The Effectiveness of Emotion Focused Therapy on Alexithymia and Internalized Self-Criticism in Neurotic Perfectionist Girls

Abstract

Aim and Background: The aim of the current study was to investigate the effectiveness of Emotion Focused Therapy on Alexithymia and Internalized Self-Criticism in Neurotic Perfectionist girls. Methods and Materials: The statistical population consisted of all Neurotic Perfectionist girls in Ahvaz. The research sample consisted of 5 girls that were selected according to the results of the neurotic perfectionism questionnaires (NPQ), using purposeful sampling method. In this research, a single-case experimental design, type of concurrent multiple baseline designs was used. Instruments were Toronto ʼs Alexithymia Scale (1994), Thompson and Zuroff ʼs The Levels of Self-Criticism Scale (LSCS) (2004). The data was collected in three phases of baseline, during intervention, and three month follow-up. Findings: The findings indicate that the subjects in the treatment phase experienced improvement in Alexithymia (10.58) and Internalized Self-Criticism (21.32), and in the follow-up in regards to Alexithymia (19.41) and Internalized Self-Criticism (51.76). The change index was indicative of meaningful changes (z=1.96 α=0.05). Conclusions: Therefore, the research findings illustrated that Emotion Focused Therapy reduces Alexithymia and Internalized Self-Criticism in Neurotic Perfectionist girls.

Keywords

• emotion focused therapy
• alexithymia
• internalized self-criticism
• neurotic perfectionism