OAR@UM Community:

Breaking the cycle of violent intimate partner relationships : the experience of post traumatic growth in survivors

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Breaking the cycle of violent intimate partner relationships : the experience of post traumatic growth in survivors Abstract: This dissertation assesses how intimate partner violence (IPV) can impact women’s lives after breaking the cycle of violence and experiencing post traumatic growth (PTG). I have sought to understand the role that determination plays as an active component in progressing from being the victim to growing psychologically and finding new meaning in their life despite the adverse effects of the encountered trauma. This study consisted of five participants, all service users from SOAR. The participants were invited to share their personal journey, reflecting on their starting point to what they achieved today. The objective of this study revolves around their departure from abuse and their journey of post traumatic growth. As part of the research process, the author's own experience of IPV and journey to PTG was incorporated. The evidence in the study highlights the participants' need for psychological support to lead meaningful and functional lives. Utilizing a qualitative design, specifically an Interpretative Phenomenological Approach (IPA), the research conducted semi-structured interviews to reveal emergent themes capturing the significance survivors attribute to their lived experiences. The findings demonstrate the pivotal role of resilience in enabling victims to break free from the cycle of violence and rebuild their lives, exemplifying a strong element of PTG among all participants. Psychological support, alongside other supportive organizations, is shown to hold a significant place in the lives of these individuals. In conclusion, the study's results, counselling provisions, and recommendations for future research are thoroughly discussed and examined. Description: P.G.Dip. Couns.(Melit.)

Perceptions of counselling in a small island community context: a Gozitan perspective

Sun, 01 May 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Perceptions of counselling in a small island community context: a Gozitan perspective Abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of counselling with particular reference to the small island community context of Gozo. Seven young adult community members volunteered to participate in this research in which they spoke about their personal thoughts, feelings and experience in their own words. The research adopted an lnterpretative Phenomanological Approach (I.P.A) both in the collection and analysis of the data that was gathered through in-depth semistructured interviews. A number of themes were derived from the analysis which foreshadowed the unique experiences of the participants. The main super-ordinate themes include counselling and the way it is acknowledged by individuals who live in Gozo, the personal experience of dealing with difficulties, possible community characteristics that are impinging the way counselling is viewed as an option to treatment and salient tools that help expanding the service in Gozo. Each of these themes has several implications f or practice and training which can help move the service as well as the counselling profession forward. For this to be realized, this research calls for awareness about the counselling profession and services, an improvement in the existing services as well as the establishment of newer ones. A number of recommendations for future research were also made. Description: M.COUNSELLING

We all come from somewhere : identity and belonging of young asylum seekers in transition and effects on counselling

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Title: We all come from somewhere : identity and belonging of young asylum seekers in transition and effects on counselling Abstract: This study explored the experiences of six former unaccompanied asylum-seeking young participants and their perspectives on their in-care experiences, preparation for leaving care, and after-care support, -taking into consideration the definitions and experiences of ‘home’, ‘identity’ and ‘belonging’ at a time of transition to adulthood and adjustment to life in a new country. The research also enabled four professionals to share their views on practice and policy affecting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children leaving care. The study adopted an Interpretative Phenomenological Approach to collect and analyse the data generated through in-depth semi-structured interviews. A number of themes communicating the asylum-seeking young participants experience emerged. These include life before asylum, displacement and journey, definition of an asylum seeker and the care in the residential setting for UMAS, home and time, adaptation stressors, coping and managing stress when leaving care and thinking about the future. The data indicate that unaccompanied young people face considerable challenges in the transition from care towards independence and that practice falls short of the standard envisaged by the leaving care framework. This research has yielded useful information. It is hoped that this research will serve as an eye-opener for professionals working with young asylum seekers, and can assist them in preparing their clients for a smoother transition to adulthood. This research clearly brought out the need for further specialized training especially when dealing with trauma, and counsellors need to work further to increase self-awareness of their own cultural identity. Description: M.COUNSELLING

The relationship between racial identity and privilege awareness among Maltese university students

Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Title: The relationship between racial identity and privilege awareness among Maltese university students Abstract: Increasing multiculturalism in the world’s population has given rise to a melting pot of cultures, opinions and attitudes, resulting in positive and negative consequences on societies. Individuals have been forced to reconsider their identities and privileges when confronted with others from different groups, ethnicities and ideologies. This study was carried out with the aim to explore the relationship between racial identity and privilege awareness in Maltese university students. The study also aimed to explore which demographic variables indicated a strong relationship between racial identity and privilege awareness. It employed a quantitative correlational research method by compiling a questionnaire including two US constructed scales which were revised for the Maltese population – the Oklahoma Racial Attitudes Scale and the Awareness of Privilege and Oppression Scale-2, and a section on participant demographics. 212 Maltese born university students completed the questionnaire, the results of which were analysed using SPSS. Bivariate correlations showed a significant positive relationship between racial identity and privilege awareness (r = .234, p <.001), and indicated a number of demographic variables that relate with the scores of each scale. The data suggests that Maltese students are aware of their racial identities as well as their privileges, and that specific demographic groups show higher awareness of both. Further research in the field is recommended, particularly on larger samples of the Maltese population, while migrants’ perspectives should also be explored. Description: M.A.TRANSCULTURAL COUNSELLING