Freedom and change : coming to terms with the end of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa : a case study

This dissertation is intended to promote an understanding of the challenges of transition faced by a multi-racial couple of South African anti-apartheid activists after the struggle ended. It aims to illustrate how a narrative therapy approach was helpful in assisting them to come to terms with the difficulties they experienced in their everyday lives once their role as activists came to an end. It shows how their different coping styles led to conflict and an almost complete breakdown in communication between them, and how their different levels of preparedness for change either facilitated or hindered their ability to cope with these changes. It looks at how offering them a neutral, safe and supportive therapeutic space helped them change their narratives about themselves and each other. This study reviews literature concerning the nature and end of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa. It looks at the social identity of struggle activists and what led to their political involvement. It reviews the issue of role loss and the challenge of adjustment. The transition cycle as set out by Nicolson (1990), is used to explain the transition process. Literature on interracial partnerships is included due to the multi-racial identity of the couple concerned. The principles of narrative therapy are explained and some thoughts on multi-cultural counseling and therapeutic alliance formation are included. This qualitative study uses the single case study method of data collection. Data was collected during a short-term couple therapy intervention that formed part of the researcher's training at the Child Guidance Clinic at the University of Cape Town.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Psychology

Year dc:date.issued

2003

Author dc:creator

• Castle, Bernice

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Swartz, Sally

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6961

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/6961