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RATIONAL-EMOTIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS (CASE STUDY)
Abstract
The difficulties in life connected with upbringing of a child with special needs lead to high level of distress for parents. Mainly negative influence of the child’s disease upon intrafamilial and extrafamilial functioning, psychological well-being of parents define the necessity of regular help for such people. Aims of rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT) correspond to psychological problems of relatives of children with special needs. As few sources show, REBT has a significant potential in assisting parents with taking under control negative emotions. This increases parents’ effectiveness in taking care, upbringing and reaching maximal possible level of development of a special child. The present report describes an application of REBT to a mother of a child with special needs. Methods: We report the case of a 29-year-old mother of a 5-year-old boy with cerebral palsy and intellectual disability. The woman showed partial denial of the child’s grave condition, evident fears for his life, outbursts of anger directed at people around her and the boy, on the background of a lack of awareness of feeling of guilt. A usage of cognitive, emotional and behavioral techniques of REBT is described. A range of irrational beliefs underlying her psychological problems is presented. Results: The positive changes in acceptance of the child’s condition and coping with frustrations have been achieved. Conclusions: A conclusion about effectiveness of the studying approach of helping parents of children with special needs and about necessity of further research in this field is made.
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