The Cape Flats is characterised by widespread poverty, unemployment and frequent incidents of domestic and gang related violence. The presence of gangs in and around many of the schools in this area poses a serious problem for the community and the Western Cape Education Department. Schools are disrupted, while principals, teachers and learners are in constant fear and danger of gangsters' bullets. Families in these communities are exposed to chronic traumatisation from both gang and domestic violence. This qualitative study was concerned with exploring a narrative pastoral therapy approach to trauma counselling in schools. It focused specifically on crisis counselling as well as counselling with regard to loss and abuse. Informed by contextual and feminist theology, an action research model was used in this study. I documented my own developing practice by telling the stories of adults and children struggling against the trauma threatening to overwhelm their lives. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology -Pastoral Therapy)

The purpose for this research journey was twofold: (1) to discover the power of certain discourses in the charismatic church context and (2) to challenge disrespectful discursive practices in order to co-operate respectful, ethical and caring ways of being. Seven leaders in charismatic churches committed themselves to this qualitative research project. The research process resulted in a confirmation by the participants that some charismatic discursive practices can be abusive and also to the acknowledgement that they too have at times fulfilled the role of abuser, even in unknowingly. This research journey ended in Hope. Hope for more transparency and trust between leaders and members, resulting in more respectful practices. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Pastoral Therapy)

South African schools provide an enormous challenge for transformation towards inclusive and caring communities of learners, facilitators and caregivers. This qualitative study conducted at a primary school used narrative pastoral therapy-as-research and participatory action research-as-therapy to develop inclusive and caring practices. Co-authoring conversations with learners and caregivers from a diverse cultural and religious traditions and collaborating with facilitators challenged me to develop pastoral care as political care. This paved a way for future transformation of a school as a multi-religious community of care and respect. I engaged with participants in finding alternative ways of dealing with loss due to death of loved ones or separartion from caregivers. Children with chronic illness challenged their experiences of rejection and marginalisation at school by writing and producing a play while those whose voices were silenced chose other ways to inform learners and facilitators about their illness. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology with specialisation in Pastoral Therapy)

Text in Afrikaans / Some of the limited research available on narrative reflecting team therapy was used in this study to develop a reflecting team therapy story. The reflecting team therapy story was developed using qualitative methodology in the form of an experimental text, which was strongly influenced by narrative discourse. The adopted methodology contributed to allowing the reflecting team therapy story as experienced by the client to speak very clearly to us. The following issues, inter alia, emerged: therapy is faster, clients are empowered, gender is important in therapy, the process is promoted by the multiplic ity of interactions and clients experience a scense of enpathy. The reflecting team therapy story can therefore serve as a working document which the reader can co-author. In the true spirit of narrative methology, I believe that every story contains an alternative story. There is no one true and final story. / Van die beperkte beskikbare navorsing oor reflekterende spanwerk is in hierdie studie gebruik om 'n reflekteringspanterapieverhaal daar te stel. Die reflekteringspanterapieverhaal is ontwikkel deur gebruik te maak van kwalitatiewe metodologie, in die vorm van 'n 'experimentele teks', wat sterk deur narratiewe diskoerse belnvloed is. Die veranderde metodologie het daartoe bygedra dat die verhaal van die reflekteringspanterapie soos ervaar deur die klient baie duidelik tot ons spreek. Die volgende sake het onder andere na vore getree: terapie is vinniger, kliente word bemagtig, geslag is van belang by terapie, die proses word bevorder as gevolg van die meervoudigheid van interaksie en kliente beleef 'n gevoel van empatie. Die reflekteringspanterapieverhaal kan dus dien as 'n werksdokument waaraan die leser as ko-redakteur deelneem. In die ware gees van narratiewe metodologie glo ek dat daar in elke verhaal 'n alternatiewe verhaal skuil. Daar is dus geen ware en finale verhaal nie. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Praktiese Teologie)

Die vorliegende Masterarbeit ist ein erster Versuch, den Beitrag Reinhold Ruthes für die biblisch therapeutische Seelsorge in Deutschland wissenschaftlich zu untersuchen. Sie erforscht, wie der christliche Psychotherapeut Reinhold Ruthe in deutschen protestantischen Gemeinden prägte. In seinem integrativen und zugleich selektiven Ansatz macht Ruthe Erkenntnisse aus der Individualpsychologie und weiterer psychologischer Schulen für die christliche Seelsorge fruchtbar. Diese Quellen werden vorgestellt. Um seine Person und sein Werk besser zu verstehen, untersucht diese Arbeit Ruthes Biografie und zeigt den zeitgeschichtlichen Kontext auf. Dies wird durch ein Interview ergänzt, das Ruthe selbst zu Wort kommen lässt. Ein Überblick seiner Publikationen wird durch die Analyse ausgewählter Werke erweitert. Neben seiner Tätigkeit als Autor, prägte Ruthe die Seelsorgepraxis durch seinen Dienst als Lehrer und Seelsorger sowie indirekt durch seine Schüler. Aus all dem stellt diese Arbeit den besonderen Beitrag von Reinhold Ruthe für die Laienseelsorge und die Integration von Psychologie und Seelsorge im Gemeindealltag heraus This master dissertation is the first attempt to academically investigate Reinhold Ruthe’s shaping and influence on biblical therapeutical counseling in Germany. It explores how the Christian psychotherapist Reinhold Ruthe shaped German Protestant churches. Through his integrative and at the same time selective approach, Ruthe identifies insights, which he obtained from the individual psychology and other psychological schools, and makes them fruitful for Christian counseling. Such sources are presented. In order to better understand his person and his work, the dissertation examines Ruthe's biography, also giving insights on his historical context. This is enriched by an interview, which gives voice to Ruthe himself. An overview of his publications is also enhanced by the analysis of selected works. Besides his work as an author, Ruthe shaped the practice of pastoral care through his activities as teacher and counsellor and indirectly through his students. The dissertation presents through all this Reinhold Ruthe’s peculiar contribution for the laymen counseling and his efforts in the integration of psychology and pastoral care in daily church life / This master dissertation is the first attempt to academically investigate Reinhold Ruthe’s shaping and influence on biblical therapeutical counseling in Germany. It explores how the Christian psychotherapist Reinhold Ruthe shaped German Protestant churches. Through his integrative and at the same time selective approach, Ruthe identifies insights, which he obtained from the individual psychology and other psychological schools, and makes them fruitful for Christian counseling. Such sources are presented. In order to better understand his person and his work, the dissertation examines Ruthe's biography, also giving insights on his historical context. This is enriched by an interview, which gives voice to Ruthe himself. An overview of his publications is also enhanced by the analysis of selected works. Besides his work as an author, Ruthe shaped the practice of pastoral care through his activities as teacher and counsellor and indirectly through his students. The dissertation presents through all this Reinhold Ruthe’s peculiar contribution for the laymen counseling and his efforts in the integration of psychology and pastoral care in daily church life / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Pastoral Theology)

In South Africa the death of a significant caregiver is a haunting possibility. Violence, crime, road accidents, HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes and substance abuse are household words that describe some of the causes of "untimely deaths" of parents who still have young, school-going children. These children carry their bereavement with them to school. The challenge of standing with them lies not only with their caregivers, but also with staff and children in our school community. In co-authoring conversations with children in our school who have experienced bereavement and loss, this qualitative study used research as co-search to uncover children's preferred knowledges and spiritualities about coping, hope, care and communities of concern. This study used therapy-as-research and participatory action research-as-therapy in what developed into a network of caring communities for the participants, caregivers and therapist. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Pastoral Therapy)

The marginalisation of palliative and pastoral care practices by conventional approaches to care for terminally ill patients, motivated the research curiosity. The significance of terminal patient's spirituality, their language practices and communities of concern are endorsed as being the major contributing factor to meaningful 'living' with terminal illness. Listening to stories has been the qualitative research practice, revealing meaning-making, quest stories. Feminist theology and post-modern ideas and discourses have assisted me, and the participants, in the deconstruction of power, patriarchy and dualism as the primary contributing factors to marginalisation of people due to illness, race, gender, poverty, culture and education. Pastoral care practices and feminist theology have guided us to emphasise the necessity to recognise the God of Grace as an important part to ensuring holistic patient care. Recognising the 'God-Self, respectful narrative and pastoral care practices paved the way to honour sacred spaces and voice stories of terminal illness. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th (Specialisation Pastoral Therapy)

The research is about African women living with HIV and women grieving the death of loved ones as a result of AIDS. We discuss the women's preferred care for the ill person and for the family as well as for the bereaved family. We consider together the effects of HIV/AIDS in the community: the stigma attached to the disease and the fears of people that they may contract HIV. The women and I acknowledge the closely woven relationships between faith and culture in a predominantly Xhosa community. Participatory action research is used and contextual feminist theology within a postmodern social construction approach to narrative pastoral therapy. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology)

The research is about African women living with HIV and women grieving the death of loved ones as a result of AIDS. We discuss the women's preferred care for the ill person and for the family as well as for the bereaved family. We consider together the effects of HIV/AIDS in the community: the stigma attached to the disease and the fears of people that they may contract HIV. The women and I acknowledge the closely woven relationships between faith and culture in a predominantly Xhosa community. Participatory action research is used and contextual feminist theology within a postmodern social construction approach to narrative pastoral therapy. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology)