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The use of play therapy mediums in a stress management programme with corporate employees

Thesis (DPhil (Social Work))--University of Pretoria, 2006.

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Other Authors: Spies, Gloudien M.
Format: Thesis
Published: University of Pretoria 2013
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Spies, Gloudien M.
author_browse Spies, Gloudien M.
author_facet Spies, Gloudien M.
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2006, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Thesis (DPhil (Social Work))--University of Pretoria, 2006.
format Thesis
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:38:21.029Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2013
publishDateRange 2013
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publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/29058 The use of play therapy mediums in a stress management programme with corporate employees Spies, Gloudien M. dnel@yebo.co.za Nel, Deidre Maree Organisation Stress Corporate employees Gestalt theory Play therapy mediums Awareness Stress management programme UCTD Thesis (DPhil (Social Work))--University of Pretoria, 2006. There is a growing need for corporate employees to be able to manage their stress levels and use stress to their own, and to the organisation’s, advantage. Various literature references show that the damage to the workplace and to the worker costs millions of rands annually. Organisations are loosing money because of employees who are not able to manage their stress levels. Employees often experience stress because of an excessive workload, a high expected work pace, difficult work schedules, role conflict, uncertainty regarding career security, poor interpersonal relationships and unpleasant working conditions and many more. This stress manifests in conflict, depression, absenteeism, headaches, hypertension, alcoholism, drug abuse and more which as a result, impacts the organisation’s profitability due to decrease in productivity. In this thesis, research was done regarding the use of play therapy mediums in a stress management programme with corporate employees. The following research question was formulated: Will the use of play therapy mediums in a stress management programme for corporate employees, have a positive effect on their stress levels? The purpose of this stress management programme was to create greater awareness amongst corporate employees regarding the effects of stress on their lives and to indicate to them how they can go about managing stress to their advantage. The aim of the research was to use play therapy mediums in a stress management programme to enable corporate employees to become aware of, and to manage their stress levels. Play therapy mediums were therefore used to aid the de-stressing of the corporate employees and to facilitate greater awareness regarding the effects of stress on their lives. The researcher applied the Gestalt Theory as theoretical framework for this study. This theory supports the notion of awareness as a tool that can be used by a person to be in control of his/her life. The Gestalt Theory as a theoretical framework emphasises the fact that healthy behaviour occurs once people reach a point where they can regulate the emotional state that they are in. The literature research has shown that when this comes about, people experience a feeling of unity and integration in their lives. It is also concerned with the total existence of a human being. The people are addressed as whole and integrated beings, who strive to gain balance in an ever-changing environment. The Gestalt Theory is holistic and can form the theoretical framework for work with any type of individual and has been used effectively with individuals, groups and in teaching. Research was done within the corporate environment. The researcher developed a stress management programme which was presented to corporate employees. The aim was to establish whether the programme would have an effect on their stress levels and whether play therapy mediums can be used successfully with corporate employees during a training programme to reduce their stress levels and to improve their awareness of the causes of stress in their lives and their reactions to stressors in their environment. This stress management programme served as an intervention because it could enhance the functioning of the corporate employees with regard to their stress levels and also their general functioning within the organisation and in their personal lives. Pre- and post-test results were compared to evaluate the effect of the programme. Play therapy is traditionally used with children but relevant literature and the researcher’s own experience from the research has shown remarkable results in the use of play therapy mediums with adults. The literature as well as the empirical study showed that play itself has a number of therapeutic elements that produce behaviour change. Furthermore play also offers opportunities to re-live past stressful events and the emotions associated with them in a safe and therapeutic environment. The research findings indicated that stress levels improved after the stress management programme was presented to the corporate employees. From the research findings the researcher developed a model as a guideline for a stress management programme using play therapy mediums in the corporate environment. Social Work and Criminology unrestricted 2013-09-07T14:47:32Z 2006-10-26 2013-09-07T14:47:32Z 2006-04-25 2006-10-26 2006-10-26 Thesis Nel, D 2006, The use of play therapy mediums in a stress management programme with corporate employees, DPhil thesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://hdl.handle.net/2263/29058 > http://hdl.handle.net/2263/29058 http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-10262006-140101/ © 2006, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle Organisation
Stress
Corporate employees
Gestalt theory
Play therapy mediums
Awareness
Stress management programme
UCTD
The use of play therapy mediums in a stress management programme with corporate employees
title The use of play therapy mediums in a stress management programme with corporate employees
title_full The use of play therapy mediums in a stress management programme with corporate employees
title_fullStr The use of play therapy mediums in a stress management programme with corporate employees
title_full_unstemmed The use of play therapy mediums in a stress management programme with corporate employees
title_short The use of play therapy mediums in a stress management programme with corporate employees
title_sort use of play therapy mediums in a stress management programme with corporate employees
topic Organisation
Stress
Corporate employees
Gestalt theory
Play therapy mediums
Awareness
Stress management programme
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/29058
http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-10262006-140101/