The Effectiveness of a Gestalt-Based Counseling Program in Reducing Alexithymia and Enhancing Mental Health Among Working Mothers of Adolescents in Amman
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35516/Hum.2026.10362Keywords:
Counseling Program, Gestalt Theory, Alexithymia, Mental Health, Working Mothers, Adolescents.Abstract
Objectives: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a Gestalt-based counseling program in reducing alexithymia and enhancing the psychological well-being of working mothers of adolescents. It also aimed to develop and validate a new parental mental health scale and assess the program’s long-term impact.
Methods: The study involved 20 working mothers of adolescents (ages 14–18) in Amman, randomly assigned to an experimental group receiving the intervention or a control group. The alexithymia scale and a newly developed parental psychological health scale were tested for reliability and validity. The counseling program, consisting of 11 Gestalt therapy-based sessions, was conducted at the Nour Al Hussein Foundation - Family Health Care Institute in 2023.
Results: Statistical analysis showed significant differences between the experimental and control groups in alexithymia and mental health scores. The experimental group demonstrated notable improvements in emotional expression and psychological well-being, with sustained effects observed two weeks post-intervention.
Conclusions: A Gestalt-based counseling program effectively reduces alexithymia and enhances mental health in working mothers of adolescents. The findings underscore the need for therapeutic interventions supporting parental emotional well-being. Future research should explore additional family counseling techniques and larger, more diverse samples.
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