A growing body of research recognizes spirituality as a key element in well-being, but the agency of individual spirituality remains unclear. This study explores the role of embodied knowledge in reality construction and its effect on illness by considering how spirituality as embodied existence shapes reality. Spirituality, as a form of embodied knowing, is shown to reach deeply into the fundamental relatedness of existence. The study argues for a mindbody- spirit unity, making no distinction between self and spirit, emotions and subjective experiences situated in the spirit. As the medium between body and self, spirituality gives form to the felt reality of embodied knowledge and meaning, shaping language, cognition, thought and action towards lived reality. New ways of thinking about eating disorders were stimulated by innovative discoveries through investigating the lived reality of the illness within an epistemology that included subjective experiences as part of reality. While acknowledging the influence of social discourse, the study calls for a recognition of vulnerability in the human condition giving rise to the embodiment of a wounded self or disenabling spirituality, manifested in the development of an eating disorder. It uncovers the anti-spiritual properties involved in the lived reality of people struggling with anorexia/bulimia, evident in social withdrawal and/or self-injury. Behavioural patterns of obsession and repetition underscore similarities to addiction and ritual. The study synthesised pastoral therapy and research. A postmodern approach to illness and a qualitative design with interpretive phenomenology were used. Three young women struggling with anorexia/bulimia participated in semi-structured research interviews. Their narrative accounts provided a chronology of developing, living with and healing from anorexia /bulimia. Emphasis shifted from an approach aimed at fixing the body to focusing on individual experiences of the illness; what she brought to the encounter in her own resources and potential to heal. Healing is envisaged as the ongoing development of a renewed sense of self, an inherently spiritual process orchestrated from within. Previous disassociation of body and self is replaced with reconnection between body, self and other, care of the spirit became care of the body, expressed in harmony and wholeness of being. / Practical Theology / D.Div. (Pastoral therapy)

The Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act (CTOP Act 92 of 1996) is perhaps the most revolutionary piece of legislation internationally ever to have been promulgated to regulate abortion and as such women’s reproductive lives. Abortion research tends to focus on the experiences of women and thus cast abortion as solely a territory that represents women’s reproductive concerns and the power to choose to procreate. While the CTOP Act safeguards women’s right of choice and a form of determination relating to what happens to their bodies, it also fails to recognise or even make pronouncements about the role that a man plays in the choice to terminate a pregnancy as well as how abortion affects a man’s life. This therefore implies that legally, men do not have a stake to influencing the decision to terminate a pregnancy. This qualitative study was undertaken to explore how young unmarried males whose partners have undergone an abortion construct abortion and the meanings that they attach to the experience of abortion. Interviews were conducted and the data was analysed using discourse analysis. Some of the young men knew about the woman’s decision to have an abortion and others did not know. Common findings include a sense of helplessness due to feeling that the decision is ultimately that of the woman, anger for those who did not know about the decision to abort and a lack of forgiveness towards their partners. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

The introduction of Outcomes-Based Curriculum 2005, has meant that the learning area of Life Orientation has undergone significant changes. These changes encompass both the scope of the learning area of Life Orientation, and the implementation of Life Orientation. The aim of this investigation has been to examine the implications of Outcomes-Based Curriculum 2005, for Life Orientation as well as to propose a method of assisting this implementation. The training of facilitators has met with mixed results and there is still confusion surrounding Curriculum 2005, and the learning area of Life Orientation. The development of an implementation model was therefore proposed and developed to assist Life Orientation facilitators to make the transition from a theoretical understanding to the practical implementation. The results of the study determined that the facilitators were overwhelmingly in support of the implementation model. They found it provided a logical and comprehensive framework, which would be helpful in assisting them with planning their learning programmes. In order to understand more fully the effectiveness of the implementation model in the classroom reality, it will however be necessary to undertake a study over a longer term with participating facilitators. A number of other issues also were investigated as part of this study. From this it was determined that facilitators feel they require more training to implement an Outcomes-Based appro'ach particularly with regard to assessment. Facilitators have also not yet fully understood what constitutes the learning area of Life Orientation, nor their tasks as a facilitator. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Children are being removed unnecessarily from their families and placed into substitute care because service programmes lack resources to keep families intact. There are overseas programmes, which provide home services to families, with children at risk of out of home placement. Although there has been an IFPS project there is no established intensive short-term programme in South Africa that deals with families at the brink of dissolution.The objective of the research is to investigate whether an Intensive Family Preservation Programme is feasible in South Africa. The researcher received training in the United States and met with leaders in the field, to discuss the development and implementation of the programme in South Africa. Surveys obtained the attitudes and opinions of the local social workers and commissioners of Child Welfare in Durban towards the programme. The results from opinion surveys indicate that an Intensive Family Preservation Programme is feasible in South Africa. / Social Science / M.A.(Social Work)

Text in Afrikaans / Om te luister na mense se verhale is om iets van hulle belewinge en singewing te probeer verstaan. Staatkundige verandering in Suid-Afrika. het die arbeidsposisie van veral die wit werker in onsekerheid geplaas. Saam met die internasionale gemeenskap kan gevolglik gese word: Daar bestaan nie meer iets soos werksekerheid nie. In hierdie studie skets drie wit Afrikanermans en hulle vrouens die invloed en gevolge van onverwagse uitdienstrede op hulself en hul gesinslewe. As gevolg van onsekerheid in die werksituasie het deelnemers bestaande sosiale- en geloofsdiskoerse bevraagteken. Deurdat die deelnemers egter hulle verhale in die teenwoordigheid van persone te midde van dieselfde omstandighede vertel het, kon hulle kom tot die ko-konstruering van betekenis en die skep van alternatiewe verhale. / To listen to the stories of people, is to comprehend something of their experiences and the meaning they apply to it. Political change in South Africa placed the vocational position of especially the white Afrikaner worker in an uncertain position. Together with the international community it can now be said: There is no longer such a thing as job security. In this study three white Afrikaner men and their spouses depict the influence and results of unexpected retirement on themselves and their families. Uncertainty in the job-situation led to the questioning of existing social and faith discourses. By telling their stories in the presence of people amid the same circumstances, participants were however able to co-construct meaning and create alternative stories. / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

This research study focuses on the sexual encounters of teenagers. Teenagers do not always have private intimate places of their own and tend to use school grounds, toilets and classrooms to engage in sexual activities. Recently, various newspapers published articles about teen pregnancy and sex on school grounds. The alarming rate of sexual activities at schools among South African teenagers became a driving force for the researcher to investigate this phenomenon. The goal was to develop in-depth understanding of the experiences of teenagers being engaged in sexual activities at school and social work support required. A qualitative approach was employed following explorative, descriptive and contextual research designs. The study was conducted in the Gauteng province. Semi-structured interviews were employed to collect data. Purposive sampling was utilised. Analysis of data was conducted according to Tesch (cited in Smit, 2002) and Guba's model (cited in Shenton, 2004) was employed for data verification. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science (Social Work))

Chemical substance abuse and dependence constitute an increasing international and national phenomenon. Individuals, groups and communities are at risk of the mental, biological, legal and environmental implications associated with substance dependence. Human sexual behaviour is no new phenomenon to be studied. Human beings experience sexual behaviour and gratification as important. Sexual behaviour is not vital for the survival of the individual but vital for survival of the species. Sexual behaviour in combination with chemical substance abuse might pose further dangers to a person or group. Sexual behaviour where persons engage in sexual actions when using or abusing chemical substances could construct certain positive functions for persons. Qualitative researchers are interested in discovering the meaning persons attach to experiences. In understanding the dynamics of the phenomenon, possible contributions to the human sciences could be made. Chemical substance abuse and dependency affect the individual, his/her family systems and the community. Depressants and stimulants change the chemical functioning of the human brain and the mental health of the user. Despite the harm caused to the dependent person, abuse of the chemical substance is continued. The substance has various functions that the biological and psychological person becomes dependent on. Sexual behaviour is inherent in human nature, but not chemical substance abuse. It is expected by the researcher that there might be certain function(s) served by chemical substances in the sexual behaviour of persons. A literature study on the topic on the function of chemical substances in the sexual behaviour of persons yielded unsatisfactory results. Little research was found with regard to the function of chemical substances in relation to people’s sexual behaviour. In response to this need the researcher embarked on a qualitative research journey to explore the function of the chemical substances within the context of an individual’s sexual behaviour and practices. Chemical substances have different functions and affect the sexual behaviour, functioning and experiences of the users of such substances. Six objectives were set with the aim of developing an in-depth understanding of the function of chemical substances in sexual behaviour. The research question of this investigation leads to a clear inquiry into the phenomenon that was examined and analysed and yielded useful new information. This qualitative research project is characterised by its inductive features, openness to change and interest in human behaviour. The study is characterised by an interpretive nature as an interpretative investigation. An effort was made towards understanding the phenomenon through observation and exploration. Persons were invited to participate in the research and reported themselves to the researcher, the process of self-selection sampling was utilised. In drawing a sample from the population of patients at a treatment centre an interactive approach to the process was followed by conducting semi-structured and in-depth interviews as a method of data collection. Data analysis and processing was executed according to the eight steps for qualitative data analysis as proposed by Tesch (in Creswell, 2009). Data verification for the assessment of the trustworthiness of the research findings was achieved by utilizing Guba’s model as espoused in Krefting (1991). Informed consent, confidentiality and management of information were some of the ethical considerations adhered to in the planning and execution of this research project. The nature of this study is marked by the person-centred approach in combination with the qualitative methodology and philosophy. The researcher found the two to be appropriate when a sensitive and private topic was to be explored. Participants were able to evaluate the meanings that were attached to their experiences within a psychologically sound environment. Themes became evident through the data analysis process. These themes were contrasted against a body of existing theory. The wholeness of human beings came to the fore and literature from a bio-neurological and humanistic perspective was found to be applicable. The social sciences and, in particular, social workers are concerned with the wellbeing of persons, their relevant systems and context. These dimensions of human beings were addressed by this study and aimed to contribute to further development in the science of psychotherapy and the understanding of the person within the phenomenon being studied. Therapists should be willing and demonstrate a sensitive ability to understand the client’s experiences from the person’s own point of view (Rogers, 1950: 444). In a relationship that is constructed for the purpose the aim should be mainly to understand the whole person (Rogers, 1952: 343). Therapists should develop an ability to see completely through the client’s eyes and adopt the person’s frame of reference. This is the basis for implementing “client-centred” therapy (Rogers 1950: 444). A key role of social work practice is facilitating the empowerment of persons, and their personal and interpersonal strengths according to their own self-determination (Zastrow, 2012:39); the researcher recommends a holistic full understanding of the person in his/her wholeness (Rogers, 1987: 486). / Exploring the functions of chemical substances in individuals' sexual behavior / Interviews in English and Afrikaans / Department of Social Work / M.A. (Social Work)

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The New Testament passage that treats the dynamics of the marriage relationship most extensively is Ephesians 5:21-33. This passage is embedded in the Ephesian domestic code, which employs a conventional form used widely in the first-century Mediterranean world and which consequently reflects a patriarchal hierarchy. Does this, however, imply that Ephesians is advocating a marriage relationship that is patriarchal and hierarchical, or does this passage point beyond the particular first-century cultural context to a loftier ideal? Scholars are today divided in their assessments of Ephesians 5:21-33. Some regard the passage as a reactionary accommodation to the status quo, while others excuse this social conformity as being necessitated by a struggle for survival in a hostile first-century world. This thesis seeks to re-read Ephesians 5:21-33 rhetorically against the background of the socio-historical context of the first-century Mediterranean world and prevailing perspectives on the status of women, domestic social structures, and marriage. It takes into consideration the general rhetorical thrust of Ephesians as a whole, the particular way in which Ephesians 5:21-33 is framed textually, as well as the structure, content and uniquely Christological context. Such a re-reading shows that the conventional household code of the first century is in fact infused with a radical transformative ethos which subtely, but significantly, challenges the patriarchal hierarchy. For, it invites readers to step into a new, alternative reality in Christ, thereby entering a place of ongoing reorientation in their marriage relationships, embracing an attitude of mutual submission and other-centred service towards each othera marriage relationship modeled on the relationship between Christ and the church. This points to the conclusion that it is this transformative ethos in Ephesians 5:21-33 that is transculturally normative rather than the first-century patriarchal hierarchy in which it is embedded. This has profound implications for pastoral ministry in present-day South Africa, for readers from more traditional backgrounds often read this passage as simply reinforcing the patriarch ally hierarchical status quo, while readers from less traditional backgrounds may tend merely to dismiss it as archaic and irrelevant. In reality, the transformative ethos of Ephesians 5:21-33 provides an ongoing challenge to both authoritarian hierarchical marriage structures on the one hand, and laissez faire egalitarian marriage relationships on the other, while holding out a compelling vision - a vision of a magnificent other-centred marriage partnership under the lordship of Christ. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Efesiërs 5:21-33 is by uitstek dié gedeelte in die Nuwe Testament wat die dinamika van die huweliksverhouding op die mees uitgebreide wyse behandel. Hierdie gedeelte is onlosmaaklik verbonde aan die Efesiese huisreëls, wat weer gebaseer is op die konvensionele vorm wydverspreid in die eerste-eeuse Mediterreense wêreld, en weerspieël gevolglik 'n patriargale hiërargie. Die vraag is egter of hierdeur geïmpliseer word dat Efesiërs 'n patriargale en hiërargiese huweliksverhouding verkondig, of wys hierdie gedeelte, verby die bepaalde eerste-eeuse kulturele konteks heen, na 'n hoër ideaal? Geleerdes is vandag verdeeld in hulle beoordeling van Efesiërs 5:21-33. Sommige beskou die gedeelte as 'n behoudende aanpassing van die status quo, terwyl ander hierdie sosiale behoudendheid verskoon as genoodsaak deur die stryd om oorlewing in 'n vyandige eersteeeuse wêreld. Hierdie tesis beoog om Efesiërs 5:21-33 retories te herlees teen die agtergrond van die sosio-historiese konteks van die eerste-eeuse Mediterreense wêreld en die heersende sienings van die status van vroue, huishoudelik-sosiale strukture en die huwelik. Dit neem in aanmerking die algemene retoriese strekking van Efesiërs as geheel, die bepaalde tekstuele omraming van Efesiërs 5:21-33, sowel as die struktuur, inhoud en unieke Christologiese konteks. So 'n herlees toon dat die konvensionele huishoudelike kode van die eerste eeu in werklikheid besiel was met 'n radikaal herskeppende etos wat op subtiele, maar betekenisvolle, wyse die patriargale hiërargie uitdaag. Want, dit nooi lesers om 'n nuwe, alternatiewe werklikheid in Christus te betree vanwaar hulle hulself voortdurend kan heroriënteer in hul huweliksverhouding, en 'n houding van wedersydse onderworpenheid en ander-gesentreerde diens aan mekaar aanvaar - 'n huweliksverhouding gemodelleer op die verhouding tussen Christus en die kerk. Só 'n herlees lei tot die gevolgtrekking dat dit hierdie herskeppende etos van Efesiërs 5:21- 33 is wat transkultureel normatief is, eerder as die eerste-eeuse patriargale hiërargie waaraan dit onlosmaaklik verbonde is. Dit bring diepgaande implikasies vir die pastorale bediening in die hedendaagse Suid-Afrika mee, want lesers met 'n meer tradisionele agtergrond lees dié gedeelte dikwels as 'n versterking van die patriargale, hiërargiese status quo, terwyl lesers met 'n minder tradisionele agtergrond mag neig om die gedeelte bloot af te maak as argaïes en irrelevant. In werklikheid voorsien die herskeppende etos van Efesiërs 5:21-33 'n volgehoue uitdaging aan beide outoritêr-hiërargiese huwelikstrukture aan die een kant, en laissez faire gelykmakende huweliksverhoudinge aan die ander kant, terwyl dit 'n dwingende visie voorhou - 'n visie van 'n heerlike ander-gesentreerde huweliksvennootskap onder die heerskappy van Christus.

The study describes the counselling journey undertaken with 270 patients at the Family Medicine Clinic at Kalafong Hospital in Atteridgeville, Tshwane, between June 2000 and December 2003. Of these patients 75% were women, 74% were black and 97% Christian, with half of them belonging to born-again churches. A majority of the patients (52%) were unemployed and the others employed in minimum salary jobs. A third of the patients had attemped suicide at least once before, and a third had lost at least one close family member. With these patients a narrative pastoral counselling practice was established. Narrative counselling was practised as a MEET process in which the patients' problem-saturated stories were mapped and their problems externalised; they were empowered through the deconstruction of religious problem discourses, and their alternative stories were thickened by means of religious practices. This was a pastoral practice with a focus on religious discourses as problem discourses, and on the deconstruction of these discourses towards alternatives stories of faith. The first aim of the study was to describe the faces of religious problem discourses. They are (1) power discourses that hold patients captive in divinely sanctions hierarchies of gender and class, (2) body discourses that alienated patients from their bodies, (3) identity discourses that placed the religious identities of patients in conflict with their other identities, and (4) otherness discourses that created barriers between patients and God. The second aim of the study was to describe the externalised faces of the problems ruining the patients' lives. Here Losses, Loneliness and Lack of money were described as problems causing amongst patients feelings of worthlessness, depression, paralysis, body aches and many more. The third aim of the study was to describe the characteristics of the narrative pastoral counselling practice that has been established. This practice (1) negotiates healing between binaries such as Western/African, culture and dogma/lived experience; patient passivity/patient agency; (2) respects the indigenous knowledge of patients as it is embodied in township spiritualities; and (3) aims at introducing patients to a community of care as well as a new community of discourse where they can experience spiritual healing. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology)

The purpose of this ethnographic study is to explore the following: 1. The counsellors’ experience of the process of career counselling provided to students at a distance learning institution 2. My own experiences of doing counselling with Unisa students. 3. How Holland’s career theory, the social cognitive career theory and the chaos theory of careers could shape the process of career counselling. The themes that emanated from the stories of six counsellors indicate that they view counselling as a continuous process wherein it is necessary to strike a balance through blended counselling between the needs of individuals versus helping the multitude of anonymous students. In order to facilitate counselling effectively, counsellors need resources and in order to develop these resources they use a diversity of career theories which act as a frame of reference. Attention is given to the development of career counsellors’ identity and self-confidence and how this impacts on the counsellors’ growth. The recommendations of this study hold the promise of contributing to the counselling process at the DCCD. / Psychology / D.Litt.et Phil. (Psychology)