Mehdi Eskandari - Department of Counseling, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Bahman Bahmani - University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Fariba Hassani - Department of Counseling, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Abdolah Shafiabadi - University of Allameh Tabatabaii, Tehran, Iran.
Amir Hossein Hossein pour - University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Objectives:This study used a quasi-experimental method inthe pretest-posttest to evaluate the efficacy of cognitive-existential group therapy on hopefulness in parents of children with cancer. Methods:Thirty parents (۲۴ to ۵۴ years old) of children with cancer were divided randomly into experimental and control groups. Both groups were assessed with Miller Hope Scale (۱۹۸۸), as pre-test. The experimental group received cognitive-existential group therapy in ۱۲ sessions, each lasting ۹۰ minutes (۲ sessions per week), but no psychological intervention was applied to the control group. At the end of the intervention, both groups were reassessed through post-test. Data were analyzed by SPSS through analysis of covariance. Results: Significant differences in hopefulness between the two groups (P<۰.۰۱) were observed in favor of the experimental group. Discussion: Cognitive-existential group therapy can be effective in increasing hopefulness in parents of children with cancer.

Cognitive-existential group therapy, Hopefulness, Parent of children with cancer