Gestaltterapie met die allergiese kind in die middelkinderjare

Abstract

Afrikaans: Hierdie studie is gerig op die daarstelling van 'n gestaltspelterapeutiese program wat gebruik kan word om die allergiese kind in die middelkinderjare te begelei om beheer oor sy siekte te verkry en om die invloed daarvan op sy ontwikkelingstaakbemeestering te minimaliseer. In aansluiting hierby is 'n ouerleidingprogram ontwikkel waar gestaltbeginsels benut is om die ouers van die allergiese kinders ter versterking van die doelstellings van die spelterapeutiese program te bemagtig. Vanuit die literatuur en vorige navorsingsbevindinge is dit duidelik dat die voorkoms van 'n allergiese siekte 'n negatiewe invloed op die kind in die middelkinderjare se bemeestering van sy ontwikkelingstake op emosionele, sosiale en akademiese gebied kan uitoefen. Dit kan daartoe lei dat die kind se selfbeeldontwikkeling benadeel word en hy kan angs, frustrasie en aggressie ervaar wat sy gesonde funksionering strem. Op sosiale gebied kan allergiese siektes daartoe lei dat die kind ge"fsoleer word en dat hy nie soos sy maats aan alle aktiwiteite kan deelneem nie - dit kan tot portuurgroepverwerping lei. Op akademiese gebied kan die allergiese kind te siek voel om sy volle aandag aan sy skoolwerk te gee, wat moontlik onderprestasie en verminderde motivering tot gevolg kan he. Die voorkoms van 'n allergiese siekte het verder 'n definitiewe invloed op die gesinsfunksionering en kan negatiewe gevolge vir sowel die ouer-kind verhouding en opvoedingstyl as die sibbeverhoudinge inhou. Die beginsels van die gestaltbenadering fokus op die kind se verhoogde bewustheid van homself in sy situasie, sy verbeterde emosionele hantering van eise wat aan horn gestel word, die verhoging van sy beheer oor sy lewe en die versterking van sy eie verantwoordelikheidneming vir sy gesondheid. Deur die benutting van hierdie beginsels in beide programme kan die kind deur spelterapie en 'n ondersteunende ouerleidingprogram gehelp word om toepaslike beheer oor sy siekte uit te oefen en die moontlike negatiewe invloed van allergiese siektes op sy ontwikkelingstaak bemeestering en totale funksionering te minimaliseer.

Ten einde die kennisleemte wat in die hantering van die spesifieke behoeftes van allergiese kinders bestaan te oorbrug, is die gestaltspelterapeutiese- en ouerleidingprogramme ontwikkel. Ses respondente in hul middelkinderjare en hul ouers is by die implementering van beide die spelterapeutiese- en ouerleidingprogramme betrek. Die navorsingsresultate het daarop gedui dat die gestaltspelterapeutiese program suksesvol was in die fasilitering van die kind se verhoogde bewustheid van homself in en verhoogde beheer oor sy situasie, verbeterde emosionele hantering en verhoogde verantwoordelikheidneming vir sy gesondheid. Die gegewens het verder daarop gedui dat die ouerleidingprogram suksesvol was om die ouers van die kinders tot ondersteuning van die spelterapeutiese doelstellings te bemagtig en hul opvoedingstaak te vergemaklik.

Die programme is dus suksesvol vir sowel die gestaltterapeutiese begeleiding van allergiese kinders in die middelkinderjare tot optimale funksionering en beheer van allergiese siektes, as die bemagtiging van ouers ter ondersteuning van die spelterapeutiese program. Die gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings van die studie fokus op die bereiking van die doelstelling en doelwitte van die studie, gevolgtrekkings oor die navorsingsbevindinge, aspekte wat in ag geneem moet word in die gebruik van die programme en verdere navorsingsmoontlikhede wat uit die studie voortspruit. English: The aim of this study is to establish a gestalt play therapy programme which can be implemented to guide the allergic child to take control of his illness and to minimize the influence of the allergic condition on the mastery of his developmental tasks. To support this process, a parental guidance programme has been developed in which gestalt principles are utilized to empower parents of an allergic child to enhance the objectives of the play therapy programme. From the literature and previous research results it is clear that the occurence of an allergic illness has a negative influence on the child' s mastery of his developmental tasks in his middle childhood years, especially on his emotional, social and academic areas. This could result in the fact that the development of child's self image could be impaired and that he experiences fear, frustration and aggression. Socially, his allergic illness could lead to the isolation of the child and that he would not be able to participate in all the activities of his playmates - this could lead to rejection by the peer group. Academically, the allergic child could feel too ill to give full attention to his school work which could lead to underachievement and decreased motivation. The appearance of an allergic illness further has a definitive influence on the functioning of the family and can have negative results within both the parent-child relationship and parenting style as well as the sibling relationship.

The principles of the gestalt approach focus on the child's hightened awareness of himself in his situation, his improved emotional handling of demands put to him, the increased control over his situation and the strengthening of his ability to take responsibility for his own health. By the utilization of these principles in both programmes, the child can, by means of play therapy and a supportive parental guidance programme, be aided to apply appropriate control over his illness. The possible negative influence of the allergic illness on his mastery of developmental tasks and total functioning, can be minimized. To fill the lack of knowledge existing in therapeutic assistance to the allergic child, the gestalt play therapeutic- and parental guidance programmes were developed. These programmes have been implemented with six children and their parents. The empirical research findings indicated that the programmes succeeded in facilitating the child's increased awareness of himself in his situation, improved his emotional management, his control of his situation and his own responsibility for his health.

The evidence also indicated that the parental guidance programme was successful in empowering parents to support children to achieve play therapeutic objectives and to facilitate their educational task. The gestalt play therapy programme succeeded in supporting the allergic child in middle childhood to optimal functioning and to gain control of his allergic illness, and the parental guidance programme empowered the parents in supporting the programme. The conclusions and recommendations of this study focus on the achievement of the objectives and goals of the study; conclusions regarding the research findings and aspects that should be taken into consideration with the use of playtherapy and parental guidance with the allergic child and his family. To conclude, further studies in this field are recommended.