M.Ed. (Educational Psychology) / The changing political and social situation in South Africa can be associated with the current violence and poverty in especially the more rural areas. As a result large numbers of black learners are directly or indirectly exposed to violent traumatic incidences. Research indicates that exposure to violent trauma can lead to the development of psychological and emotional disturbances and in particular the development of post traumatic stress disorder. Due to a lack of support systems and accessibility thereof, large numbers of learners exposed to violent trauma are in need of assistance. The learners have serious emotional problems and are also experiencing learning and behavioral problems. Teachers also seem to experience difficulty in handling these traumatized learners, due to a lack of appropriate skills and knowledge. The aim of the study was to identify the needs of teachers in handling learners traumatized by violent incidences and to develop guidelines for teachers in assisting the learners with the purpose of reducing the psychological and emotional effects of the violent trauma. The point of departure of the study was based on the assumption that the educational system needs to support every learner in becoming a healthy member of society through optimal education and development. Eight teachers, two principals and a community worker from two different schools in a predominantly brown area participated in the study. By means of focus group interviews and informal interviews the needs and problems in handling traumatized learners were identified and discussed. The teachers then received training in identifying the symptoms of the learner who has been traumatized by violent trauma. After that, guidelines were supplied to assist teachers in the debriefing of the learner's traumatic symptoms and emotions. These sessions took place over a period of three weeks. The results indicated that the teachers experience difficulty with identifying and handling the traumatized learners in the class. As a result of the study, a number of guidelines, based on the themes that were identified by the analysis of the data, have been developed for teachers in the handling of the traumatized learner

M.A. (Psychology) / One of the most perturbing facets of South Africa's post apartheid communal existence is the high incidence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) amongst the disadvantaged communities. It is noteworthy that the incidence of PTSD amongst urbanised black youth is so high, that it can be described as an epidemic. Since therapeutic resources are limited or absent in many environments , it is essential to develop a project to cater for the needs of traumatised communities. Such programs should be cost effective and must relate to education within a psychological context. Following a diligent study of the literature, it was decided that a theoretical behavioural project be developed which utilises a psycho educational context that can be applied to black youth with PTSD.

Rape survivors often have two traumatic events to deal with. In addition to the actual rape experience, survivors commonly need to deal with hearing the results of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing (which is standard practice after rape in South Africa). The relationship between these two traumatic events in terms of the survivors specific traumatic stress symptoms have not been well explored in the literature. The primary aim of this study was therefore an exploration of the relationship between receiving an HIV test result and the traumatic stress symptoms of rape survivors. In order to contextualise the main aim, an exploration of the relationship between demographic variables, knowledge of HIV status and early traumatic stress symptoms was also completed. The initial sample consisted of 97 South African rape survivors, however, only 45 participants returned for the second part of the study. This quantitative study utilised an exploratory descriptive design using the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire-Revised (HTQ-R) to measure the traumatic stress symptoms of rape survivors. The results of the first part of the study indicated that there was no significant difference between participants’ demographic factors in relation to their knowledge of HIV status or their overall traumatic stress symptom severity. Significant differences on individual traumatic stress symptoms indicated a relationship between not knowing one’s HIV status and dissociation after a rape incident, as well as a relationship between rape survivors who knew their HIV status is positive and emotional dysregulation. The results of the second part (and main analysis) of the study indicated that most participants presented with less severe overall traumatic stress severity after receiving their HIV test results (irrespective of their status before and after hearing their results). However, participants whose HIV status was unknown and who received a positive test result reported more severe overall traumatic stress compared to those whose HIV status was unknown and received a negative test result. Some inter-group differences on individual symptoms were HIV TEST RESULT TRAUMATIC STRESS RAPE SURVIVORS noted that highlight the possibility that dissociative and an intrusion/hyperarousal subtypes may be at work to explain some of the differences seen.

Violent crime and trauma are very common within the society and students at the technikon are as exposed to these traumatic situations that characterize the broader national context as anybody. The purpose of this study was to explore therapeutic intervention techniques that can be used by the educational psychologist in assisting students suffering from post-traumatic stress. The phenomena of post-traumatic stress and post-traumatic stress disorder were studied with reference to the DSM IV classification and description. Traumatic events and stressors among students were outlined. A case study was conducted with a subject selected at the technikon who was suffering from post-traumatic stress due to earlier physical abuse and violence she experienced at home. The Trauma-100-Questionnaire was used to investigate the extent of the trauma and the results showed that the subject was involved with negative self-talk and employed ego defence mechanisms. An analysis of the subject's problem was done through the relations theory and various techniques from the literature study were implemented in therapy with the subject. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

Thesis (MEd(Psych)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores the use of Eye Movement Desensitisation (hereafter referred to as EMDR), a form of psychotherapy on a female adolescent sexual assault survivor. Adolescence as a developmental stage is characterised by specific issues, such as the search for own identity. Sexual trauma may increase the inner conflict, because of the adolescent's ability to deal with the trauma at a higher cognitive level than in earlier childhood. Without support including psychotherapy, the adolescent sexual assault survivor may be at risk of developing mental health problems including Post-traumatic Stress Syndrome (hereafter referred to as PTSD). This research is a qualitative case study, involving only one adolescent participant. Mary (pseudonym) a sexual assault survivor, was selected from referrals the Unit for Educational Psychology at the University of Stellenbosch received from the Child Protection Unit of the South African Police Services. She was referred because she displayed symptoms of depression and PTSD, which affected her relations with her parents, siblings and peers. She also struggled to cope emotionally with the academic demands of school. The ecosystemic approach was chosen as the preferred framework within which to locate this study. In assessment and intervention this framework lends itself to focussing on relationships and systems rather than merely the individual with a problem. The study explores the use of EMDR to alleviate symptoms of depression and PTSD in Mary. She attended thirteen sessions of which the first three were used to assess her level of functioning. Data were collected by means of self-report questionnaires including the Beck's Depression Inventory and the Dissociative Experiences Scale, interviews and therapy sessions during which EMDR was used. The data were analysed using codes, categories and themes, interpreted and the study concluded with a discussion of the findings. The findings suggest that EMDR effectively alleviated Mary's symptoms of depression and PTSD. However, since the study was limited to a single participant, a larger sample is recommended to determine whether EMDR might be a feasible treatment tool for female adolescent sexual assault survivors. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die gebruik van Oogbeweging Desensitifisering Herprosessering (hierna verwys as OBDH), 'n tipe psigoterapie, om 'n vroulike adolessente slagoffer van seksuele misbruik te ondersteun. Adolessensie as 'n ontwikkelingsfase word deur spesifieke kwessies gekenmerk, onder andere die soeke na 'n eie identiteit. Seksuele trauma mag die innerlike konflik verhoog, weens die adolessent se vermoeë om dit op 'n hoër vlak van ontwikkeling as die jonger kind te hanteer. Sonder ondersteuning, insluitend psigoterapie, mag die adolessent die risiko loop om geestesversteurings soos Posttraumatiese stresversteuring (hierna verwys as PTSV) te ontwikkel. Hierdie navorsing was 'n kwalitatiewe gevallestudie en slegs een adolessente deelnemer was daarby betrokke. Mary (skuilnaam) 'n seksuele geweld oorwinnaar, is gekies vanuit verwysings wat die Eenheid vir Opvoedkundige Sielkunde van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch van die Kinderbeskermings-eenheid van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisie Dienste ontvang het. Sy is verwys aangesien sy blykbaar simptome van depressie en PTSV geopenbaar het, wat haar verhoudings met haar ouers, sibbe en portuurgroep beïnvloed het. Sy het ook emosioneel gesukkel om die akademiese eise van die skool te hanteer. Die ekosistemiese benadering is gekies as die raamwerk vir hierdie studie. In assessering en intervensie lê dié benadering groter klem op verhoudings en sisteme, as op 'n individu met 'n probleem. Die doel van hierdie studie was om vas te stelof die gebruik van OBDH verligting van simptome van depressie en PTSV in Mary teweeg sou bring. Sy het dertien sessies bygewoon en die eerste drie is gebruik om haar vlak van funksionering te bepaal. Data is ingesamel deur middel van die Beck's Depression Inventory en die Dissociative Experiences Scale vraelyste, onderhoude en terapie sessies waarin OBDH ook gebruik was. Die data is ontleed deur middel van kodes, kategorieë en temas, geïnterpreteer en die studie eindig met 'n bespreking van die bevindinge. Die bevindinge het aangedui dat OBDH effektief Mary se simptome van depressie en PTSV verlig. Omdat die studie egter beperk was tot 'n enkele deelnemer, word 'n groter getal deelnemers aanbeveel om te bepaal of OBDH moontlik geskik is om vroulike adolesente oorwinnaars van seksueel geweld te ondersteun.

This study focused on trauma and seeked to demonstrate that the application of a Buberian understanding to the experience of trauma can help shed light on the impact of trauma on a sufferer's life. The aim of the study was to gain an understanding of the impact of trauma on interpersonal relationships as well as to determine components of psychotherapy found most helpful in the recovering process.

This study focused on trauma and seeked to demonstrate that the application of a Buberian understanding to the experience of trauma can help shed light on the impact of trauma on a sufferer's life. The aim of the study was to gain an understanding of the impact of trauma on interpersonal relationships as well as to determine components of psychotherapy found most helpful in the recovering process.

Violent crime and trauma are very common within the society and students at the technikon are as exposed to these traumatic situations that characterize the broader national context as anybody. The purpose of this study was to explore therapeutic intervention techniques that can be used by the educational psychologist in assisting students suffering from post-traumatic stress. The phenomena of post-traumatic stress and post-traumatic stress disorder were studied with reference to the DSM IV classification and description. Traumatic events and stressors among students were outlined. A case study was conducted with a subject selected at the technikon who was suffering from post-traumatic stress due to earlier physical abuse and violence she experienced at home. The Trauma-100-Questionnaire was used to investigate the extent of the trauma and the results showed that the subject was involved with negative self-talk and employed ego defence mechanisms. An analysis of the subject's problem was done through the relations theory and various techniques from the literature study were implemented in therapy with the subject. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

The purpose of this research is to document the response of a rape survivor to a treatment based on Ehlers and Clark's (2000) therapy model and to use the material to evaluate the effectiveness of this kind of therapy in the South African context. In so doing, the specific local cultural and contextual factors, which may affect the overall effectiveness of the treatment, will be highlighted and discussed.

D.Cur. / Armed robbery is one of the most common crimes in South-Africa and often leads to signs of mental problems. The focus of heal services in South Africa is on primary healthcare. Therefore it would be more effective to treat the survivor of armed robbery at the primary level, that is before symptoms of the traumatic reaction convert into mental illness. Therapists observed, however, that survivors of armed robbery terminate therapy prematurely. This might be the reason for failing to use all opportunities to recover within a reasonable period of time. When the survivor of armed robbery does not complete therapy, or does not receive therapy, it leads to a serious decrease in the survivor's mental health status and can necessitate admission and, or treatment with medication. To prevent admission and treatment with medicines, the researcher explored the experience of therapy in order to use the information as a departure point for a model for facilitative interaction for the survivor of armed robbery by the psychiatric nurse. The aim of this research is the description of a model for facilitative interaction for the survivor of armed robbery that can be used by the psychiatric nurse at primary health care level. The researcher followed certain steps to reach the goal. Firstly the experience of the survivor of armed robbery and the experience of the therapist of the survivor of armed robbery following this traumatic incident was explored and described. Phenomenological interviews were conducted with the two target groups, it is the survivors of armed robbery and the therapists of survivors of armed robbery. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed by the researcher and another objective coder. Thereafter a litterature review was done to support the research results which was integrated into the results. Thirdly, concepts were identified, defined and classified in order to create a model for the psychiatric nurse's facilitative interaction with the survivor of armed robbery. Fourthly the structure and process of the model were described and explained by means of illustrations.