International Journal of Counseling and Psychotherapy

The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Counseling using Cognitive Restructuring Techniques to Reduce Self-Injury Behavior among Vocational High School Students

2025-11-18T18:36:24+07:00

Background: Self-injury among adolescents is a growing mental health concern, particularly among vocational high school students facing academic, social, and personal pressures. Negative thinking patterns can lead students to adopt maladaptive coping strategies such as self-injury, highlighting the need for appropriate counseling interventions. Objective: This study aims to examine the effectiveness of cognitive restructuring techniques within the framework of Cognitive Behavioural Counseling in reducing self-injury behaviour among students at SMK Negeri 3 Makassar. Method: This research employed a quantitative, quasi-experimental design. The population consisted of 71 students, and the sample was selected purposively, yielding 10 students who reported self-injurious behaviour. The participants were divided into an experimental group and a control group. Data were collected through observation, interviews, documentation, and a self-injury behaviour scale. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and the Mann–Whitney test. Results: The experimental group showed a significant reduction in self-injury behaviour after cognitive restructuring techniques were implemented, compared to the control group. Conclusion: Cognitive restructuring techniques within Cognitive Behavioural Counseling are effective in reducing self-injury behaviour among vocational high school students. Contribution: This study contributes to the development of evidence-based counseling interventions and provides practical guidance for school counsellors in addressing self-injury behaviour among students in educational settings.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Treatment Options

2026-02-15T01:39:47+07:00

Background: Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic mental health condition characterised by persistent and excessive worry that lasts for at least six months and interferes with daily functioning. The disorder affects adolescents and adults worldwide and is frequently accompanied by psychological and somatic symptoms such as restlessness, fatigue, sleep disturbance, irritability, and impaired concentration. Because these symptoms often appear in primary health settings, accurate diagnosis remains challenging. Objective: This article reviews the aetiology, clinical characteristics, and current treatment options for GAD, highlighting emerging therapeutic approaches. Method: The study employs a narrative literature review of recent psychological and psychiatric publications on diagnostic criteria, epidemiology, pharmacological management, and cognitive-behavioural interventions. Results: Findings indicate that GAD presents with diverse symptom trajectories across the lifespan and disproportionately affects certain populations, including women and older adults. Evidence also shows that combined pharmacotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy remains the most effective treatment, while mindfulness-based and integrative therapies demonstrate promising complementary outcomes. Conclusion: Comprehensive and individualised treatment is essential for improving long-term symptom management and quality of life. Contribution: This review synthesizes evidence supporting clinical practice.

Subjective Well-Being Profile of University Students and Its Influencing Factors

2026-03-19T04:32:56+07:00

Background: Subjective well-being is an important indicator of psychological health and life satisfaction among university students. Understanding students’ well-being is essential because academic demands, social adjustment, and developmental transitions during university life can significantly affect their psychological condition. Objective: This study aims to examine the profile of subjective well-being among university students and to identify the factors influencing it. Method: A quantitative survey design was employed, involving undergraduate students from several academic programs. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that measured dimensions of subjective well-being, including life satisfaction, positive and negative affect, along with several potential influencing factors, such as academic stress, social support, and personal motivation. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the profile of students’ subjective well-being, while inferential analysis was applied to determine the factors associated with variations in well-being levels. Results: Students demonstrate varying levels of subjective well-being across different dimensions, with several factors showing significant relationships with overall well-being. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of academic and psychosocial environments in supporting students’ psychological health. Contribution: The study contributes to a better understanding of university students’ well-being. It provides educators and institutions with insights to develop strategies that enhance students’ psychological well-being and overall quality of life.

Basic Psychological Needs as Process and Content in Organismic Process Therapy (OPT): An SDT Framework for Counseling Practice

2026-02-15T01:43:34+07:00

Background: Self-Determination Theory (SDT) offers a well-established framework for understanding human motivation, psychological well-being, and maladjustment within relational contexts. Despite its strong empirical foundation, the translation of SDT into a structured counseling process model remains limited in the counseling literature. Objective: This article aims to develop Organismic Process Therapy (OPT) as a theory-grounded counseling framework that systematically translates SDT principles into a coherent therapeutic model for counseling practice. Method: Using a theoretical and conceptual analysis, this study synthesises literature from SDT, humanistic and constructivist counseling traditions, and research on motivation, trauma, attachment, and multicultural counseling to construct an integrative conceptual model. Result: The analysis proposes OPT as a counseling model in which the satisfaction of three basic psychological needs, autonomy, competence, and relatedness functions simultaneously as both the process and the content of therapy. The model is organised into three recursive phases: relational attunement, motivational clarification, and autonomy restoration, which guide counselors in facilitating autonomy-supportive therapeutic relationships. Conclusion: OPT conceptualises counseling as a relational context that restores basic psychological needs and supports clients’ movement toward volitional functioning and psychological integration. Contribution: The framework provides an integrative bridge between motivation theory and counseling practice, offering theoretical guidance for counseling practice, counselor education, and supervision while establishing a conceptual foundation for future empirical research on autonomy-supportive therapeutic processes.

Person-Centered Therapy for the Recovery of Social Alienation in a Student with Internalized Conditions of Worth: A Case Study

2026-03-28T04:35:59+07:00

Background: Academic pressure among students has become a significant psychological concern, particularly in cultures where academic success is closely linked to personal worth and social recognition. In such environments, strong parental expectations may be internalized as conditions of worth, leading individuals to believe they are valued only when they meet specific standards. This internalization can create incongruence between the real self and the ideal self, which often manifests as anxiety, perfectionism, low self-esteem, and social withdrawal. Objective: This study aims to examine the formation of internalised conditions of worth and to analyze how Person-Centred Therapy (PCT) facilitates psychological recovery and self-concept reconstruction. Method: The study employed a qualitative, single-case study design with a high school student experiencing social alienation and achievement-contingent self-worth. Data were collected through semi-structured counseling interviews, classroom observations, and psychological assessments, and analysed using thematic analysis to identify patterns related to self-concept and family expectations. Result: The findings revealed that conditional acceptance related to academic achievement contributed to a fragile self-concept and social withdrawal. Through empathy, congruence, and unconditional positive regard, PCT supported emotional openness and reduced self-criticism. Conclusion: Person-Centred Therapy effectively facilitated self-acceptance and reduced social alienation. Contribution: This study provides practical insight for school counseling interventions addressing conditional self-worth among students.

Cognitive Biases in Digital Gambling: Insights from the South African Context

2026-03-28T04:38:07+07:00

Background: The rapid growth of digital gambling platforms has transformed consumer engagement while increasing psychological vulnerabilities, particularly cognitive biases that distort decision-making and risk perception. Objective: This study aims to analyse how cognitive biases influence consumer behaviour in digital gambling environments in the South African context, focusing on the interactions among cognition, platform design, and socio-economic factors. Method: A qualitative document analysis was employed, synthesising multidisciplinary literature from cognitive psychology, behavioural economics, and digital marketing to identify patterns of bias activation and reinforcement. Results: The findings reveal that overconfidence, the illusion of control, and the availability heuristic are systematically exploited through gamification, personalised marketing, and algorithmic targeting, leading to increased engagement and risk-taking behaviour. Socio-economic pressures and cultural narratives of financial mobility further intensify these effects. Conclusion: Cognitive biases operate within a socio-technical system where digital environments actively reinforce irrational decision-making, requiring more comprehensive intervention approaches. Contribution: This study offers an integrated framework that combines cognitive, technological, and contextual dimensions, advancing the development of effective consumer protection strategies, ethical platform design, and responsible gambling policies.

The Effect of Self-monitoring Therapy on Academic Achievement and Behavior among College Students

2026-03-15T00:28:58+07:00

in performance and maladaptive behaviours among college students, underscoring the need for effective psychological interventions. Objective: This study aims to examine the effect of self-monitoring therapy on improving academic achievement and behaviour among college students. Method: An experimental one-group pretest–posttest design was employed. The participants were 10 Department of Education and Extension students selected as research subjects. Data were collected using validated academic achievement and behaviour scales, along with structured treatment guidelines. The data were analysed using the nonparametric Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test to assess differences before and after the intervention. Result: The findings indicate a statistically significant improvement in both academic achievement and student behaviour following the implementation of self-monitoring therapy. These findings demonstrate that self-monitoring therapy is effective in enhancing college students’ academic performance and promoting positive behavioural changes. Conclusion: Self-monitoring therapy can be considered a practical intervention strategy in educational settings. Contribution: This study contributes to the development of educational and counseling psychology by providing empirical evidence on the effectiveness of intervention-based approaches to improving student outcomes.

The Effect of a Self-Management Intervention on Reducing TikTok Addiction Behavior among Students

2026-03-23T05:45:31+07:00

Background: The increasing use of social media platforms, particularly TikTok, among adolescents has raised concerns regarding excessive engagement and its impact on academic performance and daily functioning. Objective: This study aims to examine the effectiveness of self-management techniques implemented through group counseling in reducing TikTok addiction behaviour among students. Method: A mixed-method approach with a sequential explanatory design was employed. The study was conducted in 2025 at Oru West LGA, Imo State, involving 15 students selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, observation, and documentation. Quantitative data were analysed using a paired sample t-test, while qualitative data were used to support the interpretation of behavioural changes. Result: The findings indicated a significant reduction in TikTok addiction levels, as evidenced by lower posttest scores compared to pretest results (p < 0.05). Qualitative findings also revealed increased self-awareness and improved self-regulation among participants. Conclusion: Self-management techniques delivered through group counseling are effective in reducing maladaptive digital behaviour. Contribution: This study contributes empirical evidence supporting the integration of self-management strategies into school counseling programs to address social media addiction among adolescents.

Resilience and Peer Social Support as Predictors of Students’ Psychological Well-Being during the War in Ukraine

2026-03-16T00:48:10+07:00

Background: The ongoing war in Ukraine has significantly disrupted students’ educational experiences and increased their vulnerability to psychological distress, highlighting the need to identify protective factors that sustain well-being. Objective: This study examines the influence of resilience and peer social support on students’ psychological well-being in a war-affected context. Method: A quantitative correlational design was employed involving 120 high school students selected through proportionate stratified random sampling. Data were collected using validated self-report scales and analysed using multiple linear regression. Results: Both resilience and peer social support significantly predict psychological well-being, with resilience emerging as the stronger predictor. Descriptive findings indicate high levels of resilience and peer support, while psychological well-being remains moderate, reflecting the persistent impact of wartime stressors. Conclusion: These findings suggest that internal adaptive capacity and interpersonal support function as complementary protective systems that help students cope with prolonged adversity. Contribution: This study contributes to the development of resilience-based and social support frameworks in conflict settings and provides empirical evidence to inform integrated psychosocial interventions in educational environments.