Group Counseling Intervention Research Articles

Enhanced Psychological Health Among Chronic Pain Clients Engaged in Hope-Focused Group Counseling

Researchers have begun to evaluate interventions intended to enhance hope in various populations. Chronic pain is a pervasive problem with significant psychosocial consequences. This article presents studies that examined the extent to which a hope-focused group counseling intervention enhances hope and well-being in two community-based samples of participants ( N =10 and N = 24) experiencing chronic pain. A pilot study (Study 1a) and a main study (Study 1b) both used a one-group, pretest–posttest design to determine whether participants experienced changes regarding their hope, well-being, acceptance of pain, and catastrophizing of pain. Both studies showed that participants experienced numerous and significant changes from pre- to post-intervention, including improvements in well-being and pain acceptance in Study 1a and improvements in hope, well-being, and catastrophizing cognitions in Study 1b. Self-reported pain severity, assessed only in Study 1a, did not change. We discuss implications for practice, study limitations, and potential lines of hope-related inquiry for future research.

An effective intervention to reduce intravaginal practices among HIV-1 uninfected Kenyan women.

Intravaginal practices (IVP) are common among African women and are associated with HIV acquisition. A behavioral intervention to reduce IVP is a potential new HIV risk-reduction strategy. Fifty-eight HIV-1-uninfected Kenyan women reporting IVP and 42 women who denied IVP were followed for 3 months. Women using IVP attended a skill-building, theory-based group intervention occurring weekly for 3 weeks to encourage IVP cessation. Vaginal swabs at each visit were used to detect yeast, to detect bacterial vaginosis, and to characterize the vaginal microbiota. Intravaginal insertion of soapy water (59%) and lemon juice (45%) was most common among 58 IVP women. The group-counseling intervention led to a decrease in IVP from 95% (54/58) at baseline to 0% (0/39) at month 3 (p=0.001). After 3 months of cessation, there was a reduction in yeast on vaginal wet preparation (22% to 7%, p=0.011). Women in the IVP group were more likely to have a Lactobacillus iners-dominated vaginal microbiota at baseline compared to controls [odds ratio (OR), 6.4, p=0.006] without significant change in the microbiota after IVP cessation. The group counseling intervention was effective in reducing IVP for 3 months. Reducing IVP may be important in itself, as well as to support effective use of vaginal microbicides, to prevent HIV acquisition.

The Achieving Success Everyday Group Counseling Model: Fostering Resiliency in Middle School Students

This article discusses a group counseling intervention used to develop and foster resiliency in middle school students by implementing the Achieving Success Everyday (ASE) group counseling model. The authors aimed to discover what impact this group counseling intervention, which focused on resiliency characteristics, would have on students’ academic and personal-social success. To evaluate this, the authors used both qualitative and quantitative data. The results showed that some students achieved an increase in their GPA and personal-social functioning following the intervention. The article presents implications for practice and ideas for future research.

GIRLSS: A Randomized, Pilot Study of a Multisystemic, School-Based Intervention to Reduce Relational Aggression

We tested the effects of a school-based, multisystemic intervention to reduce relational aggression among adolescent girls, Growing Interpersonal Relationships through Learning and Systemic Supports (GIRLSS). GIRLSS is a 10-week, group counseling, caregiver training, and caregiver phone consultation intervention for relationally aggressive middle school girls. The study addresses the pressing need for empirical examination of ecologically valid, secondary intervention practices in this area. Thirty female youth in grades 6–8 (ages 12–15 years) and their parents were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (N = 22) or a wait list control group (N = 12). Changes in self, teacher and school counselor reported relationally aggressive behavior from pretest to posttest was compared across groups for statistical and clinically significant change. Intervention participants demonstrated significantly more change in the desired direction than control participants according to school counselors and an averaged score of school counselor and teacher-reported relational aggression. We discuss the clinical significance findings and implications of perceptual data from social validity surveys of each intervention component. Limitations are also discussed and the need for future research to further examine empirically and ecologically valid interventions for relational aggression in schools, community, and family contexts is highlighted.

The Achieving Success Everyday Group Counseling Model: Fostering Resiliency in Middle School Students

This article discusses a group counseling intervention used to develop and foster resiliency in middle school students by implementing the Achieving Success Everyday (ASE) group counseling model. The authors aimed to discover what impact this group counseling intervention, which focused on resiliency characteristics, would have on students' academic and personal-social success. To evaluate this, the authors used both qualitative and quantitative data. The results showed that some students achieved an increase in their GPA and personal-social functioning following the intervention. The article presents implications for practice and ideas for future research.

The Achieving Success Everyday Group Counseling Model: Implications for Professional School Counselors

This article presents the Achieving Success Everyday (ASE) group counseling model, which is designed to help school counselors integrate students’ academic and personal-social development into their group work. We first describe this group model in detail and then offer one case example of a middle school counselor using the ASE model to conduct a group counseling intervention in a school setting. Finally, implications for school counselors are presented.

Affirmative Supportive Safe and Empowering Talk (ASSET): Leveraging the Strengths and Resiliencies of Sexual Minority Youth in School-Based Groups

School settings are often fraught with risks for sexual minority youth, yet the presence of targeted and supportive services within educational contexts is surprisingly rare. This article (a) describes the development of Affirmative Supportive Safe and Empowering Talk (ASSET), a gay-affirmative, school-based group counseling intervention created specifically to promote the resiliency of multiethnic sexual minority youth; (b) suggests group themes and approaches; and (c) discusses critical considerations for implementation. ASSET may be considered a promising intervention that provides opportunities to bridge the unique gaps in service for this vulnerable population.

Meaning-Based Group Counseling for Bereavement: Bridging Theory with Emerging Trends in Intervention Research

A growing body of scholarship has evaluated the usefulness of meaning-based theories in the context of bereavement counseling. Although scholars have discussed the application of meaning-based theories for individual practice, there is a lack of inquiry regarding its implications when conducting bereavement support groups. The objective of this article is to bridge meaning-based theories with bereavement group practice, leading to a novel intervention and laying the foundation for future efficacy studies. Building on recommendations specified in the literature, this article outlines the theoretical paradigms and structure of a short-term meaning-based group counseling intervention for uncomplicated bereavement.

School-Based Groups to Support Multiethnic Sexual Minority Youth Resiliency: Preliminary Effectiveness

Sexual minority youth (SMY) face multiple challenges as a result of their marginalized sexual and/or gender identities, yet evidence informed programs for the population are absent from the literature. This study describes the pilot research efforts of affirmative supportive safe and empowering talk (ASSET), the first LGBTQ affirmative school-based group counseling intervention created specifically to promote resiliency. In a pilot uncontrolled trial, multiethnic SMY (n = 263) completed measures of self-esteem, social connectedness, and proactive coping at baseline and following completion of the ASSET intervention. Post-intervention analysis using general linear modeling suggests that self-esteem and proactive coping increased significantly across all subgroups, while social connectedness remained constant. ASSET holds promise to enhance the resiliency of SMY in school-based practice settings. Further research should address the effect of ASSET participation on measures of risk and resiliency, and compare outcomes across multiple group interventions. Language: en

The impact of group counseling on depression, post-traumatic stress and function outcomes: A prospective comparison study in the Peter C. Alderman trauma clinics in northern Uganda

BackgroundThe effectiveness of group interventions for adults with mental distress in post-conflict settings is less clear in sub-Saharan Africa. AimTo assess the impact of group counseling intervention on depression, post-traumatic stress and function outcomes among adults attending the Peter C. Alderman Foundation (PCAF) trauma clinics in northern Uganda. Methods631 War affected adults were enrolled into PCAF trauma clinics. Using a quasi-experimental design, assessments were conducted at baseline, at 3 and 6 months following initiation of care. Multivariate longitudinal regression models were used to determine change in depression, post-traumatic stress and function scores over time among group counseling participants and non-participants. ResultsIn comparison to non-participants, participants had faster reduction in depression scores during the 6-month follow-up period [β=−1.84, 95%CI (−3.38 to −0.30), p=0.019] and faster reduction in post-traumatic stress scores during the 3-month follow-up period [β=−2.14, 95%CI (−4.21 to −0.10), p=0.042]. At 3-month follow up, participants who attended two or more sessions had faster increase in function scores [β=3.51, 95%CI (0.61–6.40), p=0.018] than participants who attended only one session. LimitationsSelection bias due to the use of non-random samples. Substantial attrition rates and small sample sizes may have resulted in insufficient statistical power to determine meaningful differences. ConclusionThe group counseling intervention offered in the PCAF clinics may have considerable mental health benefits over time. There is need for more research to structure, standardize and test the efficacy of this intervention using a randomized controlled trial.

Randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of an interactive group counseling intervention for HIV-positive women on prenatal depression and disclosure of HIV status

The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of group counseling, using a problem-solving therapy approach, on reducing depressive symptoms and increasing prenatal disclosure rates of HIV status among HIV-positive pregnant women living in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A randomized controlled trial was performed comparing a six-week structured nurse–midwife facilitated psychosocial support group with the standard of care. Sixty percent of women in the intervention group were depressed post-intervention, versus 73% in the control group [Relative Risk (RR) = 0.82, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.67–1.01, p=0.066]. HIV disclosure rates did not differ across the two study arms. However, among those women who disclosed, there was a significantly higher level of overall personal satisfaction with the response to disclosure from family and friends among women in the treatment (88%) compared to the control group (62%; p=0.004). The results indicate reductions in the level of depressive symptoms comparable with major depressive disorder (MDD) for HIV-positive pregnant women participating in a group counseling intervention. Although the psychosocial group counseling did not significantly increase disclosure rates, an improvement in the level of personal satisfaction resulting from disclosure was associated with the intervention. This suggests that the counseling sessions have likely reduced the burden of depression and helped clients better manage partner reactions to disclosure. Public agencies and non-governmental organizations working in Tanzania and similar settings should consider offering structured psychosocial support groups to HIV-positive pregnant women to prevent poor mental health outcomes, promote early childhood development, and potentially impact HIV-related disease outcomes in the long term.

Bring Out the Brilliance: a Counseling Intervention for Underachieving Students

This study evaluated the impact of a small group counseling intervention designed for students who underachieve. The results of the study demonstrated significant improvement for ninth- and tenth-grade underachieving students in the areas of organizational skills, time management, and motivation. The author discusses implications and recommendations for school counselors working with underachieving students.

Bring Out the Brilliance: A Counseling Intervention for Underachieving Students

This study evaluated the impact of a small group counseling intervention designed for students who underachieve. The results of the study demonstrated significant improvement for ninth- and tenth-grade underachieving students in the areas of organizational skills, time management, and motivation. The author discusses implications and recommendations for school counselors working with underachieving students.

Supporting and inhibiting factors in recovery experienced by the patients after myocardial infarction during an 18-month follow-up

Objective: There is a need for studies on recovery as experienced by the patient after myocardial infarction. This study is a report on supporting and inhibiting factors in recovery of Finnish patients after myocardial infarction in an Interpersonal Counselling intervention group and in a control group given standard care at 6 months and 18 months after myocardial infarction. Methods: Firstly, during the 6 months following patients receiving IPC (n=21) and standard care (n=19) kept diaries related to supporting and inhibiting factors in recovery. The data were analyzed by inductive content analysis. Secondly, the patients (44 in the intervention group and 42 in the control group) were interviewed with the same open-ended questions 18 months after myocardial infarction. This data were analyzed using deductive content analysis. An attribution analysis was performed on both data. Results: Five main categories, including supporting and inhibiting factors and subcategories, were identified: (1) clinical and physical, (2) psychological, (3) social, (4) functional and (5) professional. There were no differences between the groups. Conclusions: Recovery experienced by the patient after myocardial infarction seems to consist of many supporting and inhibiting factors. This is important to take into account in developing nursing practice. The topic calls for more specific studies. These results could be useful material in developing and testing a quantitative instrument for more precise measuring of recovery after MI in a randomized setting. To develop theory, the results indicate numerous possibilities to test relationships between supporting and inhibiting factors in recovery after myocardial infarction.

OPTIONS for Preparing Inmates for Community Reentry

The purpose of this study was to adapt and experimentally test the effectiveness of a research-based, employment-focused group counseling intervention (OPTIONS). OPTIONS was designed to increase male inmates’ exploration and identification of employment interests and options, identification and development of employment-search skills, and knowledge of vocational options, goal planning, and identification and use of contextual supports. A randomized block design and measurements at pretest, posttest, and 1-month follow-up were used to examine the effects of OPTIONS. Participants included 77 ( n = 38 treatment, n = 39 control) adult male inmates. Results indicated that OPTIONS participants had higher career search self-efficacy, problem solving, and hopefulness scores at posttest and follow-up than did treatment-as-usual control group participants.

School-Based Group Interventions for Children Exposed to Domestic Violence

Children exposed to the trauma of domestic violence tend to experience difficulties with internalized and externalized behavior problems, social skills deficits, and academic functioning. Mental health practitioners in the school setting, including school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers, can address developmental concerns that impede development through group counseling interventions that include both structured activities and play therapy. The school environment offers an ideal setting in which to work with child survivors of trauma, as all students have accessibility to school mental health resources. This article outlines the primary objectives and corresponding procedures for a developmentally- appropriate group interventions for elementary-aged children who have been exposed to the trauma of domestic violence.

Efficacy of eclectic group counseling in addressing stress among Thai police officers in terrorist situations

This study aims to develop the eclectic group counseling intervention for Thai police officers to reduce the risk of developing symptoms of poor mental health while deploying in terrorist situations. We predicted that eclectic group counseling would significantly reduce high scores of anxiety, depression, social dysfunction, physical symptoms, hostility, phobic anxiety, and interpersonal sensitivity. Our eclectic group counseling included the interactive model of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, religious interventions, mandala drawing, and Reality Therapy. The design is an experiment-controlled trial with 42 participants (The experiment = 20, the control = 22; Thai-Buddhists = 32, Thai-Muslims = 10). Their mean age was 35.64 ± 9.99 ranging from 23 to 54 year olds. They were selected from 416 police officers derived by cluster random sampling using Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition, the General Health Questionnaire Thai version, and the Symptom Checklist 90. The data were analyzed by two-way MANOVA and ANOVA. The results supported the hypothesis.

영성증진 집단상담 프로그램이 직장인의 소진과 심리적 안녕감에 미치는 효과

본 연구는 영성증진 집단상담 프로그램이 직장인의 소진과 심리적 안녕감에 어떠한 효과를 미치는지를 알아보기 위하여 경기도 S지역에서 근무하는 직장인을 대상으로 연구에 참가를 희망하는 32명을 모집하여 실험집단 16명, 통제집단 16명으로 무선 배정하였다. 실험집단과 통제집단 간의 사전 검사 검정과 사후검사 검증, 그리고 실험집단과 통제집단의 집단내 사전-사후 검증에 대해서는 비모수적 통계인 Mann-Whitney U Test와 Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test로 분석하였다. 연구의 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 영성증진 집단상담 프로그램을 경험한 실험집단은 통제집단보다 소진에서 통계적으로 유의미한 효과가 있었다. 둘째, 영성증진 집단상담 프로그램을 경험한 실험집단은 통제집단보다 심리적 안녕감에서 통계적으로 유의미한 효과가 있었다. 따라서 영성증진 집단상담 프로그램이 직장인의 소진 극복과 심리적 안녕감에 긍정적인 방향으로 영향을 미친다는 사실을 알 수 있다. 이로 인하여 영성증진 집단상담 프로그램은 직장인들에게 유익한 프로그램이라 여겨지며 직장에서 적극적으로 이 프로그램이 활용되어야 한다고 본다. The present research is aimed to observe the effects on the spirituality improvement group counseling program which can overcome the burnout restoration and increase the psychological well-being of office workers. In order to do the present research, I have taken 32 office workers, who want to join to this research, within S area. I have separated those workers into two groups: an experienced group of 16 workers and a controlled group of 16 workers. Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test were adopted to analyze collected data from the spirituality improvement group counseling program. The results of this research indicated that the level of burnout restoration have been decreased after spirituality improvement group counseling intervention program of the experienced group, and the level of psychological well-being have been increased after spirituality improvement group counseling intervention program of the experienced group. This result showed that, the spirituality improvement group counseling program could decrease the burnout restoration and increase the psychological well-being of experienced group significantly comparing with the result of the controlled group. From the result I have confirmed that, the spirituality improvement group counseling program have positive effects to overcome the office workers' burnout restoration and increase the office workers' psychological well-being.

Cognitive behavioral therapy group intervention for HIV transmission risk behavior in perinatally infected adolescents

Purpose: This study analyzed treatment effects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) group counseling intervention on HIV transmission risk behavior, depression, anxiety, and alcohol use in HIV perinatally infected adolescents attending an HIV clinical care center in Uganda, Africa. Method: A total of 186 adolescents were randomly assigned to an experimental or control arm and assigned into groups of 11 - 16 adolescents. The experimental groups received an 80-minute CBT based weekly intervention for 8 consecutive weeks, while the control groups received only standard group care. Data from self report assessments were analyzed at pre- and post-test using repeated measures of analysis of variance. The participants, analyzed by variable, included 115 for sexual behavior, 106 for depression, 88 for anxiety, and 115 for alcohol use. Results: The results from the study show a large significant difference (p = 0.006) between the experimental and control groups on the anxiety variable. There were no significant differences between the experimental and control groups on the variables of sexual behavior (p = 0.876), depression (p = 0.700), and alcohol use (p = 0.815). There was an indication of reduced levels of HIV sexual transmission risk behavior, depression, and alcohol use levels in the participants in both the experimental and control groups. Conclusions: Risky sexual behavior places HIV perinatally infected adolescents at risk of re-infection, sexually transmitted diseases, and transmitting HIV to their sexual partners. CBT group counseling intervention equipped the participating adolescents with appropriate life skills to deal with psychological distress and anxiety often seen in their lives and may be useful in routine medical care to reduce transmission risks and improve wellness and call for its incorporation into HIV preventive programs and counselor education.

P-108 - The effectiveness of two smoking cessation interventions targeted for residents of disadvantaged neighborhoods and smokers with other addictions and co-morbidities

Smoking cessation has been less effective among low SES smokers and those with other addictions/co-morbidities. There are few studies assessing different service delivery models through rigorous scientific methods while engaging the community. To assess the utilization and effectiveness of smoking cessation group versus individual counseling interventions among economically disadvantaged clients through a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT). A Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach in conjunction with RCT methodology were used to compare the effectiveness of a behavior change communication intervention and pharmacotherapy through group vs. individual counseling models. Participants were recruited from a low-income urban setting in mid Atlantic area (n = 348), and randomized to either an individual or group-based intervention. Participants received training according to the Fresh Start curriculum on their 12 weekly sessions and followed for nine months after the termination of the program. After the intervention, the overall cessation rate was 10% with no significant difference between the two arms. The Cessation rate among participants who attended 6 to 12 sessions was significantly higher (p < 0.001) compared to those who attended 1 to 5 sessions (27.8% vs. 7.0%). Those with more positive perception of being “ready to quit” had higher odds of actual quitting (OR = 5.8). Although individual and group counseling cessation appear to be equally effective, the group counseling is more cost-effective and feasible approach for low SES smokers and those with other co-morbidities. The effectiveness of the intervention can significantly improve with better retention and motivational enhancement strategies. NCMHD 5-R24-MD002803.