AFRIKAANS: Alkoholisme is reeds vir dekades 'n problematiese aangeleentheid in die samelewing en dit is 'n verskynsel wat voortduur, ten spyte van die negatiewe impak wat dit op die alkoholis, die alkoholisgesin en die samelewing het. Alkohol word ten spyte van die verslawende effek wat dit op die mens kan hê, nie as 'n dwelmmiddel beskou nie en is vrylik beskikbaar. Drie tot ses persone word negatief beïnvloed deur 'n enkele persoon se alkoholafhanklikheid en alkoholmisbruik word as die derde grootste gesondheidsprobleem in die wêreld beskou. Daar bestaan 'n positiewe verband tussen alkoholmisbruik en motorongelukke, mishandeling en molestering van kinders, gesinsgeweld, aanrandings, huisbrake, verkragtings en moord. Die alkoholisgesin openbaar dikwels eienskappe van 'n disfunksionele gesin en die kind van die alkoholis loop 'n groot risiko om self aan alkohol verslaaf te raak en probleme ten opsigte van sy/haar maatskaplike funksionering te openbaar. Die navorsingstelling naamlik, indien die laerskoolkind van die alkoholis ondersteuning en leiding ontvang deur middel van 'n intervensieprogram in spelterapie vanuit die gestaltbenadering, behoort sy maatskaplike funksionering te verbeter. Die doel van die ondersoek was om die laerskoolkind van die alkoholis deur middel van 'n intervensieprogram in spelterapie te ondersteun en te bemagtig om die realiteite van ouerlike alkoholisme te hanteer. Sodoende kan hierdie kind in staat gestel word om 'n hoër vlak van maatskaplike funksionering as voorheen te bereik. Om hierdie doel te bereik is sowel 'n literatuurstudie as 'n empiriese ondersoek geloods. Die literatuurstudie het die navorser in staat gestel om insig in die impak van alkoholafhanklikheid op die alkoholis, die alkoholisgesin en die kind van die alkoholis te ontwikkel. Literatuur oor spelterapie en die gestaltbenadering is ook bestudeer. Die empiriese ondersoek het behels dat ses laerskoolkinders wie aan ouerlike alkoholisme blootgestel word, betrek is by 'n intervensieprogram wat uit elf individuele en vier groepsessies bestaan het. Intervensie navorsing is in die vorm van 'n kombinasie tussen kwalitatiewe- en kwantitatiewe navorsing aangewend en kwasi-eksperimentele navorsingsprosedures is benut om te bepaal tot watter mate die onafhanklike veranderlike die afhanklike veranderlike beïnvloed het. Selfontwerpte vraelyste is as meetinstrumente tydens die toepassing van die enkelstelselontwerp benut. Sodoende is die doeltreffendheid van die intervensieprogram bepaal, is die navorsingstelling bevestig en is die mate waarin die doel van die studie bereik is, bepaal. Die resultate van die studie is statisties geanaliseer en die volgende gevolgtrekkings is gemaak: <ul><li> 'n Intervensieprogram in spelterapie vanuit die gestaltbenadering is 'n sinvolle hulpverleningsmetode met die laerskoolkind van die alkoholis. Die kind kan deur middel van hierdie program holisties benader word, onvoltooidhede op sy voorgrond kan hanteer word en hy kan bemagtig word om sy gevoelens te identifiseer, te besit en dit te hanteer. Die kind kan in staat gestel word om keuses te maak, nuwe gedragspatrone aan te leer, insig in die verskynsel van alkoholisme te ontwikkel, ondersteuningsnetwerke te benut en om homself te onderhou. </li><li> Intervensie navorsing kan met sukses in maatskaplike werk benut word, aangesien daar doelgerig, prakties en wetenskaplik te werk gegaan kan word om reeds bestaande kennis oor alkoholisme uit te brei. 'n Intervensieprogram met die laerskoolkind van die alkoholis kon met sukses ontwikkel, gelmplementeer, gemeet en geevalueer word. <br></li></ul> Ten slotte word aanbevelings op grond van die bevindinge uit die navorsing op mikro-, meso- en makro-vlak gemaak. ENGLISH: Alcoholism has been for many years a problematic phenomenon in the society. It is also an ongoing occurrence in spite of the negative impact that it has on the alcoholic, the family of the alcoholic and the society. A contributing factor to alcoholism in the world is that the addictive nature of alcohol is not recognized. It is therefor not perceived as a drug and freely available. Three to six people are however negatively affected by a single person's alcohol abuse. Alcoholism is also the third most frequent health problem in the world. A positive reference between alcohol abuse and car accidents, abuse and molestation of children, family violence, assault, rape, murder, house breakage and theft is also known. The alcoholic family often display characteristics of a dysfunctional family and the child of the alcoholic is at great risk to also abuse alcohol and to experience problems with social functioning. This research was done on the following statement: The social functioning of the primary school child of the alcoholic, will improve if this child can be supported and guided through an intervention program in play therapy through the gestalt therapy approach. The aim of this study was to empower and to support the primary school child to handle the reality of parental alcoholism and to achieve a higher level of social functioning than before. The study involved both literature and empirical research in order to achieve this goal. The literature study was aimed to develop more insight in the impact of alcohol abuse on the alcoholic, the alcoholic family and the child of an alcoholic. Literature on play therapy and the gestalt therapy approach was also studied. Six children in primary school that are exposed to parental alcoholism, was involved in an intervention program during the empirical study. This intervention program consisted of eleven individual sessions and four group sessions. Intervention research was undertaken in the form of a combination off qualitative and quantitative research. Quasi-experimental research procedures were implemented to evaluate whether the independent variable was influenced by the dependent variable. Self formulated questionnaires were used through the single system design to achieve the goal of the study and to measure the effectiveness of the intervention program. The results of the study were statistically analysed and the following conclusions can be made: <ul><li> An intervention program in play therapy through the gestalt therapy approach is an effective helping method with the primary school child that is exposed to parental alcoholism. A holistic approach of the child can take place through this program and the child's homeostasis can be improved, his awareness can be increased and the unfinished business on the child's figure ground can be handled. The child can also be empowered to identify and experience his feelings, to make choices, to learn new behaviour, to gain insight in alcoholism, to use a support system and to support himself </li><li> Intervention research can be successfully used in social work. This research method can be done purposefully, practical and scientific and existing knowledge on alcoholism can be extended. An intervention program with the primary school child that is exposed to parental alcoholism can be developed, implemented, measured and evaluated through intervention research. <br></li></ul> Recommendations were made on micro-, meso- and macro-level, concluding this study. / Thesis (D Phil (Social Work))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Social Work and Criminology / Unrestricted

The gestalt approach in play therapy is used by a wide spectrum of professional persons operating in the fields of health, psychology and education. The objective of the research study was to investigate the practicality of the gestalt approach as applied by play therapists. A collective case study within a qualitative research approach has been utilized in this study. Ten play therapists had been identified by means of random sampling and a semi-structured interview was conducted with each one. The researcher applied a systematic random sampling as this method prevents bias. The researcher gained information by means of a literature study as well as from discussions with experts. A theoretical framework was formed regarding the gestalt approach and the utilization thereof in practice. The objective of the gestalt approach is to support the client during therapy to enable the client to function as a complete entity. When the client functions as such an entity he or she is able to complete a gestalt. The healthy person according to the gestalt approach will satisfy his own needs without harming himself or others. The gestalt approach consists of several main concepts namely: holism, awareness, contact and contact boundary disturbances, figure/fore ground and back ground, self regulation, the here-and-now concept and polarities. Techniques can be added throughout as the approach is spontaneous and creative. The focus in gestalt approach techniques is based on language usage and bipolar ways of thinking to enable the client to achieve a balanced outlook in life. The client learns to acknowledge and accept the positive and negative aspects of problem situations. An empirical study has been undertaken to determine how play therapists experience and utilize the gestalt approach. A qualitative research approach was suitable as it sheds light on the usefulness of this approach in practice. Semi-structured interviews led to in depth discussions with play therapists. These interviews were recorded and processed according to Creswell’s qualitative data-analysing process. The findings of the empirical study are that: play therapists experience the gestalt approach as scientifically justified; the main concepts and various techniques of the gestalt approach are utilized although there is a need to adapt some of the techniques in practice; the gestalt approach can be utilized in conjunction with other approaches and the gestalt approach can be implemented in the treatment of both children and adults. The research investigation has proved that the gestalt approach is practically useful and thus applied by play therapists in practice. The researcher recommends that further in depth research be undertaken to identify specific techniques that can be combined with the gestalt approach when utilized in practice. Further investigation could also be undertaken in respect of specific problems that play therapists experience in practice. / Dissertation (Magister Socialis Diligentiae)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

This study is an exploratory investigation into the intrapsychic experiences of three learning disabled children whom have been in psychoanalytic therapy. The research used open-ended interviews to focus on the child, the therapist and the parent's experience of the therapeutic relationship. As there has been limited research in this area, the research searched for tentative, common experiences. A qualitative methodology was used as a means to elicit the essential meanings held by the participants, without initially presuming what they might be. The aim of the research was description and conceptualisation, rather than hypothesis testing. The methodology that was applied was an interpretative method that followed hermeneutic phenomenology principles. The results of this study add to the growing literature on the importance of the relationship factors in the child, mother and the therapist experience of the psychotherapy process. Results indicate a positive working relationship with the mother. This relationship was seen to work in a reciprocal manner and enhanced the effectiveness of the therapy. The working alliance with the mother appeared to be an intervention in its own right. The research indicated that the learning disabled children's relationship with their mothers impacted on their emotional well being. The lack of containment and lack of confidence from the mothers resulted in an insecure relationship with their child. Consequently, the mothers needed guidance, assistance and reassurance. The research confirms that learning disabled children are not emotionally limited, however it often takes time to explore their emotional experiences. In examining the participant's experience, it is of interest to note that family dynamics and family relationships were consistently the most important theme in the therapy. Family circumstances appeared to shape the child's and the mother's concerns. Themes of guilt, pity and contempt were evident in both the mother's and the therapist experience of the therapy process in relation to the child. The findings are largely confirmatory of other research studies that have outlined the impact of a learning disability on self-esteem. The use of the enmeshed and preoccupied defence styles emerged as a way of coping for the learning disabled child. Finally, the therapy was found to assist the learning disabled child with making sense of their environments and emotional experiences. The therapy by providing a containing and holding space for the mother and child, not only improved relationships but also enabled the child to develop a stronger sense of self. Possible directions for future research of the psychoanalytical therapeutic work with learning disabled children are discussed. / Thesis (PhD (Psychotherapy))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Psychology / unrestricted

This research was conducted with the goal of exploring the existing perceptions of black parents regarding play therapy. The researcher was motivated by the tendency of black parents not to bring their children for play therapy even though they had been referred. A theoretical framework was obtained by doing a literature study on perceptions, play and the role of play in development. A theoretical base for play therapy was also provided. An empirical study was conducted on a sample of seven black parents who were selected by means of purposive sampling. The sample was selected from a population of parents who had brought children for play therapy to Child Abuse Treatment and Training Services and to the Trauma Clinic of the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation in Johannesburg. A qualitative approach was utilized whereby semi-structured interviews were conducted and recorded on an audiotape. Interviews were later transcribed for analysis and interpretation. The researcher used Tesch’s approach to analyse the data. The findings of the study indicated that black parents who brought their children for play therapy were aware of the value of play in the development of children. The study also brought more questions to the researcher’s mind, such as “How do those parents who were non-compliant perceive play therapy?” “Why are parents not bringing their children for play therapy after being referred?” Future research could be conducted to answer these questions. The researcher’s conclusion is that black parents who brought their children for play therapy did not understand what play therapy is, however they all understood the value of play in child development. Parents perceived play therapy as a helpful intervention method for counseling children as a result of positive feedback from relatives and suggestions by referring professionals. There is a need for awareness campaigns and through these awareness campaigns black parents will be made aware of the value of play and play therapy for children. As a result more black parents might bring their children for play therapy and more troubled children might be provided with the opportunity to express their feelings through play. / Dissertation (MA (MW) (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

When doing this research, the researcher aimed to prove the hypothesis that if music is introduced within a play therapy framework then the classroom behaviour of an autistic child will improve. The goal of the study was to determine the impact of music, within play therapy, on the behaviour of autistic children in a classroom situation. Autism and play therapy were discussed, and the benefits of background music in the classroom were explored. The population consisted of all the autistic children attending the Key School. Six children between the ages of nine and 12 were selected from the population through non-probability purposive sampling. The quasi-experimental design was used in order to complete the empirical investigation. A scale was used in order to measure the impact of music on the classroom behaviour of the autistic child. Pre- and post-test measurements were done in order to indicate any changes in the autistic children’s behaviour. More in-depth information was gathered through the use of unstructured observation. Research results have indicated that the introduction of background music into the classroom of children affected by autism has a positive effect on their behaviour. It can therefore be concluded that background music can contribute to enhancing the functioning of the autistic child. Consequently it was recommended that background music be used in the classroom in future, to improve the behaviour of the autistic child. / Dissertation (MSD (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Social Work / unrestricted

This research deals with the effects that living with a sibling with Autism/PDD has. The aim of the research was to investigate the effect of living with a sibling with Autism/PDD by using play therapy methods. In order to achieve this goal the researcher undertook a literature study to provide a better insight into the dimensions and complexities of defining Autism/PDD and its related conditions, an in-depth look at the triad of impairments and the influence this has on the functioning of siblings of children with Autism/PDD. The second objective was to undertake an empirical study with regards to the influence of Autism/PDD on the functioning of these siblings. The third objective was to make recommendations to parents and people working in families with children with Autism/PDD that will enable them to respond to the needs of these siblings. The researcher made use of applied research. The data collection phase consisted of unstructured interviews, conducted in the form of a play process. The research question was the following: What is the effect of living with a sibling with Autism/PDD? Qualitative research was used in this study to enable the researcher to do a subjective exploration of reality as opposed to the outsider perspective of quantitative research. This study focused on the following aspects: helping, advocacy, awareness and a need for information, positive and negative feelings that the respondents experienced about their siblings, the effect on the child in middle childhood as well as family stresses. The researcher came to the conclusion that siblings of children with Autism/PDD experience both positive and negative feelings with regards to their brother/sister with Autism/PDD. / Dissertation (MSD (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Social Work / unrestricted

There is a growing need for corporate employees to be able to manage their stress levels and use stress to their own, and to the organisation’s, advantage. Various literature references show that the damage to the workplace and to the worker costs millions of rands annually. Organisations are loosing money because of employees who are not able to manage their stress levels. Employees often experience stress because of an excessive workload, a high expected work pace, difficult work schedules, role conflict, uncertainty regarding career security, poor interpersonal relationships and unpleasant working conditions and many more. This stress manifests in conflict, depression, absenteeism, headaches, hypertension, alcoholism, drug abuse and more which as a result, impacts the organisation’s profitability due to decrease in productivity. In this thesis, research was done regarding the use of play therapy mediums in a stress management programme with corporate employees. The following research question was formulated: Will the use of play therapy mediums in a stress management programme for corporate employees, have a positive effect on their stress levels? The purpose of this stress management programme was to create greater awareness amongst corporate employees regarding the effects of stress on their lives and to indicate to them how they can go about managing stress to their advantage. The aim of the research was to use play therapy mediums in a stress management programme to enable corporate employees to become aware of, and to manage their stress levels. Play therapy mediums were therefore used to aid the de-stressing of the corporate employees and to facilitate greater awareness regarding the effects of stress on their lives. The researcher applied the Gestalt Theory as theoretical framework for this study. This theory supports the notion of awareness as a tool that can be used by a person to be in control of his/her life. The Gestalt Theory as a theoretical framework emphasises the fact that healthy behaviour occurs once people reach a point where they can regulate the emotional state that they are in. The literature research has shown that when this comes about, people experience a feeling of unity and integration in their lives. It is also concerned with the total existence of a human being. The people are addressed as whole and integrated beings, who strive to gain balance in an ever-changing environment. The Gestalt Theory is holistic and can form the theoretical framework for work with any type of individual and has been used effectively with individuals, groups and in teaching. Research was done within the corporate environment. The researcher developed a stress management programme which was presented to corporate employees. The aim was to establish whether the programme would have an effect on their stress levels and whether play therapy mediums can be used successfully with corporate employees during a training programme to reduce their stress levels and to improve their awareness of the causes of stress in their lives and their reactions to stressors in their environment. This stress management programme served as an intervention because it could enhance the functioning of the corporate employees with regard to their stress levels and also their general functioning within the organisation and in their personal lives. Pre- and post-test results were compared to evaluate the effect of the programme. Play therapy is traditionally used with children but relevant literature and the researcher’s own experience from the research has shown remarkable results in the use of play therapy mediums with adults. The literature as well as the empirical study showed that play itself has a number of therapeutic elements that produce behaviour change. Furthermore play also offers opportunities to re-live past stressful events and the emotions associated with them in a safe and therapeutic environment. The research findings indicated that stress levels improved after the stress management programme was presented to the corporate employees. From the research findings the researcher developed a model as a guideline for a stress management programme using play therapy mediums in the corporate environment. / Thesis (DPhil (Social Work))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Social Work / unrestricted

A multiple case study approach was employed in this intensive thematic analysis of the process of nondirective play therapy. Using a naturalistic research paradigm, this study undertook to identify and describe the principal verbal and play themes and their transformations emergent over a course of play therapy, as well as to identify and describe similarities and differences between the themes emergent in those two domains. Play and verbalization, two types of symbolic expression, were considered routes of access to the child’s evolution of personal meaning. The research participants in this multiple case study were 4 preschoolers, aged 3 to 4. Each participant received 20 weekly play therapy sessions which were videotaped and transcribed. Running notations were made on the verbatim transcripts as to participants’ play activities. Separate coding schemes were devised for the emergent play and verbal themes. Supplemental data collection, organization, and analysis procedures included a field notebook with post hoc descriptions of the sessions, session summary sheets profiling play and verbal themes, charts, and memos. This study, discovery-oriented and exploratory in nature, yielded rich descriptions of the intricacies of therapeutic change on two symbolic levels. From these descriptions were extracted not only information on the transformations in play and verbal themes but also an understanding of the qualitative changes which denote the phases of therapy, and insight into the process of evolving meaning across these phases. A central finding of this study was that the arrays of play and verbal themes and their patterns of transformations were highly individualized. However, a number of themes emerged in common to all cases: Exploration, Aggression, Messing, Distress, and Caregiving or Nurturance. Participants were observed to work through contrasting themes, with preschoolers’ therapy characterized as an active struggle with such intense, oppositional forces as birth and death, injury and recovery, loss and retrieval. Typical thematic transformations included movement from infantile vulnerability to mastery, from grief toward resolution, from fear to safety and protection. The beginning phase of therapy was found to be typified by exploratory play. The middle phase was typified by intensified involvement in play and by experiences of disinhibition. The end phase was characterized by two contrasting yet not mutually exclusive tendencies, namely, the introduction of a sense of hopefulness, confidence, and integration; and an improved capacity to deal with difficult psychological material. Entry into the middle and end phases was signalled by qualitative shifts in the child’s attentional, tensional, or relational state. The theoretical implications of this study included insight into the critical role of the child’s initiative and of the therapist’s permissiveness in the unfolding of symbolic expression. Each individual case contained specific theoretical implications for such classic problem and treatment phenomena as developmental delay and play disruptions. The practical implications of this study include emphasizing the need for practitioners to counterbalance attention to the child’s verbal expression with attention to transformations in play activity and play material usage. It is suggested that further research extend the ramifications of this exploratory study by examining the themes occurring in treatment within homogeneous populations according to problem configuration. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

This study compared the relative efficacy of two different theoretically-derived strategies in the hypnotic treatment for cigarette smoking. The use of counterconditioning suggestions (present or absent) was compared to the use of role-playing suggestions (present or absent) in a two-way factorial design. Also investigated was whether there were any pretreatment variables which could predict successful long-term smoking control. Fifty adult chronic smokers were matched on the dimensions of baseline smoking rate, number of years smoking and number of previous attempts to quit smoking, then assigned to one of four treatment groups. All subjects were offered four sixty-minute group hypnotherapy treatment sessions over a three week period, with smoking rate assessed at the second, third and fourth sessions, and at one-month, three-months and six-months post-treatment. The two dependent measures of percentage reduction from baseline smoking rate and percentage of subjects in each treatment group remaining abstinent from smoking showed similar results. ANOVA procedures found a significant Time of assessment X Counterconditioning interaction, indicating that the use of counterconditioning suggestions facilitates the long-term maintanence of smoking control more than the use of role-playing suggestions or a "hypnotic relaxation" treatment using no specific suggestions. The demographic variables of increased age, having a smoking-related health problem, and being a "stimulation" type of smoker were found to correlate highly with successful long- term outcome and to correctly classify subjects as abstainers or nonabstainers the majority of the time.

Toy play represents one of many levels of play where children can expand their repertoires and socially interact with peers. Play typically increases in complexity as the child's repertoire develops; however, children with autism often have delayed play skills. The current study investigated the effects of using a 3-component play training procedure (choices, prompting, and consequences), replicated from a previous study, to increase simple and pretend toy play in three boys with autism. Additional measures were used to observe engagement with materials, children, and adults during a 10-minute session. Observations show increased toy play for two participants and increases in overall engagement for all participants. The findings suggest that the teaching program used is replicable across multiple populations, furthering the advancement of evidence-based practices.