M.Ed. / With more and more emphasis on redressing the wrongs of apartheid and the focus on improving facilities and services in previously disadvantaged communities, there has been a move to bring previously unavailable and inaccessible services to the people who live in the townships. Counselling is one such need, especially considering the past political violence and the ongoing problems of poverty, child abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, unemployment and feelings of helplessness. Trauma Counselling emerged as one of the expressed needs from the townships on the East Rand of Gauteng (Johannesburg). Consequently NG 'S, Universities and local government have become involved in delivering some sort of counselling programme within the townships. The research question emerged as a result of the researcher's work and frustration whilst working in this area. It became apparent that the counsellors who were working within a township context were not always progressing as they would like. The researcher thus decided to investigate the appropriateness of using a western model of counselling within a township context. The theoretical framework consists of a brief overview of a western model of counselling and relevant readings on cross-culturalism. The skilled helper model of counselling was used to represent a typical western counselling model. The concept of Individualism and Collectivism emerged as an important aspect on which the study is based. Further readings on Traditional Healing were also undertaken. The nature of the research question led the researcher to adopting a monographic study as a research format within a qualitative research paradigm. The study is conducted in the single case study format. This in turn directs the research to observations, focus groups and document analysis. A group of black teachers who underwent training in counselling skills is the target of this study. The findings of the study indicate that western-type counselling as it is currently practised in South Africa needs to change to be more effective within the African context. The research also indicates that it is important to include cross-cultural training as well as the theory of Traditional Healing within the training of future educational psychologists
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:3568 |
| Date | 05 September 2012 |
| Creators | Charlton, Rod |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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