Solution Focused Therapy for Mothers of Disabled Children

Introduction: Depression Among Mothers of Disabled Children

Depression is regarded as one of the most common psychiatric illnesses across the globe, ranking as the second most incapacitating disorder among all physical and psychological conditions. The lifetime prevalence of this psychiatric disorder is high among women worldwide, ranging between 12 and 25%. Parents of disabled children are increasingly likely to suffer from depression because of the negative effects of disability, such as high degrees of stress and anger (Motamedi et al., 2007, p. 3).

Since mothers play a fundamental role in raising children and ensuring family stability, they are particularly vulnerable to depression when caring for children with disabilities. Because of this heightened vulnerability, it is important to identify and utilize appropriate therapy for mothers in this situation — especially young mothers. Solution Focused Therapy appears to be the most suitable approach for addressing depression in young mothers who have a child with a disability.

Case Study Overview

The client is a 25-year-old mother with two children, James and Joel, aged 8 and 5 years old respectively. She divorced her husband approximately two years ago and has custody of both children, playing a fundamental role in their upbringing. James, her eldest child, has been living with autism spectrum disorder since birth and experiences difficulties in communicating, relating to others, and processing sensory input. As a result, James is severely cognitively impaired and requires ongoing diagnosis and treatment.

Due to the challenges associated with caring for James, the client has been diagnosed with depression. Living with a child who has a disability is a considerably difficult experience, as the child's condition has profound effects on the entire family — particularly the primary caregiver. In this case, the child's disability has generated increased physical and emotional demands, logistical complexities, and heightened financial costs, all of which have contributed to the client's diagnosis.

Applying Solution Focused Therapy to the Case

For parents in this situation, having a child with a disability may adversely affect physical and mental health, increase stress, and create difficulties in finding suitable and affordable child care (Reichman, Corman, & Noonan, 2008, p. 680). Moreover, such parents often encounter difficulties in making decisions regarding education or training, employment, and reliance on public support. The client has experienced these difficulties and has consequently been diagnosed with depression. Her depression is likely rooted in low self-esteem, self-blame, or guilt related to her child's condition. As a young single mother, she needs an effective therapeutic process to help her manage and overcome depression.

The most appropriate therapy for this situation is Solution Focused Therapy, which provides a unique approach to treating depressive symptoms. The suitability of this therapy is attributed to its competency-based framework, which reduces emphasis on past problems and failures while focusing on the client's strengths and previous successes (Trepper et al., n.d.). In this model, therapy centers on working from the client's own understanding of her condition and what she hopes will be different in her life.

Solution Focused Therapy reflects the counselor's perspective on change by prioritizing solution-building over problem-solving. Change is understood as an increased focus on solutions rather than on past and current problems. The therapy helps the client identify and increase the frequency of desired, beneficial behaviors — which themselves constitute the change. This approach utilizes the language of change, focusing on the process by which clients change rather than on diagnosing and treating problems (Trepper et al., n.d.). The emphasis on change also aligns with a therapeutic perspective that views clients like this one — suffering from depression related to caregiving demands — as capable of growth and recovery.

Conclusion

Depression is one of the most common psychiatric conditions affecting women, especially young mothers caring for a child with a disability. The condition is brought on by the various difficulties associated with caring for a disabled child and the tendency to focus on the negative aspects of the child's condition. Solution Focused Therapy is the most appropriate means of addressing this condition, as it primarily emphasizes solution-building over problem-solving, empowers clients through their own strengths, and supports the development of a meaningful and hopeful vision for the future.

References

Motamedi et al. (2007). A study in depression levels among mothers of disabled children. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal, 5(5,6), 3–7.

Reichman, N. E., Corman, H., & Noonan, K. (2008). Impact of child disability on the family. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 12(6), 679–683.

Trepper et al. (n.d.). Solution focused therapy treatment manual for working with individuals. Retrieved September 10, 2015, from http://www.sfbta.org/research.pdf