KMAN Publication Inc. (KMANPUB) تست 3060-6713 3 Serial Number 9 2025 01 01 Effectiveness of Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy on Identity and Self-Esteem in Families with Exceptional Children Effectiveness of Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy on Identity and Self-Esteem in Families with Exceptional Children 71 80 10.61838/kman.prien.3.1.9 EN Journal Article 2024 09 24 <p class="Abstract"><span lang="EN-GB">This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of short-term dynamic psychotherapy (STDP) on improving identity integration and self-esteem among parents of exceptional children. The study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest–follow-up format and a control group. The statistical population included all parents of exceptional children in Tehran in 2025. A total of 30 parents were selected using convenience sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (15 participants each). The experimental group received 15 weekly sessions of 90-minute Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP), while the control group received no intervention. The Self-Esteem Scale (Crocker et al., 2003) and the Marcia Identity Status Questionnaire (Adams &amp; Bennion, 1986) were used to measure variables at three stages: pretest, posttest, and two-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA in SPSS-26, along with Kolmogorov–Smirnov, Levene, Mauchly, and Box’s M tests to confirm statistical assumptions. Results indicated a significant improvement in the experimental group compared to the control group in both self-esteem (F = 4.688, p = .033, η² = .27) and identity integration (F = 15.703, p = .024, η² = .20). Within-group comparisons showed significant progress across all three stages in self-esteem (p &lt; .001) and identity (p &lt; .001). Interaction effects between group and time were also significant for both variables (p &lt; .001), confirming the sustained positive impact of STDP during the follow-up phase. Bonferroni post-hoc analysis revealed consistent mean score increases in the experimental group compared to the control group at each stage. Short-term dynamic psychotherapy effectively enhances identity coherence and self-esteem among parents of exceptional children by addressing unconscious conflicts and facilitating emotional integration. It can be applied as a supportive intervention in counseling and rehabilitation settings for families facing the psychological challenges of disability.</span></p> https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/prien/article/download/4761/8723