Drug-dependent mothers in the Therapeutic community Karlov and the importance of guilt in child upbringing

Background: Women with substance abuse problems have distinctive features and face many difficulties arising from their gender specificities. Among them, motherhood is significantly represented, which, combined with the abuse of addictive substances, fundamentally changes its profile, from experience, to the way these women relate to their children. These ways are burdened with many experiences, processes and emotions, which subsequently block the establishment of appropriate education. Aim: The aim of the thesis was to find out whether women with addiction problems feel guilty and shy in relation to their children, or map out where these feelings come from and what forms them. Another key objective was to reveal whether these feelings could create barriers in relation to the child, and especially in education. The last goal of the thesis was to evaluate whether, in addition to these determinants, other variables occur, or which ones are entering into the process of remediation. Methodology: Data collection took place in spring 2019 in the Therapeutic Community Karlov. A semi-structured interview was conducted with clients and specific observed situations of maternal interactions with the child were described. Research sample: The sample was created by 5 clients of the Therapeutic Community..