Abstract
M.A.
The goals of this study were formulated in response to a need for a culturally sensitive
counselling service for children of divorce within the Tsonga culture. The aim of this study
was to develop guidelines to be used by counsellors in helping children of divorce within
Tsonga culture. The study was undertaken within the framework of the developmental
research and utilisation model. The research design integrated exploratory and descriptive
methods. Qualitative methods of data gathering and analysis were applied.
The study followed three dimensions: an analysis of the effects of divorce on children,
cultural context of family and divorce as well as an analysis of a child-centred counselling
model. Based on the analysis of the effects of divorce on children within the Tsonga
culture, guidelines for culturally sensitive counselling were developed.
The most important finding in this study is that culture has a bearing on the way in which
divorce will have an effect on children and also that only a counsellor who is sensitive to
the children's culture can be successful in counselling them to cope with divorce. The
findings of this study cannot be generalised to other cultures, but it is recommended that
the guidelines be used by counsellors from different cultural orientations working with
children of divorce within Tsonga culture. The study showed that there is a need for
culture sensitivity in rendering counselling services to children.