Background and aims: The past two decades have seen a surge of interest in the impact of working with trauma on psychological therapists’ well-being. However, the implications of therapists’ responses to trauma for the process of therapy are unknown. The existing literature carries the assumption that therapists’ strong subjective responses to traumatic material have a negative impact on the therapeutic process, but this has not been directly researched. Therefore, this thesis investigates the experiences of therapists working with clients who describe traumatic events, and how therapists consider their responses to the disclosure of traumatic material to have impacted upon the therapeutic process. Method: Semi-structured interviews were carried out with nine qualified chartered counselling psychologists with experience of working with trauma. Interview transcripts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results: The analysis produced four superordinate themes. These were: (1) Demands and challenges in the use of self in response to trauma; (2) Dimensions of complexity in working with trauma: Conceptual, contextual, ethical, political; (3) Developing the therapeutic self in response to trauma; and (4) Valuing the therapeutic self in work with trauma. Conclusion: The research indicated that significant challenges were experienced in terms of the complex interpersonal dynamics, troubling somatic processes and ethical dilemmas in therapy with trauma. Furthermore, existing theoretical models were not sufficient to illuminate practice in these areas. Thus, this research indicates that specific 8 training and development in these areas is warranted, and a possible theoretical framework to help facilitate this is proposed. In addition, the current research supports the development of more explicitly socially contextualised approaches to trauma. Future research could usefully build on the current study by further investigating embodied processes and interpersonal dynamics, as well as the impact of therapists’ disclosure of their subjective responses in therapy with trauma.

South Africans live in a traumatized society where crime and violence are a big crisis. It is specially farm attacks that in the recent time show an increase. At the moment there are 274 farmers per 100 000 of the population in comparison with for example 153 policemen per 100 000, that are being murdered each year. In this study, a trauma counselling program is established, especially to give social support to victims of farm attacks. There are different reasons why a trauma counselling program for victims of farm attacks bas to be established: Farm attacks increase rapidly, - more than any other crimes. Farm attacks and - murder are brutal and gruesome. The farm attackers focus on torture and the infliction of severe pain and suffering. The fear that is inspired by this, leads to the termination of basic assumptions such as, that people are invulnerable, that there is a reason for everything happening and that something good will come forth. The termination of these basic assumptions lead to long term bio psychological changes in the life of the victim, his/her family and loved ones that saw or heard about the attack. This form of traumatization needs counselling. The purpose of this research was to determine the traumatic experience and the needs of victims after a farm attack. Through explanatory, descriptive, and exploratory evaluative research a way to establish and to guide the victims to take control of their lives, on the same level of social functioning as before the attack, is suggested. In this study the focus were on the following goals: Knowledge has to be gathered about the intensity of the attack and post traumatic stress reaction To achieve this aim a questionnaire for victims of farm attacks in the Northwest province has been designed and completed. The results show that there is a need for a trauma counselling program for victims of farm attacks. A trauma counselling program was designed after the results of the questionnaire were interpreted, other programs evaluated, and behavioural models studied The group work process seems to be the most appropriate to implement. The single system as method was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the designed counselling program. The results showed that the program could be used successfully to bring the necessary and desired changes in the lives of the victims of farm attacks / Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

South Africans live in a traumatized society where crime and violence are a big crisis. It is specially farm attacks that in the recent time show an increase. At the moment there are 274 farmers per 100 000 of the population in comparison with for example 153 policemen per 100 000, that are being murdered each year. In this study, a trauma counselling program is established, especially to give social support to victims of farm attacks. There are different reasons why a trauma counselling program for victims of farm attacks bas to be established: Farm attacks increase rapidly, - more than any other crimes. Farm attacks and - murder are brutal and gruesome. The farm attackers focus on torture and the infliction of severe pain and suffering. The fear that is inspired by this, leads to the termination of basic assumptions such as, that people are invulnerable, that there is a reason for everything happening and that something good will come forth. The termination of these basic assumptions lead to long term bio psychological changes in the life of the victim, his/her family and loved ones that saw or heard about the attack. This form of traumatization needs counselling. The purpose of this research was to determine the traumatic experience and the needs of victims after a farm attack. Through explanatory, descriptive, and exploratory evaluative research a way to establish and to guide the victims to take control of their lives, on the same level of social functioning as before the attack, is suggested. In this study the focus were on the following goals: Knowledge has to be gathered about the intensity of the attack and post traumatic stress reaction To achieve this aim a questionnaire for victims of farm attacks in the Northwest province has been designed and completed. The results show that there is a need for a trauma counselling program for victims of farm attacks. A trauma counselling program was designed after the results of the questionnaire were interpreted, other programs evaluated, and behavioural models studied The group work process seems to be the most appropriate to implement. The single system as method was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the designed counselling program. The results showed that the program could be used successfully to bring the necessary and desired changes in the lives of the victims of farm attacks / Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

South African society has been a ected either directly or indirectly by some degree of trauma. Therefore the presence of a trauma unit within a hospital created the ideal opportunity for novice trauma counsellors to have practical experience. The present research is an exploratory study, designed in accordance with ethno- graphic principles in order to understand the psychological e ects of trauma on novice trauma counsellors. It focuses on themes that reverberate throughout the participants narratives. Vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue are two such e ects that were explored in this study. Research into compassion fatigue and vi- carious trauma span over several decades and researchers have moved from merely describing the symptoms of secondary traumatic stress to explaining it in terms of models that highlight the role of various factors that contribute vicarious trauma or compassion fatigue. This study concludes with recommendations to counter the e ects of experiencing secondary trauma. / (M.A. (Clinical Psychology))

<p><font face="Times New Roman"> <p align="left">Limitations of the study include the issue of counsellor variables and the fact that the participants varied between receiving a debriefing on a group or individual basis. The experience of the trauma debriefings were explored but more specific information relating to debriefing could have been elicited. Therefore, these findings cannot be generalised and further research could<font face="Times New Roman"> explore the utility and efficacy of trauma debriefing.</font></p> </font></p>

<p><font face="Times New Roman"> <p align="left">Limitations of the study include the issue of counsellor variables and the fact that the participants varied between receiving a debriefing on a group or individual basis. The experience of the trauma debriefings were explored but more specific information relating to debriefing could have been elicited. Therefore, these findings cannot be generalised and further research could<font face="Times New Roman"> explore the utility and efficacy of trauma debriefing.</font></p> </font></p>

South African society has been a ected either directly or indirectly by some degree of trauma. Therefore the presence of a trauma unit within a hospital created the ideal opportunity for novice trauma counsellors to have practical experience. The present research is an exploratory study, designed in accordance with ethno- graphic principles in order to understand the psychological e ects of trauma on novice trauma counsellors. It focuses on themes that reverberate throughout the participants narratives. Vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue are two such e ects that were explored in this study. Research into compassion fatigue and vi- carious trauma span over several decades and researchers have moved from merely describing the symptoms of secondary traumatic stress to explaining it in terms of models that highlight the role of various factors that contribute vicarious trauma or compassion fatigue. This study concludes with recommendations to counter the e ects of experiencing secondary trauma. / (M.A. (Clinical Psychology))

Exposure of employees to traumatic experiences in the workplace is a reality that many organisations face. Although not every person exposed to a traumatic experience will necessarily develop post-traumatic stress, the workplace still has a responsibility to assist individuals to deal with psychological reactions after a traumatic experience. The South African Police Service (SAPS) is one such organisation, where employees run a particularly high risk of being exposed to traumatic experiences while performing their tasks. In order to help employees of the SAPS to debrief their trauma, trauma counsellors are necessary. Within the SAPS, trauma counsellors are trained in an adapted version of Mitchell’s Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) model, with the underlying focus to establish a sense of safety for the police official. The trauma counsellors in the SAPS are trained by means of an experiential learning experience, where journaling is utilised to capture personal experiences during the training. The objective of the study was therefore to explore the experience of counsellors during a trauma counselling training programme. A qualitative research design was utilised following a phenomenology approach. The social constructivism paradigm was also utilised in this research study. Trauma counsellors (N=12) in the SAPS were used as case study for this research, where a purposive homogeneous non-probability sampling technique was implemented. The journal entries made by the participants during the nine day training programme were used as a data collection method. Four categories were extracted from the data, namely, thoughts regarding trauma counsellor’s experiences, emotion experiences of counsellors, the impact of daily experiences on counsellors and the participants’ view on how their competence of efficiency would change in the future. The results showed that the training programme was an effective strategy to train the counsellors. The counsellors showed increased self-awareness and self-insight after the training. The participants gained insight and understanding of how police officials experience trauma. The findings showed that the participants felt empowered and more confident to assist police officials with their trauma recovery. In relation to their training, counsellors made recommendations for the future training of trauma counsellors within the SAPS. Finally, recommendations were made for future research as well as the implications of the study for the industrial psychology practise. / MCom (Industrial Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Exposure of employees to traumatic experiences in the workplace is a reality that many organisations face. Although not every person exposed to a traumatic experience will necessarily develop post-traumatic stress, the workplace still has a responsibility to assist individuals to deal with psychological reactions after a traumatic experience. The South African Police Service (SAPS) is one such organisation, where employees run a particularly high risk of being exposed to traumatic experiences while performing their tasks. In order to help employees of the SAPS to debrief their trauma, trauma counsellors are necessary. Within the SAPS, trauma counsellors are trained in an adapted version of Mitchell’s Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) model, with the underlying focus to establish a sense of safety for the police official. The trauma counsellors in the SAPS are trained by means of an experiential learning experience, where journaling is utilised to capture personal experiences during the training. The objective of the study was therefore to explore the experience of counsellors during a trauma counselling training programme. A qualitative research design was utilised following a phenomenology approach. The social constructivism paradigm was also utilised in this research study. Trauma counsellors (N=12) in the SAPS were used as case study for this research, where a purposive homogeneous non-probability sampling technique was implemented. The journal entries made by the participants during the nine day training programme were used as a data collection method. Four categories were extracted from the data, namely, thoughts regarding trauma counsellor’s experiences, emotion experiences of counsellors, the impact of daily experiences on counsellors and the participants’ view on how their competence of efficiency would change in the future. The results showed that the training programme was an effective strategy to train the counsellors. The counsellors showed increased self-awareness and self-insight after the training. The participants gained insight and understanding of how police officials experience trauma. The findings showed that the participants felt empowered and more confident to assist police officials with their trauma recovery. In relation to their training, counsellors made recommendations for the future training of trauma counsellors within the SAPS. Finally, recommendations were made for future research as well as the implications of the study for the industrial psychology practise. / MCom (Industrial Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Magister Psychologiae - MPsych / South Africa is a country with one of the highest crime rates in the world, resulting in much violence and trauma. Trauma debriefing models are used with groups and individuals in an attempt to facilitate the trauma recovery process and prevent the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There has been much debate on the efficacy of trauma debriefing over the past two decades with few qualitative studies exploring the utility of debriefing. A phenomenological methodology was used in this study, with the aim of understanding how participants experienced the process of trauma debriefing and what aspects were perceived as helpful or unhelpful. Semi-structured in- depth interviews were conducted with six adults who received debriefing following a single traumatic event, by volunteer lay counsellors from the Community Intervention Centre (CIC) based at the Milnerton Medi-Clinic.