This study explored the patterns of help-seeking of 64 urban high school adolescents in Grades 10 and 11 in two South African provinces, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo. The type of problems faced by these adolescents such as interpersonal relationships, family and peer pressure, and whether or not they sought help for these problems was explored. Adolescents' preference for different sources of help for different problems is also discussed. Of concern was what mediated whether and where help was sought. This study also examined the role that the Life Orientation Programme and Guidance Programme played in the help-seeking behaviours of these adolescents. Data was collected using focus groups and individual interviews and analysed using a thematic method of data analysis. Adolescents across the two provinces seemed to have common problems and dealt with them in a similar manner. The adolescents' problems included peer pressure, family, academic anxiety and drug usage. To solve those problems adolescents seemed to prefer informal to formal sources to confide in. The Life Orientation Programme (LOP) seemed to play no significant role at this stage to the adolescents concerned. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

Central Stories is a series of interconnected stories about students at a fictional high school. Each story focuses on a pair or small group of students who are grappling with issues of gender identity, sexual orientation, and changing friendships. These stories explore varying aspects of the coming out processes, as well as attendant character-developments related to adolescence.

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.

Many areas of development converge as adolescents confront their major task of establishing an adult identity. However this is a complex task complicated by the difficulties experienced in the South African context. Concerns about health and well-being, coupled with research findings that emphasized adolescents' reluctance to seek help, prompted a review of adolescents needs. The present study explored the problems experienced and the coping styles used by a sample of adolescents living in the South African context. Participants' self-esteem was examined in relation to styles of coping that were employed. Data was gathered from questionnaires distributed to adolescents from three schools in the locality of Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, including one rural school and two urban schools. The final sample consisted of 362 subjects. The data were analysed using frequencies, factor analyses, Pearson's correlation coefficient and regression analyses. The results of the study showed that adolescents experienced problems which included difficulties related to school achievement and maintaining standards; money problems; interpersonal problems regarding relationships with parents and family, friends and partners; intrapersonal problems, dealing with personal problems, depression and not wanting to live; and future related concerns, involving qualifications, careers, and employment. Three coping style described strategies employed by adolescents to manage their concerns: Internal coping, Active coping, and Withdrawal or an Avoidant style of coping. Of the three styles participants used an internal style of coping most frequently overall. However, all styles of coping were used interchangeably in order to solve problems of different types. Coping styles were found to be specific to particular problem domains. Analysis of self-esteem was carried out for participants from one urban school only, as the scale did not meet the criteria for reliability for the remaining two schools. Associations between self esteem and coping styles showed that a negative relationship existed between an avoidant coping strategy and self-esteem, and a positive relationship existed between self-esteem and an active coping style. Findings also showed the greater the degree of avoidance in problem solving the lower the expected level of self-esteem. This study presents findings that show evidence of adolescents' difficulties and stresses, and an emergent need for assistance at a time of change and transformation in South Africa. Where better to address these needs than in the educational environment within the framework of Guidance and Counselling. The results of this study may inform and render assistance in constructing an appropriate Life Orientation and Guidance curriculum for all schools, that will address current needs of adolescents as they confront the chief task of adolescence, that is the formation of an adult identity, a South African identity. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

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.

Movement in Gestalt therapeutic intervention, using structured activities and free improvisations, is a successful alternative to punishing adolescents with disruptive behavioural tendencies in the classroom. An overview of the existing literature regarding the therapeutic value of movement in Gestalt therapeutic intervention for adolescents with disruptive behavioural tendencies is firstly presented. Various techniques supporting the adolescent in his quest to achieve equilibrium, ultimately improving his relationships with others and his environment, are described. A case study, involving eight adolescents with disruptive behavioural tendencies in group therapy follows, which indicates that movement in Gestalt therapy is an alternative to punishment. In the light hereof it is suggested that movement in Gestalt therapy could be implemented successfully in the formal school environment. This form of intervention can contribute to the adolescent's growth, his ability to communicate and his relationships with self, others and the environment, culminating in improved behavioural tendencies. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

Esta investigação tem por objetivo analisar o significado e o sentido que “reincidentes” na Medida Socioeducativa de Internação paranaenses dão para a reincidência e a maneira pela qual reincidiram. Trata-se de uma abordagem qualiquantitativa, exploratória e descritiva, operacionalizada por meio da pesquisa bibliográfica e documental e da entrevista semi-estruturada. A orientação teóricometodológica de base empírica e documental que ilumina os procedimentos lógicos seguidos é a hermenêutica-dialética. A pesquisa descreve e contextualiza os principais instrumentos jurídico-normativos e teórico-praticos que atualmente regulamentam e informam, no Estado do Paraná, o tipo de intervenção estatal consubstanciada nas instituições, políticas, práticas profissionais e agentes especializados que compõem o Sistema Estadual de Atendimento Socioeducativo, apontado a conservação de uma estrutura material e institucional distintiva da modernidade penal, encoberta sob a perspectiva de uma “infância universal” e operacionalizada por um pretenso “reordenamento político-institucional” que ampliou o uso do encarceramento como resposta institucional à violência e à criminalidade juvenil partindo, primeiramente, da ideia de “reinserção” e, depois, de “prevenção” e gestão dos “fatores de risco”. Os resultados apontam uma seletividade penal focada na distinção de raça e classe, onde os “reincidentes” na Medida Socioeducativa de Internação representam 17,5% do total de adolescentes em “cumprimento” desta mesma Medida. Trata-se de jovens (92,7% entre 16 e 18 anos) não-brancos (61,8%), do sexo masculino (98,2%), com pouca escolaridade (74,5% na Fase II do Ensino Fundamental), excluídos do mercado de trabalho (81%), provenientes de famílias despossuídas (49% recebem entre 1 e 2 salários mínimos) e dos territórios precarizados dos grandes centros urbanos (80%). A “natureza” dos atos infracionais atribuídos aos “reincidentes” confirma a predominância de uma “criminalidade de rua” (76,3%) com destaque para os atos infracionais tipificados como crimes contra o patrimônio (roubo: 41,2%) e contra a incolumidade pública (tráfico de drogas: 21,4%). A chamada “criminalidade violenta” (crimes contra a pessoa) equivale a 13,4% de todos os atos infracionais atribuídos aos “reincidentes”. A investigação desvela que a privação de liberdade impede o acesso dos sujeitos a processos de socialização, pertencimento, reconhecimento e alteridade necessários à sua emancipação. Privilegiando a entrevista com “informantes-chave” e a constituição de suas trajetórias, vivências e experiências (tanto na relação com as instituições e organizações sociais quanto com as instituições de privação de liberdade), a investigação ratifica que a privação de liberdade, além de retirar o sujeito de seus círculos de relacionamentos e sistemas de trocas simbólicas, impedindo seu desenvolvimento pleno, reproduz injustiças sociais e estigmatizações, causando sofrimento inútil, alienação, controle, segregação e neutralização. / This research aims to analyze the meaning and the sense that "recidivists" in Measure Socioeducative of deprivation of liberty paranaenses give to the recidivism and the manner in which they relapsed. This is a qualitative and quantitative, exploratory and descriptive approach, operationalized through the bibliographical and documentary research and through the semi-structured interview. The theoretical and methodological, empirical and documentary guidance that illuminates the logical procedures followed is the hermeneutics-dialectics. The research describes and contextualizes the main legal-normative and theoretical-practical instruments that currently regulates and inform, in the State of Paraná, the type of state intervention consubstantiated in institutions, policies, professional practices and specialized agents that comprise the Socioeducative System of the State of Paraná, pointing out conservation of a institutional and material structure of the penal modernity, hidden from the perspective of a "universal childhood" and operated by an alleged "politicalinstitutional reorganization" which extended the use of imprisonment as an a institutional response to the juvenile violence and crime, starting, first, of the idea of "resocialization" and, then of the ideas of "prevention" and management of "risk factors". The results indicate a criminal selectivity focused on race distinction and on class distinction, where the "recidivists" on Measure Socioeducative of deprivation of liberty represent 17.5% of adolescents in "fulfillment" of that same Measure Socioeducative. It is young (92.7% between 16 and 18 years) non-whites (61.8%), male (98.2%), with low education (74.5% in Phase II of the Elementary School ), excluded from the labor market (81%), from dispossessed families (49% receive between 1 and 2 minimum wages) and of precarious areas of large urban centers (80%). The "nature" of the infractions attributed to the "recidivists" confirms the predominance of a "street criminality" (76.3%) highlighting the illegal acts typified as crimes against property (robbery: 41.2%) and against public safety (drug trafficking: 21.4%). The so-called "violent crimes" (crimes against persons) equals to 13.4% of all infractions attributed to the "recidivists". The research shows that deprivation of freedom prevents access of individuals to the socialization processes, belonging, recognition and otherness necessary for their emancipation. Privileging the interview with "key informants" and the constitution of their trajectories and life experiences (both in relation to the institutions and social organizations and with the institutions of deprivation of liberty), the research confirms that the deprivation of liberty, besides withdraw the subject of the your circles of relationships and of the your symbolic exchanges systems, preventing their full development, reproduces social injustices and stigmatization, causing suffering unnecessary, alienation, control, segregation and neutralization.

Movement in Gestalt therapeutic intervention, using structured activities and free improvisations, is a successful alternative to punishing adolescents with disruptive behavioural tendencies in the classroom. An overview of the existing literature regarding the therapeutic value of movement in Gestalt therapeutic intervention for adolescents with disruptive behavioural tendencies is firstly presented. Various techniques supporting the adolescent in his quest to achieve equilibrium, ultimately improving his relationships with others and his environment, are described. A case study, involving eight adolescents with disruptive behavioural tendencies in group therapy follows, which indicates that movement in Gestalt therapy is an alternative to punishment. In the light hereof it is suggested that movement in Gestalt therapy could be implemented successfully in the formal school environment. This form of intervention can contribute to the adolescent's growth, his ability to communicate and his relationships with self, others and the environment, culminating in improved behavioural tendencies. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)