Abstract
D.Ed.
The goal of this research was to generate and describe an acquiescent approach
for the educational psychologist to utilise with a family with a terminally ill child.
It appears that family units with a terminally ill child have a tendency to withdraw
and this isolation leads to problems in mental health. Their mental health is,
amongst others, characterised by anger, frustration, unrest and depression.
A tendency with psychologists, clergy and helpers from other professions is to
act as ideal experts on the lives of saddened people. From painful personal
experience this does not seem to enable acquiescence.
In their efforts to provide consultation to the grief stricken families, these
professionals often overlook the family's real needs and forge their own views
upon them.
In this way they only further damage their mental condition.
This led me to ask the following questions:
• What does the world of the family with a terminally ill child comprise of?
• Which approach could be described in order to lead the family with a
terminally ill child to acquiescence?
A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was
followed.
v
The research was conducted in two phases as follows :
The experiences of four families with terminally ill children were explored and
described in phase one. This was done using phenomenological, unstructured,
in-depth interviews.
In phase two, a description for educational psychologists for families with a
terminally ill child was done, which is based on the results from phase one.
After data was gathered in phase one, I came to the conclusion that the family
with a terminally ill child goes through a painful process which could last for
years. As they go through the process they gain insight into certain life-skills.
The aim of the support was then to facilitate a context for the family with a
terminally ill child in order for them to internalise these lifeskills.
The central statement of this research was thus supported and can be read as
follows:
An understanding of the world of the family with a terminally ill child will provide
the educational psychologist with the data to describe a acquiescent approach.