PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC METHODS USED FOR WORK WITH FAMILIES RAISING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

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Modern practical psychotherapy structurally includes several areas and profiles, among which one of the first places is occupied by family psychotherapy, in particular, systemic family psychotherapy. Such psychotherapy for families raising children with special educational needs is of particular importance. Psychological support for mentioned families should be aimed at creating the social and psychological conditions restoring emotional well-being of parents having children with special educational needs and favourable for these children’s development. Family psychotherapy can take various forms and directions aimed at families raising children with special educational needs. One of the best formats of corrective and supportive psychotherapy for these families is psychotherapeutic assistance, psychotherapy aimed at actuation of family members’ personal and psychological resources, especially children with psychological difficulties. Revealed significant shortcomings and mistakes become a self-disclosure tool necessary for positive personal changes and personality manifestations in the form of internal mental states and external behavioural reactions. Repeated psychotherapeutic influences on the behavioural models used by parents of children with special educational needs help them to better understand their children, their behaviour, reduce anxiety, improve self-confidence and confidence in their abilities to overcome life problems. A psychotherapist’s necessary quality is his/her ability to maintain a positive attitude towards a client or, to say more correctly, faith in the positive existential foundation, which should be freed from life blockages and false personality defences. Only in this case, the psychotherapist can simultaneously maintain a open, natural communication and at the same time not react with negative emotions to the client’s negative manifestations. We have found that the rejection of their children by parents of autistic children is associated with negativism, irritability, increased anxiety and depression, rigidity. Increased anxiety among parents with autistic children increases their irritation, resentment, and guilt.