Hierdie studie is 'n kwalitatiewe ekosistemiese ondersoek van die fenomeen Chroniese Moegheidsindroom (CMS) . Die paradigmaverskuiwing vanaf die Cartesiaans-Newtoniaanse epistemologie na die kubernetiese epistemologie, het 'n aantal belangrike implikasies vir die bestudering en konseptualisering van CMS, soos uiteengesit in hierdie studie. 'n Bespreking van die konseptualisering en behandeling van CMS vanuit die tradisionele, reduksionistiese navorsing word verskaf. Die aannames van twee-orde kubernetika en sosiale konstruksionisme, is bespreek en toegepas op die beskrywing van twee sisteme waarin CMS voorkom. Die navorsingsmetodologie van die studie is gegenereer op grand van die genoemde teoretiese aannames. Die implikasies van die toepassing van die ekosistemiese epistemologie vir die konseptualisering van CMS word uitgewys. Die herkonseptualisering van CMS as 'n transisieproses word bespreek en riglyne vir verdere navorsing en psigoterapie word aangedui. Die huidige studie bied 'n beskrywing van die unieke betekenisse en oplossings wat gesinne genereer tydens die veranderings wat CMS vergesel. / The present study is a qualitative ecosystemic exploration of the phenomenon known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The paradigm shift from the Newtonian epistemology to the epistemology of cybernetics, has important implication for research and the conceptualisation of CFS, as indicated in the study. The traditional, reductionist conceptualisation of CFS in research and treatment methods, is discussed. The suppositions of second order cybernetics and social constructionism, are discussed and applied in the description of two systems where CFS occurs. The research methodology of the present study is generated from the theoretical suppositions. Die implications of the use of the ecosystemic epistemology for the conceptualisation of CFS are indicated. The re-conceptualisation of CFS as a transition process is discussed and guidelines are given for future research and psychotherapy. The present study is a description of the unique meanings and solutions that the families generated during the changes that accompany CFS. / Psychology / M.A. (Kliniese Sielkunde)

Chronic headache may be the most frequently reported somatic symptom, yet it puzzles health experts and poses a considerable treatment challenge. It was suggested that this is because conventional views of headache, adhering to a Newtonian-Cartesian epistemology, focus almost exclusively on intrapsychic factors ignoring the wider social context in which the problem is embedded. An overview of the existing body of knowledge on the most widely researched headache conditions was presented, and it was argued that a conceptual shift is required to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the problem. This study was conducted within an holistic, ecosystemic epistemology. A qualitative approach employing a case study method was adopted to provide rich descriptions of the contexts in which two chronic headache sufferers' symptoms were embedded. The case study presentations also illustrated the attempts that were made to intervene into the headache contexts from a second-order cybernetics stance. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

In the realm of therapeutic horseback riding one becomes aware of the idiosyncratic way in which each unique individual depicts his or her experience of a therapeutic riding endeavor. This study focuses on the meanings attributed to therapeutic riding in the lives of children with cerebral palsy because the complementary use of horses in therapy with these children may be of great importance to the medical fraternity. This exploration investigated the influence of the children's relationship with a horse, and the parents' perception of horseriding as a complementary therapy to occupational- and physiotherapy. The theoretical background and a literature review on therapeutic horseback riding and cerebral palsy were presented in this study. This study followed a holistic, ecosystemic epistemology. Both a qualitative approach and a quantitative approach were adopted as two complementary sides of a more encompassing whole and provided rich descriptions of the context and research process. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Met die oog daarop om 'n basisteorie vir familiepastoraat te ontwerp, word verskeie basisteoretiese konsepte geidentifiseer en bespreek. Dit is veral die relasionele definiering van families - eerder as die tradisionele biologiese definiering - wat van fundamentele belang vir basisteoretiese besinning is. Hierdie 'ekologiese' verstaan van families, sluit familiesisteme van alle vorms in en hou rekening met huidige sosiologiese realiteite sowel as bepaalde teologiese perspektiewe. In aansluiting by die relasionele definiering van families, het familiepastoraat 'n verhoudingsfokus en werk dit met 'n multidimensionele perspektief wat op al die dinamiese verhoudingsprosesse en -fases binne familiesisteme gerig is. In verbondenheid met die gemeente, benader familiepastoraat families as ekologiese geloofsisteme en funksioneer dit in die lig van die evangelie asook doelbewus binne koninkrykskonteks. In die slothoofstuk word al die sentrale basisteoretiese konsepte geintegreer tot 'n teoretiese geheel. Die basisteorie vir familiepastoraat, wat hier ontwerp word, kan kemagtig soos volg geformuleer word: Familiepastoraat is gesprekmatige verhoudingsorg van die ekologiese familie en dit geskied binne koninkrykskonteks. / For the purpose of developing a basic theory for family pastoral work, several basic theoretical concepts are identified and discussed. The defining of families in terms of relations - rather than the traditional biological defining - is of fundamental importance for basic theoretical reflection. This 'ecological' understanding of families includes families of all shapes and forms, whilst it also reflects sociological realities and it takes into account certain theological perspectives. The aim of family pastoral work is synchronised with the relational defining of families and focus, therefore, on the multiple dynamic relational processes and phases within family systems. For this manifold relational focus, family pastoral work operates with a multidimensional perspective. The basic theory developed for family pastoral work, can be formulated as follows: Family pastoral work is dialogical care of the relationships of ecological families and it operates within context of the Kingdom. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Practical theology)

For centuries humans and animals have shared their lives. However, it is only in recent decades that the phenomenon of the human-animal bond and the possible therapeutic implications thereof has begun to be explored. Due to this exploration, many research programmes have sprung up around the world, investigating the implementation of animals as an intervention in various institutions. These programmes have produced overwhelmingly positive and encouraging results. However, the research remains sparse where the significance of a naturally occurring human-animal bond is concerned. From within an ecosystemic worldview, the relationship between humans and animals in the wider family system has not been extensively investigated. This dissertation explores such a relationship, investigating the meanings and experiences within the relationship, and how this relationship and significant systems around it impact one another. The implications and possible therapeutic nature of this type of relationship will be considered. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

This is a postmodernist dissertation contextualised within the new epistemology. The dissertation's descriptive methodology mirrors a personal journey from intrapsychic to ecosystemic psychology which operates within the domain of language and narrative discourse. As such it is founded on the principles of ecosystemic rather than Newtonian thinking. A conversation between various participants constructs the dissertatioi1 through polyphony and academic dialogue. This is then deconstructed through the use of metalogue thereby allowing the dissertation to operate simultaneously on a number of different levels. As it is a postmodernist text, the structure is in a sense an 'anti-structure' in that it is indirect while it is still acknowledged as a construction. In this way it is constructed and deconstructed in terms of its own premises. Expectations in terms of conventional dissertation formulae are challenged without negating academic requirements. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

In this dissertation the literature on suicidal behaviour is reviewed, with particular emphasis on professional conceptualizations and understanding as informed by the psychiatric and sociological paradigms. Basic postulates of the Ecosystemic paradigm, as it is informed by Maturana's second-order cybernetic approach was discussed. The effect of such an approach on therapy with suicidal individuals was pointed out. It became clear that perceived methodological problems experienced when researching suicidal behaviour from a Newtonian/realist paradigm can be side-stepped when viewed from an Ecosystemic paradigm. It was finally proposed that an ethic of participation, as informed by a second-order cybernetic approach, be adopted when viewing the suicide situation. In the process ethics was reconceptualized as an awareness of the therapist's participation in whatever is created, and not in finding the ''right" way when working with suicidal individuals. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Text in Afrikaans / Adolessensie is die ontwikkelings- en oorgangsperiode tussen kindertyd en volwassenheid. Alhoewel adolessensie 'n bepaalde konflikkarakter het, kan dit nie kategories as 'n storm-en-drang probleemstadium tipeer word nie. Adolessensie is 'n positiewe stadium wat gekenmerk word deur groei en nuwe uitdagings. Adolessensie word gekenmerk deur ingrypende veranderinge met betrekking tot die terreine van die fisiologies-somatiese, kogni ti ewe, emosionele, identiteit, sosiale, morele en religieuse. 'n Multidimensionele perspektief is dus n vereiste met die oog op n verstaan en definiering van adolessensie. Om hierdie rede kan adolessensie vanuit 'n verskeidenheid van teoriee beskryf word. Hierdie biologiese, psigoanali tiese, psigososiale, antropologiese en ekologies-kontekstuele teoriee gee egter geen aandag aan 'n teologiese orientasie nie. Verder bied nie een van hierdie teoriee 'n perspektief wat die ontwikkelingsterreine tot 'n eenheid integreer nie. Die gevolg is dat daar nie 'n kernstruktuur is wat die verskillende ontwikkelingsveranderinge en ontwikkelingstake kan orden en 'n teologiese betekenis (semantiek) daaraan kan toeken nie. Binne die raamwerk van 'n prakties-teologiese orientasie word 'n Christelike spiritualiteit as teologiese perspektief op adolessensie beskou. Spiritualiteit is die mens se dinamiese respons op die transendente werklikheid. Vanuit 'n Bybelse antropologie word die mens beskou as 'n relasionele wese wat in die teenwoordigheid van God leef (die coram Deo beginsel). Die mens se totale lewe (ook die adolessent se ontwikkelingsveranderinge) word op God betrek. Spiritualiteit as semantiese struktuurkern funksioneer as geestelike lens wat 'n bepaalde fokus op die adolessent se ontwikkeling bied, en wat die verskillende ontwikkelingsprosesse tot 'n geiintegreerde geheel saamtrek. Deur spiritualiteit word adolessensie 'reframe' en as transendentteologiese roepingsterrein beskou. Die adolessent word geroep om die Skriftuurlik-evangeliese beginsels te internaliseer met betrekking tot eie ontwikkelingsprosesse. Die pastorale implikasie is dat die berader die proses waardeur 'n integrasie plaasvind tussen adolessente se spiri tualiteit en hul ontwikkelingsprosesse en probleemhantering, moet fasiliteer. Hierdie dinamika kan optimaal realiseer indien die berader binne die raamwerk van 'n relasie (as ontmoetingsgebeure) orienteer aan 'n epistemologie van deelname. In die beraadproses moet adolessente as verantwoordelike wesens beskou word wat betekenis aan eie ontwikkeling en probleme toeken. Verder moet pastorale beraad ook interdissipliner, ontwikkelingstoepaslik en ekosistemies gerig wees. / Adolescence is the developmental and tccansitional stage between childhood and adulthood. Although adolescence is marked by conflict, it should not be categorised as a problem period. It is a positive stage characterised by growth and challenging new processes. Adolescence is characterised by radical changes in the physiologicalsomatic, cognitive, emotional, identity, social, moral and religious spheres. A multidimensional perspective is therefore a prerequisite for understanding and defining adolescence. Adolescence can thus be described in terms of a wide range of theories. These biological, psychoanalytical, psychosocial, anthropological and ecological-contextual theories devote no attention to a theological orientation. None of the theories can offer an integrating and unifying perspective in regard to the developmental areas. The result is a lack of a centre of structure that has an ordering and theological meaning-qi ving (semantic) function with reference to the variety of developmental changes and tasks. Within the framework of a practical-theological orientation, a Christian spirituality is considered as theological perspective on adolescence. Spirituality is a person's dynamic response to the transcendent reality. A Biblical anthropology compels us to view human beings as relational beings who live in the presence of God (the coram Deo principle). Every aspect of a person's life (the adolescent's developmental changes included!) is implicated in this relationship with God. Spirituality as centre of semantic structure functions as a spiritual lens. It presents us with a particular focus on the development of the adolescent, and it integrates and unifies the developmental processes. By means of spirituality, adolescence is reframed and viewed as a transcendenttheological vocation. The adolescent is called to internalise the Biblicalevangelical principles with reference to his/her developmental processes. The pastoral implication is that the counsellor should facilitate the process through which adolescents integrate their spirituality with their development and management of problems. This dynamics can best be achieved within the framework of a relationship (personal encounter) in which the counsellor functions on the basis of an epistemology of participation. In the counselling process adolescents must be seen as responsible beings who can contribute meaning to their development and problems. Pastoral counselling should also be an interdisciplinary, developmentally appropriate and ecosystemic process. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology)

In this study, hypnotic analgesia in obstetrics is explained in terms of ecosystemic thinking, as opposed to traditional conceptualisations of hypnosis. Five case studies were used. Each case is described in detail, as well as the therapeutic rationale behind each case, in order to present the reader with an understanding for the thinking behind the doing of ecosystemic hypnotherapy. The study utilises a new paradigm approach to research which is explained and is in keeping with ecosystemic epistemology. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Considering the high incidence of suicide in the South African context, the fact that suicide is considered an occupational hazard for psychologists, with more than half experiencing the suicide of a patient in their career and the dearth of post-suicide qualitative research among psychologists, the purpose of this study is to explore and describe the experience of psychologists after the suicide of their patient, and to develop guidelines as a framework of reference to assist psychologists in dealing with the suicide of their patient. In keeping with a social constructionist ontological and ecosystemic epistemological theoretical framework, data was collected by means of meaning-making conversations with six purposively selected psychologists, with a minimum of five years‟ experience and at least one year having passed after the suicide of their patient. The data was analysed independently by the researcher and an independent coder using Tesch‟s open and descriptive method. The present study found that, following the suicide of their patient, the participants were propelled into a myriad of acutely distressing emotions. They often described a suffocating sense of responsibility for the suicide and the lingering presence of their patient. The participants experienced feelings of guilt and self-doubt, often questioning their own professional competence. The post-suicide process was described as being both a personally and professionally isolating event, due to the sense of having to carry the burden of the suicide alone for ethical reasons and fear of social stigmatisation. The participants appeared to grapple with the paradoxical dance between their personal emotional realities and what they perceived to be “clinically” or “professionally” acceptable. Having gone through the traumatic experience of losing a patient to suicide, most of the participants eventually found new wisdom, which helped them become wounded healers. Based on these findings, post-vention guidelines with practical actions were developed to assist psychologists in dealing with the suicide of their patient. Recommendations are made with regard to suicidology research, suicide education and psychologists‟ practice. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)