본 연구의 목적은 커플관계치료에 있어서 배우자 각자가 어린시절에 성장발달과정 중 경험한 상처의 치료 적 중요성에 관해 살펴보는 데 있다. 즉, ``어린시절의 상처의 치료``에 주목하여 배우자 각자가 어린시절의 각 발달단계를 어떻게 경험하였는지, 그리고 그 어린시절의 상처 치료여부가 커플관계에 있어서 얼마나 중 요한 지에 관하여 ``이마고 커플관계치료``와 ``내면아이 치료``의 두 모델을 중심으로 살펴보고자 한다. 커플/ 부부치료 모델 중에서도 특별히 Henrix(1988, 1992)에 의해서 개발되어진 ``이마고 커플관계치료(IMAGO Couple Relationship Therapy)``는 배우자 각자의 어린시절의 상처를 커플관계치료에 있어서 중요하게 접목 시킨 치료모델로서, 전 세계적으로 부부상담과 가족상담 전문가들에 의해서 크게 주목을 받고 있다. 또한 Bradshaw(1990)에 의해서 널리 알려진 ``내면아이 치료(Inner Child Healing)``는 참가자 각자로 하여금 어린 시절의 각 발달단계에 따라 ``상처받은 내면아이(Wounded Inner Child)``를 발견하게 하고 치료하는 내면치료 모델로서, 내면치료와 관계치료에 임상적으로 널리 적용되고 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 먼저 이마고 커플 관계치료와 내면아이 치료 모두에게 공통적으로 큰 영향을 끼친 (1) 에릭 에릭슨의 심리사회 발달 8단계와 그에 따른 어린시절의 상처에 관해 살펴보고, (2) 내면아이 치료에서는 어린시절의 상처를 어떻게 이해하며 치료에 적용하고 있는 지, 그리고 (3) 이마고 커플치료에서는 어떻게 어린시절의 상처를 커플 치료와 상호 관련하여 이해, 적용하고 있는 지 살펴본 후, (4) 커플 관계 치료에 있어서의 배우자 각자의 어린시절의 상처 의 치료의 중요성을 알아보고, 이 두 가지 치료모델을 통합적으로 활용하여 커플 관계 치료에 있어서 내면아 이 치료모델을 임상적으로 적용할 것을 제안하고자 한다.
The primary aimof the study is to explore the impact of childhood wounds on couples relationship, that is, how each partner gets through certain developmental stages in his or her early life effect their couple relationship. Specific aim is to describe childhood wounds by developmental stages and couples` relationships. According to Erik Erikson (1950, 1959, 1964, 1968, 1982, 1986), each child`s developmental and dependent needs must be fulfilled by caretakers in ways appropriate to the child`s developmental stage for sake of healthy development and growth. If at any stage a child`s needs are left un-met, he or she will unconsciously attempt to fulfill those needs autonomously. IMAGO relationship therapy (Hendrix, 1988, 1992, 1996) suggests that each individual is unconsciously driven by his or her un-met needs (called childhood wounds) and expects to be fulfilled by his or her partner. Childhood wounds play a pivotal role in both mate selection and in relationship conflict (Brown 1999; Luquet, 1996; Luquet & Hannah 1998; Hendrix, 1988, 1992, 1996). Recently, the divorce rate has greatly increased in Korea, where I work as a professor and counselor. The Korean rate of divorce now ranks highest in the world, and couples in crisis are prevalent. In the face of rising need, the availability of professional counseling institutions and trained counselors in Korea is woefully inadequate. Since the family and other social institutions in Korea, including government, schools, and religion, appear similarly ill-equipped to respond supportively to this growing problem, the case makes itself that Korea needs more and better prepared counselors and educators. During my experience in teaching and counseling practice, including with couples in conflict, it became abundantly clear to me that people similarly marked by childhood wounds tend to attract and to inflict fresh wounds upon each other. In counseling, my main inquiry has been what a critical factor in couple`s relationship and how to help the couples in crisis to maintain a healthy and supportive relationship. After much study, I have become convinced that each individual`s childhood wounds and unmet needs are likely to figure prominently in any future intimate relationship the person enters (Bradshaw 1990b; Hendrix, 1988). The echoes of childhood wounds manifest themselves through attraction to persons wounded similarly, or at a like stage, during the formative years. Childhood wounds go to the heart of most conflicts (Abrams, 1990; Bradshaw 1990a, 1990b; Capacchione, 1991 Frued 1959a, 1959b, 1959c; Missildine, 1963; Whitfield, 1987) and power struggles that couples experience, and healing childhood wounds is key to resolving conflicts in adult relationships. Therefore, to offer real healing, therapists must be prepared to help counselees understand and cope with childhood wounds. Such insight would lend the counselee indispensable understanding of both self and partner. Merely discerning childhood wounds could be a starting point toward self-growth that enriches one`s adult relationships. The results of the study will suggest practical applications to couples therapy.