradoxical theory of change in Gestalt Play Therapy with adolescents. / Play thearapy / M.Diac.