Experiences of psychologists working with female childhood sexual abuse (CSA) survivors
- Authors: Ntshangase, Nandisile Elaine
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Adult child sexual abuse victims -- Counseling of , Child sexual abuse , Sexually abused children , Psychologists , Psychology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42694 , vital:36681
- Description: Clients who experienced childhood sexual abuse may interact with psychologists in compelling ways. By virtue of the symptoms and personality implications, for instance, strong patterns of borderline and histrionic personality functioning, have been linked to the history of sexual abuse. Implicit to this, is that it is likely that the client will challenge the therapist with regards to both the theoretical approach taken, as well as the therapeutic style adopted. In addition, such clients are likely to project their need for a therapeutic interaction that is both genuine, empathic and at the same time, flexible. In light of this, it is not uncommon for healthcare practitioners to consider such clients as “difficult” in some way or the other. This could impact the psychologist as well, increasing the risk of psychologist stress, frustration and burnout. This study explored South African psychologists’ experiences working therapeutically with female clients who experienced sexual abuse during childhood. The focus was on understanding how the psychologists theoretically understood and practically worked with these clients. A qualitative approach was used and interviews with psychologists practising in the Eastern Cape of South Africa were conducted. The transcripts of the semi-structured interviews were thematically analysed. The thematic analysis yielded three themes, namely, 1) challenges experienced by psychologists; 2) preferred approaches to therapy and 3) coping skills utilized. The study applied the ethical principles concerned with trustworthiness, credibility and reliability.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Developing a protocol for campus health service professional nurses to manage students with mental distress
- Authors: Dalton, Linda Louise
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: College students -- Mental health , College students -- Mental health services , Nurses -- Mental health , Distress (Psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10030 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1303 , College students -- Mental health , College students -- Mental health services , Nurses -- Mental health , Distress (Psychology)
- Description: Professional nurses working at a campus health service have to cope with challenges such as staff shortages and budgetary constraints associated with working in a complex environment providing primary health care. The aim of primary health care includes promoting health, preventing disease and the early detection and treatment of illness. Mental health services form an integral part of the integrated primary health care package as implemented in the campus health service. Students attend the Campus Health Service for help related to their health. Health care is provided by professional nurses and counsellors through a comprehensive primary health care service which serves students as well as staff. Some students may state that they experience feelings of being stressed or depressed. Other students may complain of physical symptoms such as headache or upper backache. Upon further investigation emotional problems may be identified as the cause of the psychosomatic symptoms. The professional nurses working in the campus health service verbalised that it is sometimes difficult to identify a mental illness or mental distress as there is no effective assessment tool that they can use. Management of conditions is also problematic as there are no protocols indicating the therapeutic interventions that can be taken. The research question in this study was therefore: What information should be included in a protocol to assess and manage a student experiencing mental distress that can be used by professional nurses working in a Campus Health Service? The aim of this study is to develop a mental health care protocol for campus health service professional nurses to assess and manage university students who are experiencing mental distress. The research design of this study was qualitative, explorative, descriptive, explanatory and contextual. In this study the Delphi research technique was used to create an instrument to standardise mental health care in a campus health service. The Delphi technique is a series of sequential questionnaires or “rounds” interspersed with controlled feedback that seeks to gain the most reliable consensus of opinion of a group of experts. A questionnaire was developed based on an extensive literature review. The research population of this study consisted of two groups: professional nurses with knowledge of student health care needs and expert psychiatric nurses. The study was conducted at the Campus Health Service at a university in the Eastern Cape. The data collection and analysis was done utilising the Delphi technique. Trustworthiness was ensured by using the Lincoln and Guba Model utilising the criteria of credibility, applicability, dependability and conformability. In this study the ethical principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, justice and self determination were applied to ensure that participants are treated with respect and consideration and ensured high ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from the participants in this study. The findings of this research were utilised to assist the researcher in developing a protocol for mental health care of students in campus health service settings.
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- Date Issued: 2010
The political significance of popular illegalities in post-apartheid South Africa
- Authors: McMichael, Christopher Bryden
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Illegality -- South Africa -- Case studies Legal services -- South Africa Post-apartheid era -- South Africa South Africa -- Politics and government -- 1994-
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2804 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003014
- Description: This thesis discusses the significance of popular illegalities in contemporary South African service delivery. Illegal access to and non-payment of services have been indentified by the government as a major criminal problem which undermines effective service delivery. By contrast, this thesis argues that popular illegalities are positive phenomenon which provides otherwise unobtainable benefits for the poor and also exposes the ability of communities to self-manage their own service provision. The thesis begins by surveying a variety of literature on this issue using both contemporary and historical literature. I then discuss the scope of popular illegalities in South Africa and the methods government has used to curtail them, with a particular emphasis on how this has been influenced by the adoption of neo-liberal cost recovery initiatives. Using case studies of three communities where illegal access is prevalent, I discuss both the motivations behind and significance of illegal water and electricity connections. In conclusion, I argue that popular illegalities are a significant phenomenon in so far as they suggest new methods of delivering services. The prevalence of these illegalities is also important as it highlights many of the failings of official delivery. The thesis concludes on a hopeful note in arguing that illegalities may be inherently progressive in both benefiting the marginal and leading to the creation of radically autonomous spaces which can be viewed as laboratories of radical social change.
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- Date Issued: 2008