Browsing by Author "Becker, Lily"
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- ItemOpen AccessAdoption reunion : reclaiming the lost object : a psychoanalytic and object relations approach to understanding the adoptee's experience of reunion with the birth mother(2002) Scordilis, Morag; Becker, LilyThis study explores the adoptee's desire for, and experience of reunion with the birth mother, from within a Psychoanalytic framework, and with an emphasis upon the Object Relations Theory perspective. Adoption reunion may be considered to be an attempt on the part of the adoptee to reclaim the lost object. There are numerous international studies on different aspects of adoption, however, South African studies are sparse. This study seeks to unite the dialectic of the clinical practitioner and adoption practitioner in order to provide a rich and meaningful understanding of post adoption practitioner in order to provide a rich and meaningful understanding of post adoption reunion in South Africa. The study is conducted from 'Within a non-probability framework and is an empirical ethnographic study with a predominantly qualitative, inductive approach, which is exploratory and descriptive in nature. The quantitative research provides width to the in-depth, qualitative data and takes the form of a content analysis. The qualitative aspect of the study employs an in-depth, face- to- face, unstructured interviewing technique, followed by an interview schedule. This approach enables the researcher to enter the world of the adoptee and render it understandable through providing an ''insider" view of the personal narratives and experiences of the subjects. The qualitative sample is comprised of 8 adult adoptees, who experienced face-to-face reunion with the birth mother, while the quantitative sample is comprised of 207 contacts named in the post adoption register of Cape Town Child Welfare between 1989 and i995. The conclusion drawn from the study is that the adoptee's desire for reunion is a health -promoting process which may be motivat0d by both external, social factors as well as intra-psychic forces; the latter resulting from the interruption of early psychic processes. Reunion is seen to be a response to these forces and enables adoptees to establish a mom coherent and integrated sense of Self, and to place themselves within an historical and biological narrative. Adoptees, whilst seeking to reclaim the lost object, do so as a means of reclaiming and completing the Self, the development of which was disturbed as a result of premature Interruption of the primary infant-mother bond. it is further concluded that the value of reunion is not synonymous with the success or outcome of reunion or of the adoption, that the majority of reunion comics are discontinued, and that a negative adoption experience is not more likely to result in the adoptee seeking reunion. Furthermore, reunion constitutes a form of retrospective mourning, which sets the adoptee free to relinquish ties to the lost object and to reclaim Self.
- ItemOpen AccessAn assessment of job motivational factors of HIV/AIDS lay counsellors working for Western Cape NGOs(2010) Olivier, Sean; Becker, Lily; Smit, Andre de VThe purpose of this research was to uncover determinants in the work of NGO lay counsellors in the Western Cape which both motivate and de-motivate. The methodology used was to administer questionnaires to these counsellors. Secondly, questionnaires were also administered to the project managers who co-ordinate the counsellors at each of the seven participating NGOs. In total 114 HIV/Aids counsellors completed the questionnaires.
- ItemOpen AccessThe Assessment of self-esteem before and after a therapeutic milieu programme(1999) Sujee, Shahieda; Becker, LilyThe present quasi-experimental study was conducted in ward G22, a milieu therapy unit at Cape Town’s Groote Schuur Hospital. It examines self-esteem of patients prior to and subsequent to completion of the therapeutic milieu programme, using a self-report questionnaire, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. This questionnaire was used to measure the level of self-esteem after completion of a 9-12 week stay in G22. The questionnaire was administered to twenty-three successive patients admitted to the unit. Of these one terminated prematurely by committing suicide, while the questionnaire was re-administered to the remaining twenty-two subjects in the final week of their treatment. Protocols were computer scored and quantitatively analysed using Wilcoxon Rank Sum and Signed Rank tests of significance. This analysis indicated that there was a general improvement in self-esteem of subjects after completion of the therapeutic milieu programme, while there was a significant improvement in self-esteem of older subjects when compared with the younger subjects. Other variables such as language, gender and length of stay did not significantly affect the results.
- ItemOpen AccessThe attitude of different therapists to cluster B personality disorder(2002) Maritz, Anita; Becker, LilyThis study aims to explore therapists' attitudes, and therapeutic work with patients diagnosed with cluster B personality disorder, that is anti-social, narcissistic, borderline or histrionic personality disorder, in accordance with the diagnostic criteria as described in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual. The study also aims to discuss treatment choices for patients diagnosed with anti-social, narcissistic, borderline or histrionic personality disorder as well as the value and use of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual as diagnostic tool.
- ItemOpen AccessBrief dynamic psychotherapy : an exploration of attitudes and practice among a group of local clinicians - some implications for training(1988) Becker, Lily; Isaacs, GordonThis study explores brief dynamic psychotherapy as a model of intervention with the individual adult client. The rationale for examining this area emanated from a few aspects. Firstly, increasing numbers of research studies indicated that the median length of psychotherapy, whether in private practice, or in community mental health centres, was actually of brief duration, whether planned or not; secondly, emerging studies indicated the proven effectiveness of brief intervention; and thirdly, the current emphasis on practice accountability with a more conscious use of time and outcome, were motivating factors to explore this model in practice. In addition, the study aimed to explore elements from the broader psychoanalytic tradition, which could be shaped and offered within a brief dynamic model of therapy.
- ItemOpen AccessAn exploratory study of clinicianis perceptions and experiences of the phenomenon of 'sex addiction' in South Africa(2007) Abel, Raella; Becker, LilyWord processed copy. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-112).
- ItemOpen AccessAn exploratory study of clinicians' attitudes towards women: implications for therapy(1993) Borcherds, Marion; Becker, LilyThis study explores the attitudes of clinicians towards women and postulates that these attitudes may be transmitted in the therapeutic relationship with female patients. The rationale for exploring this aspect emanated from two factors: firstly, the view that women patients tend to be treated differently to male patients, a view seemingly supported by literature; secondly, the increasing literature supporting the view that therapy is never "value free" and that values may be influential in determining aspects of therapy. In addition, this study aimed to explore clinician's characteristics which may play a role in determining their attitudes. A theoretical analysis of women's role in society was traced, with some mention made of the contribution by the Feminist Movement and the realities of the South African context. The literature survey further highlighted aspects of therapy with female patients that were relevant for the focus of this study. The primary method of data collection was by means of questionnaires which were circulated to the sample, which comprised 82 state-employed clinicians which included psychiatrists, psychiatric registrars, psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists. In addition, five individual interviews were conducted with the view to examining therapy with female patients. Findings indicated that clinicians held a continuum of attitudes to women ranging from traditional to liberal. Clinicians felt that women should feel free to pursue a career, but should remain at home for a time after the birth of a baby. Both the literature and the empirical study indicated that there were differences in the therapeutic encounter between male and female patients. Implications for therapy are highlighted: these include recommendations that clinicians need to adopt a non-judgemental, objective stance, as well as a constant awareness of their own value base as it could influence and permeate the therapeutic relationship. It is recommended that training and supervision need to emphasise the importance of these aspects and it is suggested that further study be undertaken in this regard.
- ItemOpen AccessFamily resilience in response to extrafamilial child sexual abuse(2005) Robertson, Monica; Becker, LilyThis qualitative study explores family resilience in response to extrafamilial child sexual abuse. Family resilience refers to the adaptive pathway along which a family journeys in response to a significant stressor. The theory on family resilience proposes that protective family factors and processes serve to mediate the impact of trauma on a family. A gap was found in the literature in the area of family resilience relating to child sexual abuse and theoretical research conducted as part of this study aims to contribute to this area. The research study adopts a strengths perspective which views families as challenged rather than dysfunctional.
- ItemOpen AccessNarrative analysis of educators' accounts about gang violence occurring at a Hanover Park high school in the Western Cape : implications for intervention in the context of clinical social work(2002) Reckson, Batya Bertha; Becker, LilyBibliography: leaves 82-86.
- ItemOpen Access"Pot of gold at the end of the rainbow" : experiences of unaccompanied refugee girls in Cape Town(2008) Warria, Ajwang' R; Becker, Lily; Taylor, VivieneThe arrival of unaccompanied minors poses unique challenges to the host country, raising serious questions about the rights and psychosocial health of that child. This mini thesis explores the experiences of young unaccompanied girls who arrived in South Africa and who are classified today as teenage refugee girls. The author investigated the challenges faced and adjustment mechanisms applied by the girls during pre-migration, trans-migration and post-migration phases. This study highlights significance of stability and safety for functional adolescent development and what happens when stability and safety are absent.
- ItemOpen AccessServices provided to relatives of patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital : an assessment of family satisfaction(1996) Van Staden, Magdaleen; Becker, LilyThis study explores family satisfaction with services provided to them on their relatives' admission to Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital in Cape Town. The rationale for doing this research arose from the researcher's encounters with families of psychiatric patients and the perceived lack of involvement of the professionals with the families. In addition, a needs assessment was done to establish the need for family groups. The literature review traced the psychiatric services from the earlier custodial orientation, the subsequent deinstitutionalisation of the services resulting in the families becoming the primary caregivers of their mentally ill relatives, to the emphasis of the biopsychosocial model in the recently established community services. Review of the treatment models indicated supportive family education as the primary form of intervention to ensure compliance, aid the recuperation process, enhance the quality of life for the patient and their families and to equip the families to cope with the illness. A survey method was employed to gather quantitative and qualitative data via questionnaires and face-to-face interviews with 31 relatives of 24 patients who had been admitted during January, February, and in March 1995 to the male and female admission units (wards 9, 10, 14, 15 and 16) at Valkenberg psychiatric hospital in Cape Town. A non-probability convenience sampling procedure, based on the availability and accessibility of the relatives to attend an office interview, was used. Findings from prior studies as well as from this current study have shown a lack of professional involvement with the families in relation to the treatment programme of their mentally ill relatives. The majority of the respondents were not informed about the implications of the illness and the effect of treatment and most of the respondents lacked guidance on how to cope with their mentally ill relatives. Other findings indicated that families are the most concerned about the lack of supported housing, rehabilitation services, adequate financial assistance, day care centres, sheltered employment for their mentally ill relatives and difficulties in relation to admission procedures. More than three quarters of the respondents were interested in family groups and there was a definite need for professional counselling for the parents and siblings. In response to the findings a number of recommendations are made to improve services to families, including the formation of family groups where the relatives of mentally ill people can receive psychoeducation and practical guidance. The need for further research has been identified.
- ItemOpen AccessSingle, divorced mothers experiences of child raising(2006) Nurek, Judy; Becker, LilyIncludes bibliographical references (leaves 117-123).
- ItemOpen AccessA study examining changes in relationship satisfaction of couples participating in a marriage preparation programme(2000) Duncan, Suzanne Felicity; Becker, LilyBibliography: leaves 99-104.
- ItemOpen AccessThe use of object relations theory in clinical social work practice : a case study(2004) Welch, Elizabeth Katherine; Becker, LilyThe purpose of this study was to explore the value of a particular theoretical framework in terms of several issues relating to clinical social work practice. The selected theoretical framework was that of Object Relations theory, specifically the works of Melanie Klein and Margaret Mahler. The method of inquiry was that of a single case study. The investigation centred around the theories' usefulness in clinical social work practice regarding: assessment, particularly in terms of the development of insight into and understanding of human psychological development, and guiding practice and informing intervention. The selected theoretical framework was also evaluated according to: its sufficiency, in and of itself, and the extent to which its utilization facilitates avoidance of stereotyping and pathologizing. The study was undertaken in a psychiatric unit, run according to the principles of a therapeutic milieu, in a local hospital. The subject of the study had been admitted to the unit after a parasuicide attempt. He manifested many of the affects and behaviours associated with Borderline Personality Disorder, and was a transsexual who had undergone reassignment surgery. Ongoing assessment and intervention were undertaken in the residential unit on an individual basis and in group activities. Reference to literature, the writings of Klein and Mahler in particular, was a crucial and essential aspect of the study. The selected theoretical framework was found to be of great value in terms of the development of insight into and understanding of human psychological development, which in turn aided the assessment process. Whilst neither Klein nor Mahler wrote extensively or specifically of intervention, a model compatible with their opinions was identified in the literature and effectively used for this purpose. The approach used, both from a theoretical and a practical standpoint, encouraged expression and maintenance of individual uniqueness. The study highlighted the importance of a sound theoretical knowledge base underpinning clinical practice, particularly when practitioners are challenged by difficult cases. In addition, the need for practitioners to assume responsibility for continued dynamic learning, and the significant role of supervision were apparent. Further avenues for study and research were also identified.