Counselling In South Africa Research Articles

Professional Counseling in South Africa: A Landscape Under Construction

The focus of this article is on the history, status, and trends of the counseling profession in South Africa and on the similarities with the development of the counseling profession in the United States. A need exists for South African professional counselors to refocus their research efforts to reflect the realities of the 21st century and link counseling practice and theory with global realities to suit the needs and collectivist origins (ubuntu) of the South African population.

<i>National Credit Regulator versus Dedbank Ltd</i> and the practice of debt counselling in South Africa

The National Credit Regulator approached the then Transvaal Provincial Division of the High Court in 2008 by way of a notice of motion. In this application the Regulator prayed in terms of section 16(1)(b) of the National Credit Act 34 of 2005 (the "NCA") for the proper interpretation of mainly sections 86 and 87 of the same Act. Due to uncertainty and confusion the Regulator lodged an application to obtain clarity on some of the difficulties that debt counsellors experience in practice. The matter washeard in the High Court (TPD) on 02/03/2009 and judgment was handed down by Du Plessis J on 21/08/2009.This article discusses the fifteen prayers and the impact of the orders granted by the Court under three logical headings, namely:those that deal with the NCA and the Magistrate’s Court; Order 1 (on section 86(7)(c)), order 2 (an obligation to conduct a hearing), order 3(the judicial role of the Magistrate’s Court) and order 4 (the application procedure of the Magistrate’s Court) defined the interaction between the NCA and the Magistrate’s Court Act (the “MCA”) very clearly. Since there is no sui generis procedure provided for in the NCA, it is submitted that the Court’s approach is correct. However, the end result is that the over-indebted consumer is not supported to the degree the NCA envisages. For example: a rule 55 procedure of the MCA can be cumbersome and costly, while the NCA envisaged a fast and relativelyinexpensive process. those that deal with the role of the debt counsellor in debt restructuring; Order 5 (costs), order 6 (statutory function) and order 8 (the unique role of the debt counsellor), granted under this heading, are important. They define the role of the debt counsellor to be different from the run-of-the-mill applicant in terms of rule 55. He/she is even protected against some cost orders due to a statutory function.Because of this special function a question arises: should this difference in treatment not be even greater than custom presently permits or proposes? Since this function brings great responsibility and much paper work, should it not affect the fees that a debt counsellor may charge?those that deal with the court procedures.Orders 7, 9, 10 and 11 in this section are welcomed, namely those that deal with the service of documents, the geographical jurisdiction and monetary limit of the court, reckless credit and the in duplum rule. However, the Court preferred to stay on the safe side with respect to emoluments attachments orders and the application of section 86(2) to section 129(1). The lack of direction on the question when formaldebt enforcement in fact begins, is regrettable.However, the declarator is a milestone in the history of the NCA. The orders impact significantly on the practice of debt review and will continue to shape the credit industry. Despite some disappointments it can be concluded that the declarator on the whole adds value to the practice of debt counselling in South Africa. It is now for the industry, the NCR, the legislators and scholars to take matters further.Keywords: National Credit Regulator; National Credit Act 34 of 2005; Magistrate’s Court Act 32 of 1944; Magistrate’s Court; Declaratory order; Judicial discretion; Jurisdiction; Service; In duplum rule; Emoluments; attachment order; Debt review; Debt counsellor; Consumer; Credit provider; Application procedure.

Career counselling in the 21st century: South African institutions of higher education at the crossroads

The current state of career counselling1 in South African institutions of higher education in the 21st century is explored in this article in an attempt to locate current work in the field of career counselling in South Africa in the light of global trends (academic and economic) and in terms of local history and current economic climate. The articleis based largely on an examination of factors that have contributed collectively and individually to the current state of affairs in career counselling in South Africa (with particular emphasis on institutions of higher education). The key aim is to create a deeper understanding of what can be done to help millions of young people in SouthAfrica (including those who are currently excluded from sought-after fields of study and training institutions) access those opportunities that are available and, in the process, to promote equity, access and redress. Some salient aspects of 21st century career counselling, including the history of career counselling in South Africa and elsewhere, the need for a changed approach to career counselling at all levels, and the interplay between the different waves in psychology are explicated. Helping models in career counselling, the narrative approach, the global economy and the impact of global developments on career counselling are considered. It is endeavoured to deconstructand explain the impact of these factors on what is currently happening in South Africa and determine whether South Africa has kept abreast of contemporary developments historically, epistemologically and at a more practical level.

An evaluation of a brief motivational interviewing training course for HIV/AIDS counsellors in Western Cape Province, South Africa

HIV/AIDS counselling in South Africa covers a range of areas of prevention and treatment with a commonly used model of lay counsellors trained by non-governmental organisations and working alongside professionals in public health settings. This study presents a single group evaluation of a six-session (12-hour) course of Motivational Interviewing (MI) delivered to 17 HIV/AIDS lay counsellors working in peri-urban settings in Western Cape Province, South Africa. Counsellors reported that they used MI techniques both at the start and at the end of the training. In addition, they reported confidence in their ability to influence their clients’ motivation at both time points. The results from the ratings of role play performance showed that there was a marked change in emphasis over the group of counsellors from MI non-adherent practice before training (with advice giving, directiveness, control and confrontation) to more MI adherent practice (asking permission before giving advice, emphasising client autonomy, affirming the client and stressing the client's responsibility to change) at the end of the training. Only a small proportion of the counsellors reached the level of beginning proficiency (according to the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity code) on the measure of the ratio of MI adherent to non-adherent responses. The ratio of reflections to questions and the percentage of open questions also showed improvements in performance across the group but generally to levels below that suggesting beginning proficiency in MI. There was no evidence of any change on global therapist ratings (of empathy and the spirit of MI, i.e. collaboration, evocation and autonomy support) or the percentage of complex reflections across the group of counsellors. Possible explanations for the results and public health implications are discussed.

The experiences and needs of HIV/AIDS counsellors at a South African hospital

To increase the availability of HIV/AIDS counselling in South Africa, nurses have been trained to serve as counsellors within hospital services. The aim of the study was to document the experiences and needs of nurse HIV/AIDS counsellors at a small South African hospital (with 279 beds and 10 medical doctors on the staff). The design was a qualitative, multiple-case study. The sample consisted of four nurse counsellors and the co-ordinator of HIV/AIDS services at the hospital. Three semi-structured interviews with the counsellors were used as the basis for case narratives of their experiences. These narratives were in turn subjected to content analysis to determine the range and nature of the concerns identified by the counsellors. The counsellors found their HIV/AIDS counselling work to be emotionally demanding and identified several significant problems. These were related to confidentiality, stigmatisation, motional responses to informing clients of their HIV-positive status, cultural and contextual factors and situational stressors related to the organisation of the work environment. They did not feel sufficiently supported by their work infrastructure. It is recommended that in setting up counselling services of this sort, managers need to be aware of the need for ongoing support in the form of facilitated groups, professional supervision, managerial attention to problems in the working environment, and regular in-service training. Keywords: counselling, training, workplace stressors, management Journal of Psychology in Africa 2005, 15(1):1-10

Facilitating Post-Modern Career Counselling in the Limpopo Province of South Africa: A Rocky Ride to Hope

With little or no effort to test underlying assumptions in the South African context, South African career counsellors have traditionally depended on ‘proven’ assessment methods. Career counselling needs to move away from the almost sole use of psychometric tests to an approach that recognises an individual's social and historical background. Our research in Limpopo demonstrates the need for multiple approaches to the collection of comprehensive data in assisting students to make appropriate career choices. Whether traditionally advantaged or disadvantaged, all students need comprehensive information, both objective and subjective, to allow for appropriate career decision making. Therefore, the focus in career counselling in South Africa should be on the collection and utilisation of comprehensive information to assist all students to make successful career choices.

The Cross‐Cultural Relevance of Person‐Centered Counseling in Postapartheid South Africa

In this article, the need for effective cross‐cultural counseling in South Africa is emphasized against the background of the country's sociocultural context. The characteristics of person‐centered counseling that make it cross‐culturally suitable in the South African situation are discussed. Rogers's cross‐cultural group work during his visits to South Africa is briefly described. The ways in which specific cross‐cultural obstacles can be overcome by means of the person‐centered approach are pointed out. The relationship between person‐centered counseling and traditional African healing practices is described. Finally, ways to address the language barriers in cross‐cultural counseling in South Africa are discussed.

Putting HIV/AIDS counselling in South Africa in its place

Abstract HIV/AIDS counselling services within South Africa are surveyed within the context of a general review of the HIV/AIDS policy response. Data indicate that South Africa is under served by counselling and testing facilities, critically so in Mpumalanga, Northwest Province and the Eastern Cape. Government provides the majority of counselling and testing services, primarily through health services and indirectly through the ATlCCs. Despite high expectations of the role of voluntary counselling and testing it is found that these services are thinly-stretched but that they provide welfare services unavailable from other sources.

The Effects of Gender and Sex Role Identity on Occupational Sex Role Stereotypes Held by White South African High School Pupils

Using a 4 × 2 quasi-experimental factorial design, an exploratory study within the South African context was conducted to investigate the effects of sex-role identity and gender on occupational sex role stereotypes held by 173 White English-speaking Grade 9 pupils. The Bem Sex Role Inventory and a vocational checklist were employed as measures. The results revealed only a significant main effect of gender on the occupational sex role stereotypes. The implications of the findings on the field of school vocational guidance and counselling in South Africa are discussed.

Counseling in South Africa: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

This article discusses counseling in South Africa by delineating three developmental periods: (a) the stage in which psychology aided and abetted apartheid, (b) the stage in which it professed political neutrality, and (c) the current stage in which psychotherapeutic professionals are actively rebuilding a society nearly destroyed by apartheid.

Teaching Pastoral Care and Counseling in an African Context: A Problem of Contextual Relevancy

Summarizes the current status of pastoral care and counseling in South Africa and notes the variety of implications resulting from the uncritical acceptance of the Western Europe and North American styles of pastoral care and counseling. Outlines and details the necessary project of contextualizing which now faces pastoral caregivers in South Africa as it attempts to integrate its unique cultural and religious heritages into developing a relevant pastoral theology that will serve pastoral practice and pedagogical necessity.