Registered counsellors were regarded as part of the solution to the ever-increasing void in mental healthcare and were acknowledged by the South African government over a decade ago. Some challenges have however arisen regarding the implementing of their vocations in the community, that impact service delivery as well as career satisfaction of registered counsellors, but limited information is available in terms of the exploration of the perceptions of registered counsellors regarding their role in the South African context. This study focused on exploring how registered counsellors perceive their role in South Africa and describing these perceptions. This research is important because little is known about the perceptions of registered counsellors and their experience of their role in the South African context. The research was conducted in Johannesburg and Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. 12 participants (one man and 11 women) volunteered to be part of the research. The size of the sample was not predetermined, but was rather based on data saturation. The participants were purposefully selected on the basis of having acquired the registration of registered counsellor with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). Data was collected through conducting semi-structured interviews with all the participants. An interview schedule was used to facilitate the interview process for consistency in the interviews. Thematic analysis was utilised to delineate different themes. To ensure the trustworthiness of the research process, the guidelines suggested by Lincoln and Guba (1985) were followed. The current researcher found that the registered counsellors experienced conflicting perceptions of their role in South Africa. They felt that their role was a necessary and important one in South Africa and in the context of the development of mental healthcare in South Africa. However, some negative feelings were also expressed as they experienced uncertainty regarding their role in the profession as well as the changing scope of practice for registered counsellors in South Africa. Additional negative perceptions were associated with a lack of acknowledgement of their role by other mental healthcare professionals and some ignorance from the public regarding the work of registered counsellors. To promote adequate mental healthcare in South Africa, mental health professionals such as registered counsellors are particularly important. But what appears to be the uncertainty and a lack of information related to the role of registered counsellors, has impacted negatively on their perception of their role in South Africa and, as a result, many individuals do not work in the professional mental healthcare field. It is recommended that the perception of the registered counsellors be acknowledged and taken into consideration to further the development of mental healthcare and treatment for mental health difficulties within the South African context. / MA (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Traditionally, organisations have focused efforts in developing their people towards improving so-called areas of deficiency, identifying the flaws of employees and putting intervention structures in place to rectify and redress these areas. Limited efforts have seen the accentuation of employees‟ strengths as a means of developing those employees‟ full potential, as prescribed in the Positive Psychology. In a balanced organisational development approach, both areas of strength and deficit should be developed in order to harness optimum human potential and growth. This balanced approach is critical, as it provides for full spectrum development of the individual and creates opportunity for the attainment of positive work-related outcomes, such as work engagement. The objective of this research study was to test a structural model of job resources in the form of organisational strengths use and organisational deficit improvement; personal resources in the form of individual strengths use and individual deficit improvement; and work engagement; to relate the conceptualised job- and personal resources to established job- and personal resources in the nomological net and to investigate possible structural paths between job- and personal resources and work engagement. This study was conducted in order to gain more knowledge and a better understanding of the outcomes of following a balanced strengths use and deficit improvement approach (SDBA), both from an organisational (job resource) and individual (personal resource) perspective. Participants in the research were sport coaches from primary and secondary schools. The Mplus and SPSS programmes were utilised for purposes of statistical analysis. A cross-sectional research approach was used. An availability sample (N = 364) of teachers who act as sport coaches in Gauteng, North-West and Free State based schools was used. Competing measurement models were used to confirm factor structures for adapted versions of the Strengths use and Deficit Improvement Questionnaire (SUDIQ), as well as the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES). These measurement models confirmed a four-factor and one-factor model structure for the adapted versions of the SUDIQ and UWES respectively. After factor structures had been confirmed, reliability of the adapted measures was assessed by means of Cronbach alpha coefficient values. The relation of the conceptualised job resources of organisational strengths use and organisational deficit improvement to established job resources was assessed by incorporating the job resources of opportunities for learning and independence at work into the study. In the case of the conceptualised personal resources, individual strengths use and individual deficit improvement were related to self-efficacy and self-esteem. This was done in order to theoretically relate these variables in the nomological net of other job resources and personal resources. Subsequently, structural equation modelling was used to investigate the relationship between the job resources of organisational strengths use and organisational deficit improvement, personal resources individual strengths use and individual deficit improvement; and work engagement. Through categorical estimation the research found individual strengths use to be the strongest predictor of work engagement, followed by individual deficit improvement and organisational strengths use. Organisational deficit improvement was proven as a statistically insignificant predictor of work engagement. After conclusions for the study were drawn, recommendations for the organisation, individual as well as for future research were made. / MCom (Industrial Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Bibliography / Thesis (MEdPsych (Educational Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The year 1994 is seen as a significant year in South Africa. The new democratic dispensation contributed to the education system, including higher education, by presenting it with new demands and challenges. Higher education institutions have been encouraged to include individuals representing groups that have been excluded on the grounds of age, gender and disabilities. Inclusive education is encouraged with the ultimate goal of attaining inclusion in society as a whole. Inclusion is the overarching concept that addresses the right to acceptance and belonging in society of all learners, adults, children with disabilities and people without disabilities. The primary aim of this study was to obtain an in-depth understanding of how students with disabilities adapt socially at Stellenbosch University. The study was based upon the assumption that it is important to hear the voices of students with disabilities before any recommendations in terms of involving students with disabilities in social opportunities can be made to the role players. The study was conducted by means of qualitative research, and the methods of data collection consisted of individual and focus group interviews as well as document analysis. The research findings can be described as follows: Students with disabilities experience both internal and external support and barrier factors and processes that impact on their social adaptation. Internal support and barrier factors and processes include emotional, behavioural, belief, personality and cognitive aspects. External support and barrier factors and processes include the support network, the faculty and department, the university at large and the social system. Four overarching themes emerged from the data of the participants: communication, attitude and awareness, inclusion and self-advocacy. The findings of the study have important implications for all role players. Recommendations are made with the aim of improving the campus climate so that an inclusive environment can be created together with an environment where all students at Stellenbosch University can adapt socially; enjoy equal opportunities and full participation, and where they experience no discrimination. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In Suid-Afrika word 1994 beskou as 'n waterskeidingsjaar. Die nuwe demokratiese bestel het daartoe bygedra dat die onderwyssektor, insluitend hoëronderwys, aan talle nuwe eise en uitdagings blootgestel is. Hoëronderwysinstansies is aangemoedig om groepe wat tradisioneel op grond van ras, ouderdom, geslag en gestremdheid uitgesluit was te ondersteun en te akkommodeer. Inklusiewe onderwys word aangemoedig met die uiteindelike doel dat inklusie in die samelewing bereik word. Inklusie is die oorkoepelende konsep wat alle leerders, volwassenes, kinders, mense met gestremdhede en mense sonder gestremdhede se reg tot aanvaarding en hulle gevoel dat hulle in die samelewing tuishoort ("have a sense of belonging") aanspreek. Die doel van die studie was om diepgaande kennis te verkry van studente met gestremdhede se ervarings van sosiale aanpassing aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch. Die ondersoek is gebaseer op die aanname dat alhoewel daar voorstelle aan rolspelers gemaak kan word ten opsigte van strategieë om studente met gestremdhede meer by sosiale geleenthede op kampus te betrek, dit belangrik is om allereers na die stemme van die studente met gestremdhede self te luister. Die studie is aan die hand van 'n kwalitatiewe metodologie onderneem en data is hoofsaaklik deur middel van individuele en fokusgroeponderhoude asook dokumentanalise, gegenereer. Die navorsingsbevindinge het betekenisvolle insigte oor die ervarings van studente met gestremdhede se sosiale aanpassing opgelewer en kan soos volg opgesom word: Studente met gestremdhede ervaar beide interne en eksterne ondersteunings- en belemmerende faktore en prosesse wat 'n uitwerking het op hul sosiale aanpassing. Interne faktore en prosesse behels emosionele, gedrags-, oortuigings-, persoonlikheids- en kognitiewe aspekte. Eksterne faktore en prosesse sluit onder meer die ondersteuningsnetwerk, die fakulteite en departemente, die universiteit in die geheel, asook die sosiale stelsel in. Die vier oorkoepelende temas sluit kommunikasie, houdings en bewustheid, inklusie en self-voorspraak van die studente met gestremdhede se behoeftes in. Die bevindinge van die studie hou belangrike implikasies in vir alle rolspelers. Aanbevelings word gemaak met die doel om die kampusklimaat te verbeter sodat 'n ware inklusiewe omgewing geskep kan word – 'n omgewing waarin alle studente gelyke geleenthede en volle deelname kan geniet, geen diskriminasie ervaar nie en waar hulle ook as studente aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch sosiaal kan

A notable paucity in practice interventions and literature currently exists in regard to self-support in first-time mothers. Recent literature and practice interventions seem to focus largely on social support resources, highlighting the deficiency in the investigation of self-support in first-time mothers as an integral and holistic concept and/or focus point for intervention. Literature continues to illustrate the many challenges first-time mothers encounter and therefore this study focuses on self-support experiences of the first-time mother in relation to her environment by providing an original stance of enquiry. The investigator aimed to explore and describe the experiences of self-support in first-time mothers in the Cape Metropole. The study was conducted qualitatively and according to an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) research design. This provided the researcher with a dual method of investigation: The first undertaking was to describe actual accounts of the participants‟ self-support experiences, while the second was to give an interpretation of these accounts which would reflect their experiences in an understandable, yet authentic manner. The meta-theoretical framework of Gestalt Therapy Theory (GTT) was applied due to its holistic and integrative nature, while the additional theoretical frameworks of Self Determination Theory (SDT) and Positive Psychology (PP) served as contributors to deepen understanding. The sample consisted of thirteen first-time mothers from moderately diverse socio-economic backgrounds. The study succeeded in giving in-depth exploratory descriptions of their self-support experiences during the first two years of motherhood. Findings displayed that the participants‟ self-support cannot be separated from their constantly shifting environments and that self-support is an integrated and dynamic process of development. Internal elements as well as environmental factors prove to disrupt this process of self-support development. Vital components for developing self-support were assuming responsibility for own well-being as a mother; as well as arriving at insight. Joy and gratefulness as experienced by the participants were proven to serve as motivators to sustain self-support. The study further exhibits that a supportive relationship is able to exist between the first-time mother‟s self-support and her environment when she is able to effectively identify, reach out and utilise social support resources available in her environment. Self-support serves as an experiential process (as an alternative to a fixed outcome) where the first-time mother is able, through experience, to mature and become more self-supportive. Findings argue that ideal self-support during novel motherhood is the capability to be in a mature interactive relationship with the environment, constantly adapting according to the organisation of the environmental field. / MA (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The focus of this study was to explore the experiences of secondary school educators concerning the educator-learner relationship. The study hopes to add value in developing sustainable support to enhance the quality of life and well-being of South African educators. The study highlights specific aspects of the educators’ perspective (Koomen et al., 2011; Philip, 2008; Skaalvik & Skaalvik, 2011; Easter et al., 2008), such as cultural perspective, attachment perspective, career satisfaction perspective and academic perspective. According to Philippson (2009) it is important to understand educators’ holistic experiences concerning the educator-learner relationship. The following research question arose: What are the experiences of secondary school educators in the Gauteng area, South Africa, of the educator-learner relationship? This research was conducted within a Positive Psychology framework and a qualitative method was used. Data were collected via personal interviews and focus group discussions as research techniques. Purposeful sampling was used and six secondary school educators from various secondary schools in the Gauteng Province of South Africa were participants of this study. The objective of this study was to understand and interpret holistic experiences of secondary school educators in the educator-learner relationship that contribute to the educators’ phenomenology. Data were gathered through individual interviews during which each participant was motivated through visual mapping to express his/her hierarchy of ideas contributing to the phenomenon. The collected data were audio-recorded and a narrative analysis was conducted in which trustworthiness was obtained through member checking to ensure that the recorded and observed data were correctly transcribed and evaluated accordingly. Findings of this study are presented by means of the following themes: Different aspects of the supportive educator-learner relationship; awareness of differences in the educator-learner relationship; important perspectives of “a calling” in respect of the educators’ experiences; role of emotions in an educator-learner relationship; challenges for the educator in the educator-learner relationship; role of discipline and values in an educator-learner relationship; phenomenology of the educators’ experiences. Results indicate that educators’ positive experiences of the educator-learner relationship can be viewed as an investment in the well-being and positive functioning of both the educator as well as the learners. A recommendation for future research is to develop a support system for secondary school educators to encourage them in a psycho-social, emotional and spiritual way towards sustainable well-being. / MA (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

A notable paucity in practice interventions and literature currently exists in regard to self-support in first-time mothers. Recent literature and practice interventions seem to focus largely on social support resources, highlighting the deficiency in the investigation of self-support in first-time mothers as an integral and holistic concept and/or focus point for intervention. Literature continues to illustrate the many challenges first-time mothers encounter and therefore this study focuses on self-support experiences of the first-time mother in relation to her environment by providing an original stance of enquiry. The investigator aimed to explore and describe the experiences of self-support in first-time mothers in the Cape Metropole. The study was conducted qualitatively and according to an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) research design. This provided the researcher with a dual method of investigation: The first undertaking was to describe actual accounts of the participants‟ self-support experiences, while the second was to give an interpretation of these accounts which would reflect their experiences in an understandable, yet authentic manner. The meta-theoretical framework of Gestalt Therapy Theory (GTT) was applied due to its holistic and integrative nature, while the additional theoretical frameworks of Self Determination Theory (SDT) and Positive Psychology (PP) served as contributors to deepen understanding. The sample consisted of thirteen first-time mothers from moderately diverse socio-economic backgrounds. The study succeeded in giving in-depth exploratory descriptions of their self-support experiences during the first two years of motherhood. Findings displayed that the participants‟ self-support cannot be separated from their constantly shifting environments and that self-support is an integrated and dynamic process of development. Internal elements as well as environmental factors prove to disrupt this process of self-support development. Vital components for developing self-support were assuming responsibility for own well-being as a mother; as well as arriving at insight. Joy and gratefulness as experienced by the participants were proven to serve as motivators to sustain self-support. The study further exhibits that a supportive relationship is able to exist between the first-time mother‟s self-support and her environment when she is able to effectively identify, reach out and utilise social support resources available in her environment. Self-support serves as an experiential process (as an alternative to a fixed outcome) where the first-time mother is able, through experience, to mature and become more self-supportive. Findings argue that ideal self-support during novel motherhood is the capability to be in a mature interactive relationship with the environment, constantly adapting according to the organisation of the environmental field. / MA (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The focus of this study was to explore the experiences of secondary school educators concerning the educator-learner relationship. The study hopes to add value in developing sustainable support to enhance the quality of life and well-being of South African educators. The study highlights specific aspects of the educators’ perspective (Koomen et al., 2011; Philip, 2008; Skaalvik & Skaalvik, 2011; Easter et al., 2008), such as cultural perspective, attachment perspective, career satisfaction perspective and academic perspective. According to Philippson (2009) it is important to understand educators’ holistic experiences concerning the educator-learner relationship. The following research question arose: What are the experiences of secondary school educators in the Gauteng area, South Africa, of the educator-learner relationship? This research was conducted within a Positive Psychology framework and a qualitative method was used. Data were collected via personal interviews and focus group discussions as research techniques. Purposeful sampling was used and six secondary school educators from various secondary schools in the Gauteng Province of South Africa were participants of this study. The objective of this study was to understand and interpret holistic experiences of secondary school educators in the educator-learner relationship that contribute to the educators’ phenomenology. Data were gathered through individual interviews during which each participant was motivated through visual mapping to express his/her hierarchy of ideas contributing to the phenomenon. The collected data were audio-recorded and a narrative analysis was conducted in which trustworthiness was obtained through member checking to ensure that the recorded and observed data were correctly transcribed and evaluated accordingly. Findings of this study are presented by means of the following themes: Different aspects of the supportive educator-learner relationship; awareness of differences in the educator-learner relationship; important perspectives of “a calling” in respect of the educators’ experiences; role of emotions in an educator-learner relationship; challenges for the educator in the educator-learner relationship; role of discipline and values in an educator-learner relationship; phenomenology of the educators’ experiences. Results indicate that educators’ positive experiences of the educator-learner relationship can be viewed as an investment in the well-being and positive functioning of both the educator as well as the learners. A recommendation for future research is to develop a support system for secondary school educators to encourage them in a psycho-social, emotional and spiritual way towards sustainable well-being. / MA (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Die doel van die verkennende en beskrywende studie was om die bruikbaarheid van liggaamsportrette vir kruis-kulturele loopbaanfasilitering te ondersoek. Met interpretivisme as metateoretiese paradigma en Savickas se lewensontwerp benadering as teoretiese raamwerk is ʼn gerieflikheidseleksie van bestaande databronne gedoen vir die inhoudsanalise-studie. Die databronne (assesserings- en intervensiebeplanning, reflektiewe joernale van die terapeut en portuur-supervisor, foto’s en oudio-visuele opnames as visuele data, transkripsies van oudiovisuele opnames en assesseringsnotas van supervisor) is saam met agt siSwati Graad 9-seuns gegenereer tydens ʼn akademiese diensleer-praktikum by ʼn plattelandse sekondêre skool as deel van die 2009-MEd (Opvoedkundige Sielkunde) opleiding. Twee temas met bepaalde subtemas was die gevolg van analise aan die hand van a priori aannames wat verkry is uit kruis-kulturele sielkunde en loopbaanfasilitering-literatuur. Die eerste tema hou verband met die teenwoordigheid van kruis-kulturele sielkunde tydens die liggaamsportret-sessie, met die volgende subtemas: kruis-kulturele bekwaamhede van die terapeut, effektiewe kommunikasiestyle in die kruis-kulturele konteks, en geleenthede vir kruis-kulturele bekwaamheid. Die tweede tema hou verband met die teenwoordigheid van lewensontwerp tydens die kruis-kulturele sielkundige praktyk in ʼn plattelandse sekondêre skool, met die volgende subtemas: loopbaanfasiliteringsvaardighede van die terapeut, loopbaanfasiliteringsmomente vir die kliënt, en lewensontwerp as loopbaanfasiliteringstegniek. Uit die studie blyk dit dat die liggaamsportret-tegniek bruikbaar is vir kruis-kulturele loopbaanfasilitering met Graad 9-seuns in ʼn plattelandse sekondêre skool. Die liggaamsportret-tegniek was bevredigend in die kruis-kulturele loopbaanfasiliteringskonteks aangesien die terapeut assesseringsresultate kon integreer, kruis-kulturele bekwaamhede kon implementeer om adolessente seuns aktief te betrek en kontekstuele inligting van kliënte kon verkry. Verder was die tegniek bevredigend aangesien kliënte aan die hand van lewensontwerp loopbaanfasiliteringsvaardighede kon inoefen; naamlik beroepsverkenning, selfkennisverkenning, self-werksaamheid, loopbaandoelwitstelling, loopbaanaanpasbaarheid, uitkoms-verwagtinge, en die gebruik van beroepsinligting. Die liggaamsporttret-tegniek was prakties in die kruis-kulturele loopbaanfasiliteringskonteks deurdat dit aangepas het by die adolessente seuns se ontwikkelingsfase, hulle aktief betrek het en nie-verbale kommunikasie geredelik gehuisves het. Die tegniek was derhalwe geskik vir gebruik in ʼn plattelandse sekondêre skool omgewing met beperkte hulpbronne deur van maklik bekombare hulpbronne (papier, potlode, penne, verf, klippies) gebruik te maak. Die liggaamsporttret-tegniek was toepaslik in die kruis-kulturele loopbaanfasiliteringskonteks aangesien beide verbale (ʼn tolk) en nie-verbale (toepaslike gesigsuitdrukkings en interpersoonlike spasies) kommunikasie geakkommodeer is om taalhindernisse te oorbrug. Vir hierdie doel het die tegniek ruimte geskep vir individuele en groepsloopbaanfasilitering, en kon ander narratiewe en post-moderne aktiwiteite (soos beroepsleiding-kaartsortering en beroepskennis-werkkaarte) deel vorm van loopbaanfasilitering vir die konstruering van die kliënte se lewens. ENGLISH : The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the utility of body-maps for cross-cultural career facilitation. With interpretivism as a metatheoretical paradigm and Savickas’ life design approach as a theoretical framework, data sources where collected through convenience sampling for this content analysis study. The data sources (assessment- and intervention planning, reflective journals of the therapist and peer group supervisor, photograph’s and audio-visual recordings as visual data, transcriptions from audio-visual recordings and assessment notes from the supervisor) were generated in collaboration with eight Grade 9 siSwati speaking boys during an academic service learning practicum at a rural secondary school as part of the 2009-MEd (Educational Psychology) training. Guided by a priori assumptions (based on cross-cultural psychology and career facilitation literature) two themes with sub-themes each resulted from the content analysis. The presence of cross-cultural psychology during the body-mapping session was established with instances of, the therapist’s cross-cultural competencies, effective communication styles in a cross-cultural context and opportunities for cross-cultural competencies to develop. Secondly the presence of life design during cross-cultural psychological practise in a rural, secondary school was determined, indicating the presence of career facilitation skills of the therapist, career facilitation moments for the client, and life design as a career facilitation technique. It was apparent that body-mapping has utility for cross-cultural career facilitation with Grade 9 boys from a rural secondary school. Body-mapping was satisfactory in a cross-cultural career facilitation context as the therapist could integrate the assessment results, implement cross-cultural competencies to engage adolescent boys in active participation, and obtain contextual information on clients. Clients were able to rehearse career facilitation skills (career exploration, gaining self knowledge, self-efficacy, career goal setting, career adaptability, outcome expectations and using career information) as part of life design. The body-map technique was practical in a cross-cultural career facilitation context because it suited the developmental phase of adolescent boys, actively involving them and accommodated non-verbal communication. The technique was well matched to a rural secondary school environment with limited resources, using easily accessible resources (paper, pencils, pens, paint and stones). The technique was applicable in a cross-cultural career facilitation context as language barriers could be addressed by means of verbal (a translator) and non-verbal (appropriate facial expressions and interpersonal space) communication. For this purpose, the body-mapping technique could be used on individual or group basis, and other narrative and post-modern activities (vocational card sorting and career knowledge worksheets) could form part of career facilitation and could be used in combination for constructing clients’ lives. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

Afrikaans text / As sielkundige in privaat praktyk neem die navorser waar dat 'n negatiewe selfkonsep onderliggend is tot verskeie aanmeldingsprobleme, asook die kind se onvermoe om te aktualiseer, ten einde sy volle potensiaal te bereik. Opvoedkundige sielkundiges het 'n behoefte geidentifiseer aan hulpverleningsingrepe om die probleem aan te spreek. Dit het gelei tot die daarstel van 'n model: "Model vir psigoterapeutiese vaardigheidsopleiding aan die kind met die oog op selfkonsepverbetering". Hierdie model het die opheffing van selfkonsepgebreke, deur middel van psigoterapeutiese vaardigheidsopleiding, ten doel. Die model is saamgestel vanuit die navorser se praktykervaring en 'n literatuurstudie wat gelei bet tot die samestelling van konseptuele raamwerke vir selfkonsep en psigoterapeutiese vaardigheidsopleiding. Seltkonsepgebreke is in hierdie studie in verband gebring met vaardigheidstekorte. Dit bet daartoe gelei dat selfkonsepgebreke aangespreek kon word deur gebruik te maak van vaardigheidsopleiding. Die slotsom waartoe gekom is, is dat daar 'n verbetering in die selfkonsep van kinders in die middelkinderjare plaasgevind bet met die toepassing van die model. Volgens opvoedkundige sielkundiges in privaatpraktyk le die waarde van die model en die riglyne vir die operasionalisering daarvan, daarin dat dit praktiese toepassingswaarde bet in die proses van hulpverlening. / As a psychologist in private practice, the researcher notices that a negative self-concept is underlying to several initial reported problems, as well as the child's inability to actualize in order to reach his full potential. Educational psychologists identified the necessity for supportive intervention to address this problem. This has led to the establishing of a model: "Model for psychotherapeutic skills training for the child with the purpose of improving self-concept". This model aims to relinquish self-concept shortcomings by means of psychotherapeutic skills training. This model has been constructed from the researcher's experience in her practice as well as a literature study, which led to the compilation of conceptual frameworks for self-concept and psychotherapeutic skills training. In this study, self-concept shortcomings have been linked to the lack of skills. This has resulted in self-concept shortcomings to be addressed by skills training. The conclusion which has been reached is that there is an improvement in the self-concept of children in mid-childhood years with the implementation of the model. According to educational psychologists in private practice, the value of the model and the guidelines for the implementation thereof, lie in the the fact that the model has practical applicational worth in the process of rendering support. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Rapid escalation of Subclinical Eating Disorders (SED) in the form of high levels of body–dissatisfaction (BD) and drive for thinness (DT) globally and locally, and the at–risk status of university females are underscored by recent studies. As yet there exists no South African program tailored to the needs of afflicted female students and which includes a risk–protective focus grounded in Positive Psychology theory. In this chapter a theoretical overview on the nature and definition of SED, its prevalence and the rationale for a risk–protective focus grounded in Positive Psychology theory are provided. Thereafter three preliminary South African studies, namely two correlation studies (De Pãz Fransisco, 2007; Kirsten, Du Plessis & Swanepoel, 2010) and the Weight Over–concern and Well–being program of Kirsten, Du Plessis and Du Toit (2007) are discussed. Findings of these preliminary studies highlight the promise of utilizing Positive Psychology theoretical approaches to practically significantly reduce risk factors and promote protective factors. As such, Well–being therapy (Fava & Ruini, 2003) that promotes the six dimensions of psychological well–being (Ryff & Keyes, 1995), and Self–Determination Theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000) that can promote true self–esteem in the form of self–determination and mindfulness (Kabat–Zinn, 1998), with its inherent self–compassion, kindness and self–forgiving manner, show promise. More in–depth studies with larger samples are however needed. / Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.