This exploratory and descriptive investigation used the case study as research strategy to indi cate how writing may be used as a specialised form of therapy for an adolescent in the phase of mid-adolescence. The study researched and consolidated a body of knowledge concerning writing in a therapeutic context, while highlighting the Gestalt therapeutic approach. Its empirical integration culminated in a method for the use of therapists who irrespective of their therapeutic orientation wish to apply writing in therapy with adolescents. The dissertation argues that writing practised from a Gestalt therapeutic perspective should move gradually from being a tool of self-expression to becoming one of self-nurturing. It should guide the client through a process of self-regulation to a point of self-support. In such a process, writing in therapy will evolve into writing as therapy, a therapy practised by the client her- or himself as a means of achieving equilibrium. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

The aim of the research study was to explore resilience in refugee children, using a Gestalt approach to play therapy. The hypothesis, was that a Gestalt approach to play therapy could promote resilience in Refugee children. A literature review was conducted. This revealed that unaccompanied refugee children were unique because they need to deal with trauma, loss and change while having to adjust to living in a new country and many have to learn to speak a new language. The research method was a multiple case study and an intervention research model was used to implement the research. Schoeman's Working Model was used as the Gestalt play therapy approach. Attributes of resilient children were used to measure the results. The researcher concluded that play therapy with a Gestalt approach may promote resilience in refugee children because it increases the numbers of protective factors in a child's life. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

Text in Afrikaans / The Gestalt Play Therapeutic approach is used as contextual frame in this research where-in music is applied as an aid for the aggressive emotions of the primary learner. Emotional and behavioral problems in children in primary and secondary schools and even in pre-primary schools, are assuming alarming proportions. From the holistic approach of the Gestalt theory, it has an influence on the development of areas such as the emotional, physical, cognitive and social in the phase of middle childhood. There is a lack of research findings on the effect of music during support to the aggressive primary learner within a Gestalt Play Therapeutic frame. The experimental single system design was used as research method as part of the quantitative investigation. The conclusion is that music was used successfully in the handling of rage and aggressive emotions in the group of child respondents within the context of the Gestalt approach. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)

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.

Summaries in English and Afrikaans / Across the world children are affected by factors such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, divorce and loss. More organisations are getting involved in the training of voluntary counsellors. Although these counsellors have the necessary theoretical knowledge they still experience problems in working effectively with these children. Possible reasons for this are these counsellors' own unfinished issues and loss. Within this study the focus is on creating awareness for counsellors within training situations from a Gestalt approach. As part of the fulfilment of the literature study an empirical study has been done. A qualitative study with a small portion of quantitative research has been done with the implementation of a training programme for voluntary counsellors. Various mediums were used to create heightened self-awareness with regard to various topics. Training guidelines are than given for creating awareness within training situations for voluntary counsellors. / Dwarsoor die wereld word kinders beinvloed deur faktore soos armoede, HIV/VIGS, egskeiding en verlies. Al meer organisasies, soos Philippi Trust Namibia, raak betrokke in die opleiding van vrywillige beraders, ten einde bekostigbare dienste vir hierdie kinders daar te stel. Alhoewel hierdie beraders oor voldoende teoretiese kennis beskik, ervaar hulle steeds probleme om effektief met kinders te werk. Moontlike redes is vrywillige beraders se eie onvoltooidhede en verlies. Binne hierdie studie word op die bewusmaking van beraders binne opleidingsituasies gefokus ten einde selfbelewing daar te stel. 'n Literatuurstudie is gedoen waartydens aspekte bekom is: teoretiese perspektief op die volgende > Bewustheid en die vrywillige berader vanuit die Gestalt-benadering. > Riglyne binne opleidingsituasies vir verhoogde bewustheidsbelewing. Deur bogenoemde teoretiese perspektief word die eerste navorsingsdoelwit van die studie beantwoord. Ter aanvulling van die literatuurstudie is empiriese ondersoek ondermeem. Kwalitatiewe studie met kleiner komponent van kwantitatiewe navorsing is voltooi deur die implementering van 'n program vir vrywillige beraders. Die program het oor vyf dae geskied. Verskeie mediums is gebruik om selfbelewing rondom spesifieke onderwerpe te verhoog. Deur bogenoemde empiriese ondersoek word die tweede doelwit van die studie beantwoord. Na aanleiding van die studie word opleidingsriglyne vir die verhoging van bewustheid binne opleidingsituasies vir vrywillige beraders daargestel. / Social work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

This research project focused on the influence of animal-assisted play therapy on the self-esteem of adolescents with special needs. The goal of this study was to ascertain whether principles of animal-assisted play therapy from the gestalt approach would enhance the self-esteem of adolescents with special needs. In order to achieve this goal, the following objectives were set out: to create a theoretical knowledge base through a literature study and consultation with experts, to conduct an empirical study in order to obtain qualitative and quantitative data and to formulate conclusions and recommendations with regard to the use of animal-assisted play therapy with adolescents with special needs. A combination of the quantitative and qualitative approaches was utilized, and applied research was done, as the focus was on practical solutions that is suitable for practice. A research hypothesis was posed, namely: If animal-assisted therapy from the gestalt approach is used with adolescents with special needs, their self-esteem will be enhanced. Two adolescents were selected as respondents through purposive sampling as sub-type of non-probability sampling. An empirical study was conducted through the use of questionnaires and interviewing as data-collection methods. The quantitative data was gathered through the use of self-constructed questionnaires and the Psychosocial Functioning Inventory for High School Children (PFI – HIGH – C) from Perspective College. The researcher utilized the A-B-A research design to conduct a pre-test and a post-test. Qualitative data was gathered through interviewing using the combined animal-assisted and gestalt play therapy techniques Empirical data was gathered and indicated improvement in the self-esteem of both the respondents who were exposed to the play therapy techniques. The research has thus shown that the use of animal-assisted play therapy does enhance the self-esteem of adolescents with special needs, and has benefits for future practice. The hypothesis of the study is thus proven to be true. / Dissertation (MSD (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Social Work and Criminology / Unrestricted

The research dealt with three girls in middle childhood years, in a children’s home, who were experiencing difficulties with self-blame. These difficulties were addressed through play therapy sessions using the ‘gestalt’ approach with the life story book as an aid. The motivation for the study originated during discussions with the social workers at the Abraham Kriel/Maria Kloppers Children’s Home. During these discussions the researcher became aware of the vast number of children in the caseloads of the social workers at Abraham Kriel/Maria Kloppers Children’s Home, who blame themselves for being removed from their parents’ custody. The purpose of the study was to determine whether the life story book could be used as an aid in play therapy sessions focussing on the self-blame of girls in middle childhood years, living in a children’s home. To achieve the goal of this study, a literature study was done regarding the middle childhood years, self-blame, the child in a children’s home and the use of the life story book in play therapy. An empirical study was conducted on the use of the life story book regarding the self-blame of three girls in the middle childhood years, living in a children’s home. Finally the researcher made conclusions and recommendations regarding the use of the life story book, after taking into consideration both the literature study and the empirical study. The investigation was based on applied research. For the purpose of this study, three girls in middle childhood years living in a children’s home were identified by means of purposive sampling. The girls participated in six play therapy sessions each. From this empirical research, it was clear that the life story book could be successfully used in play therapy, focussing on self-blame, with the three girls in middle childhood years living in a children’s home. As an outcome of this study, conclusions and recommendations were formulated. / Dissertation (MSD (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Social Work / unrestricted

A hospitalisation experience is serious for every toddler, and implies physical and emotional trauma of one kind or another. The reaction of the toddler in terms of this trauma in effect is a normal reaction to an unnatural situation, through which he tries to be in control of himself and his unknown environment. His lack of experience, incomplete cognitive reasoning, and lack of insight cause anxiety and stress for the toddler. Misbehaviour because of account of his anxiety and fear which the form part of the toddlers attempts to control and get hold of this unknown situation. The research is primarily aimed at how the therapist, parents and hospital personnel can prepare, assess and support the toddler, in terms of handling the hospitalisation process. Seeing that there is normally no one to blame for the toddlers admission to hospital, the child directs his anger and anxiety at himself, resulting in inner conflict and intense feelings of guilt. The research project aims to focus on preparation of the pre-primary toddler for hospitalisation, by using playtherapeutic intervention, in order to lessen the fear and anxiety of the experience. This goal was achieved by a literature study, an empirical study with the aid of application of a preparatory intervention program, as well as an assessment and an evaluation of the program, in order to make recommendations, regarding the research. Optimal care, and preparation of sick toddlers for admission in hospital, includes more than satisfying the child’s physical needs. It also asks for gratification of the toddler’s psychosocial needs. Support and preparation of both the child and his/her parents form an integral component of the sanitary care process. Therapeutic activities with the child that is going to hospital, can, according to the goals of the research study, be instrumental in reducing fear, promote self-esteem, become acquainted with the medical setting and procedures, as well as providing in the toddlers physical, emotional, psychological and psychosocial needs. A complete and refined play therapeutic preparation program was developed and evaluated through the findings of the empirical and literature study. The process of intervention research was followed in the empirical study, where data was obtained with the aid of a purposive sample, of 20 hospitalised toddler respondents. Creswell’s dominant-less-dominant model was utilised. A dominant quantitative approach was being followed, through witch data was assembled by a self developed structured observation instrument, as a post-test for both the experimental as well as the comparative group. The less dominant, but equally important qualitative approach, that consisted of 9 playtherapeutic sessions with experimental group, field notes and interviews with parents, enrich and verified the quantitative data. According to the integration of the quantitative and qualitative findings, the conclusion can be made that the preparatory playtherapeutic program had a positive impact on the way fear and the toddlers handled anxiety during hospitalisation, with less misbehaviour. The findings show that the developed preparatory playtherapeutic program can be implemented with great success and confidence, with toddlers that are going to be hospitalised. It is recommended that further research can be done on development and evaluation of preparation programmes for toddlers from less fortunate communities. Seeing that individual sessions may due to financial difficulties be less tenable, group sessions and community work can be recommended to reach larger groups of children, as well as creating community awareness for the needs of toddlers, related to hospitalisation. / Thesis (DPhil (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Social Work / unrestricted

This research deals with a play therapy programme that was developed, implemented and evaluated with fifteen adolescent girls from three different ethnical backgrounds, namely Xhosa, Coloured and white. Five girls from each respective ethnical background were selected by means of purposeful sampling. The goal of this research was to implement and evaluate a play therapy programme for die adolescent girl that was sexually abused. In order to achieve this goal, information was gathered and a theoretical framework built with the help of a literature study. A critical investigation was done on existing intervention programmes for adolescents that were sexually abused, a play therapy programme for the adolescent girl that was sexually abused was developed, implemented, evaluated and recommendations were made for the use of the programme with the different ethnical groups, namely Xhosa, Coloured and white. Applied research was done; the researcher exploited existing knowledge to gather new knowledge to address immediate problems that professional people experience in practice. Within the context of applied research the goal of this study was to do intervention research. The researcher used a single-system design, A-B-A-A, to determine the effectiveness of the play therapy programme with adolescent girls from three ethical groups, namely: Xhosa, Coloured and white. A Research hypothesis was made, namely: If the play therapy programme is implemented with the adolescent girl, her self-perception and trauma-dynamic-elements will improve. The researcher used Creswell’s mixed methodology design model. A standardized scale, namely the Child Functioning Inventory - High School, was used to measure the adolescent girls’ self-perception and trauma-dynamic-elements before and after intervention. The researcher conducted a semi-structured interview, in conjunction with an interview schedule, with the respondent’s parent(s) before and after intervention. The researcher observed the respondents during the therapy sessions, field notes were made and every session were describe by means of report writing. The researcher had a follow-up interview three months after the post measurement with the adolescent and parent(s), to monitor the long-term effect of the play therapy programme after termination. The self-perception and trauma-dynamic-elements of every respondent that took part in the research and completed the therapeutic process, improved. The conclusion can therefore be made that the play therapy programme can be used successfully with the three ethnical groups, namely Xhosa, Coloured and white. / Thesis (DPhil (Social Work))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Social Work and Criminology / Unrestricted

Please read the abstract in the section dissertation. Copyright / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted