Gadjah Mada Journal of Professional Psychology (GamaJPP)
Vol 7, No 2 (2021)

Empathic Love Therapy to Reduce Depression among Female Victims of Domestic Violence

Sustriana Saragih (Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Counselling Thailand)

Kwartarini Wahyu Yuniarti (Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Oct 2021

Abstract

Female victims of domestic violence often experience depression. This research used Empathic Love Therapy (ELT) to reduce depressive symptoms, by enabling individual to understand one-self deeper by realizing, understanding, accepting, and loving all aspects of the self, which is the early process of healing. This research is quasi-experiment research using a single group simple interrupted time series design. Five women aged 30-60 years old who experience depression, based on BDI (Beck Depression Inventory) score, participated in an eight-session therapy. Participants were recruited purposively based on theory-based or operational construct sampling. Data analysis combined quantitative and qualitative methods, of which Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test was used for quantitative analysis, whereas qualitative analysis adopted a descriptive analysis. Quantitative findings significant difference in BDI score between before and after treatment (Z = -2.023 with p=  0.043<0.05). Qualitative findings showed that participants were able to find survival personality that emerged from past painful experiences and plays a role in the depression symptoms they are currently experiencing. With the power of love they find from God, they are able to accept themselves, and focus their lives on their potential and positive future plans. Therefore, it can be concluded that Empathic Love Therapy is effective to be used to reduce depressive symptoms.

Copyrights © 2021






Journal Info

Abbrev

gamajpp

Publisher

Subject

Decision Sciences, Operations Research & Management Environmental Science Health Professions Public Health Social Sciences Other

Description

Gadjah Mada Journal of Professional Psychology (GamaJPP) e-ISSN 2407-7801 is an open-access journal disseminating articles with implications for research and practices professional psychology. GamaJPP welcomes manuscript in the areas of:: Clinical Psychology Education Psychology Developmental ...