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KMID : 1025820150230040711
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Family and Family Therapy
2015 Volume.23 No. 4 p.711 ~ p.737
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Internal Family Systems Therapy with Mothers of Disabled Children
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Lee Hye-Ok
Yon Moon-Hee
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Abstract
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Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of a therapy program for mothers with disabled children, many of whom suffer from negative emotions and lowered ego-resilience.
Methods: The researchers developed a therapy program based on the Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy Model for the reduction of negative emotions of mothers with disabled children, especially focusing on the feelings of guilt, derived from a self-critical way of thinking. This IFS Therapy Program was further refined by introducing a technique (drawing-and-story-based expression of emotions) into the IFS Therapy model, which was originally developed for restoration of the harmonious internal system in individuals. This helped the researchers effectively explore, within a small group format, the hidden emotions in mothers of disabled children. This IFS Therapy Program was applied to an experimental group consisting of ten mothers with disabled children. Its efficacy was statistically assessed in two areas, differential emotions and ego-resiliency, using a t-test and a one-way ANOVA.
Results: It was found that guilt, which was the original target of the therapy, was substantially reduced, along with contempt, abhorrence, shyness, fear, and internal hostility. Acceptance, control of emotions, and positive interpersonal relationship, one of the most important factors in ego-resiliency, were all substantially improved.
Conclusions: It was confirmed that the IFS Therapy Program worked effectively with the mothers of disabled children on the reduction of negative emotions, and this change in the internal system can be extended to the change in the external system, including interpersonal attitude. This change seemed to be maintained in mothers’ internal and external systems six months after therapy.
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KEYWORD
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IFS therapy, mothers of disabled children, negative emotions, ego-resiliency
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