Abstract
M.Ed.
This study investigates the therapeutic relationship of educational psychologists with bereaved children. The professional and personal ramifications of this relationship in the life-world of adult therapists, are explored. The bereavement counselling relationship is viewed as a particularly difficult one for therapists. The therapists' primary focus is the creation of a contained therapeutic environment, one in which young clients can slowly begin the process of coming to terms with their losses. It would appear however, that within this particular therapeutic encounter, therapists may be professionally and personally affected by their clients' traumatic material. Vicarious traumatization is a term used to describe the therapists' parallel reactions to the clients' trauma and the affect that this can have on therapists in their professional and personal capacities. Therapists who work with children under conditions of extreme stress have the dual responsibility of caring for the therapeutic relationship, whilst at the same time, maintaining their own professional and personal well-being in the face of their clients' trauma. This study examines the specific vulnerabilities of adult therapists in bereavement counselling situations. The manifestation of stress in its various forms is examined, and prevention and coping, mechanisms discussed. The emphasis throughout is on educational psychologists whose client base is mainly children. This study describes the process of data analysis and reduction and identifies the main themes that emerge from three data sources. These themes are discussed within the framework of existing theory. This study concludes by discussing specific suggestions for the maintenance of the professional and personal well-being of educational psychologists, who work with bereaved children, specifically within the South African context. Possible suggestions for the selection and training of educational psychologists as bereavement therapists are also made.