M.A. / According to the Child Protection Unit (1997) 25% of young South African females experience some form of childhood sexual abuse before they are 18 years old. Alongside this frighteningly high statistic is an increasing trend for these victims to report these transgressions and, particularly during adulthood, speak out about their experiences. Childhood sexual abuse results in a number of potentially devastating long term effects that limit the adult survivor's capacity to enjoy life to the fullest extent possible. The manner in which each adult survivor perceives her experiences of childhood sexual abuse is unique, as is the way in which she deals with these resulting effects. A variety of therapeutic interventions are available to these women, one of which is narrative therapy. This study is aimed at exploring the adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse's understanding of the use of narrative therapy as a method of intervention. A qualitative methodology is utilised to explore the manner in which adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse understand narrative therapy, and how it can be used to help them deal with the long term effects that are a result of their abusive experiences. The focus of this research is therefore on the adult survivor who has been and still is, a recipient of narrative therapy. The theoretical basis for the intervention with the adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse is established in the discussion of childhood sexual abuse and the adult survivor, as well as narrative therapy and the historical constructs, like postmodernism, constructivism, and social constructionism, that are instrumental in the development of this interventive technique. For the aim of this study a representative sample of two respondents is used. That is two adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse who are actively involved in the narrative therapy process. This sample lends itself to in-depth interviewing where the respondents ii are able to explore their own perceptions of narrative therapy and how this method of intervention has impacted on their own experience of reality. the data is gathered by means of field notes, audio-tapes which are transcribed, and a thorough literature review. Analysis of the data collected is done manually and according to a schedule. The schedule is developed according to coding categories that are identified when working through the raw data. Coding is done by the researcher and a co-decoder in order to compare the results. In the coding process the researcher and co-decoder utilise the schedule to code the transcribed audio-tapes and field notes. The information gleaned from the data gathering and analysis is used to identify central themes. These themes are offered as results. The results obtained are compared to relevant literature in order to further the validity of the research. From the study, methodological and theoretical conclusions can be drawn. The methodological conclusions have to do with the method of research utilised in this study. Regarding the contextual aims of the empirical study, certain theoretical conclusions are drawn. The results and conclusions indicate the adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse's perception of the use of narrative therapy as a treatment methodology. Recommendations are offered on the basis of the study and the conclusions drawn. The methodology and context of the empirical study ensure the connection of the results and conclusions to the aims and objectives of this study. The research indicates that adult survivors perceive the use of narrative therapy as being extremely valuable and effective in the treatment of childhood sexual abuse.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:9061 |
| Date | 13 August 2012 |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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