Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of nursing care therapy on family psychoeducation on the burden and coping mechanisms of families who care for mentally retarded children..

Method: The study used a quasi-experimental design pre-post test with control group with a sample of 64 mothers who had mentally retarded children, who were selected using purposive sampling technique to follow nursing actions and family psychoeducation therapy. Analysis test using dependent t-test.

Results: Research shows that giving nursing actions can improve maternal coping abilities. Nursing actions plus family psychoeducation therapy can reduce the level of burden and improve maternal coping abilities in caring for mentally retarded children (p-value <0.05).

Conclusion: providing family psychoeducation therapy can reduce burden and improve maternal coping abilities in caring for mentally retarded children