Journal of Counseling Research

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Background: The aim of this study was to present and evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated model of emotionally focused approach and Gottman model on feeling of loneliness in married women. Methods: For this study, quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, follow up and control group was used. The study population included married women who referred to Tehransar health center. The sample consisted of 26 volunteer participants, which were selected using convenience sampling method, in two groups, including experimental (n = 13) and control (n = 13) groups. All participants were asked to complete the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (SELSA-S). Results: Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) results showed that the integrated model of emotionally focused approach and Gottman model significantly decrease feeling of loneliness and its subscales (romantic loneliness, family loneliness, social loneliness). Additionally, using repeated measures in follow-up conducted one month later showed satisfactory results about the effectiveness of the integrated model in the experimental group. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the specifically designed integrated model of emotionally focused approach and Gottman model can be used to decrease feeling of loneliness in married women.

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Purpose: The quality of sexual relationship and marital intimacy are important topics of post-marriage experience. Similarly, religiosity is commonly considered as an influential framework for life. Past research has not been able to accurately discover or illustrate the opinions of experts in the area of couples counseling about the relationship between these dimensions. Therefore, this research was conducted to examine the marriage and family experts’ points of view about the role of religiosity in sexual satisfaction and marital intimacy of couples. Methods: Qualitative approach of phenomenological type was used.  For this, ten individuals who were counselors or psychologist with active working experience with couples were interviewed according to qualitative protocols. Data collected from interviews were then analyzed using features available in Microsoft Word software. Results: In the open-coding, 147 initial codes were produced, while the axial-coding based on thematic similarities yielded 24 categorical codes. One of the main questions asked of the participants was “what role can religiosity play in the quality of couple’s relationship?” Overall, according to the analysis of the responses obtained, religiosity plays a positive role in sexual satisfaction and marital intimacy of couples. However, some of the participants mentioned a few points as reservations to be considered which are covered in the current article. Conclusion: Counselors’ and psychotherapists’ perceptions about role and relation between variables of religiosity, sexual satisfaction, and marital intimacy are important. Of the main findings of the present study was interviewees’ describing the prerequisite or complementary context for capitalizing on positive effects of religiosity in sexual satisfaction and marital intimacy. situation was that the interviewees as it is a prerequisite for receiving a positive impact or supplement and religiosity on the significant sex and marital intimacy.

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Aim: The aim of this study was to identify the effect of integrating positive thinking and resiliency training on body image concerns and social self-efficacy in adolescent boys. Methods: This research was an experimental study with a quasi-experimental design that included a pretest/posttest with a control group. The population included all 10^th grade male students in Tehran’s 16^th district. One of the high schools in that area was selected through convenient sampling method. From the entire 10^th grade students in that high school, 30 were selected based on the highest scores obtained in the Littleton and colleagues (2005) BICI questionnaire and were randomly placed in two experimental and control groups. Then, both groups responded to the Smith and Betz (2000) social self-efficacy scale. Eight approximately 75-minute training sessions of integrating positive thinking and resiliency were conducted for the experimental group, while the control group did not receive any training during this period. At the end of the course of experiment, post-test was performed and the data was analyzed through descriptive statistics and covariance analysis. Findings: The findings showed that training had a significant effect on reducing body image concern and increasing social self-efficacy of adolescents. Conclusions: It can be concluded that integrated training of positive thinking and resiliency can be a suitable method for reducing body image concern and increasing social self-efficacy in adolescents.

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Aim: Counseling is one of the most important issues in our religious culture that has been addressed since the beginning of Islam and is mentioned in the Holy Quran and the words of the infallible. The main purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate counselors viewpoint towards Islamic counseling centers. Methods: In order to understand the life experiences of the clients, a qualitative research method was adopted with a phenomenological approach. The study population consisted of all counselors of Islamic counseling centers in city of Qom. For the purpose of sampling the counselors, several Islamic counseling centers were purposefully selected. Sampling continued until the theoretical saturation of the data was reached. Finally, 11 counselors were selected and semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data. Results: The data analysis was done through open coding and axial coding and resulted in 10 themes or categories from 89 open codings. The main themes included: 1) the sources of Islamic approach, 2) a different view of human foundations in Islamic psychology, 3) having a paradigm or worldview, 4) adapting the treatment approach to the client’s culture, 5) strategies to promote Islamic psychology, 6) the potential limitations of Islamic psychology approach, 7) main techniques in applying Islamic approach, 8) differences between the Islamic psychology and the Western approaches, 9) areas of effectiveness of Islamic psychology, and 10) today’s position of Islamic counseling centers. Results: Overall, based on the analysis of feedbacks, and despite different perspectives, it can be said that Islamic counseling approach has a positive and significant role in the process of counseling for clients.

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Aim: The present study was conducted to study the lived experiences of graduate students in the field of counseling and to examine the influence of their education process on their views on marriage and marital relationships. Methods: The method of this research was qualitative and phenomenological in type. Participants in this study were 16 graduate students, selected through purposeful sampling. Data collection was done through semi-structured interviews. Findings: In the dimension of positive experiences, 4 main themes were obtained that included raising awareness, growing awareness of personal abilities, improving interpersonal communication skills, and experiences around marriage. Finally, the following themes of the main categories are understood: self-awareness, increasing awareness of other people's personality traits, growing self-confidence, feeling beneficial, improvement of family and social relationships, achieving a systemic view in the family, increasing empathy, control emotions, changes in attitudes toward premarital acquaintance and emphasis on premarital counseling, new attitudes about marriage, importance of awareness about premarital counseling, and changes in gender stereotypes (in male participants). In the dimension of negative experiences, the main themes included experiences related to the phenomenon of marriage and negative effects on relationships. The following themes were extracted: decreased emotional excitement about the partner, increased sensitivity and obsession in relationships, change in attitudes toward men (on the part of female participants), creating a sense misunderstanding in family and social relationships due to differences in the level of knowledge, and existence of some level of irrational expectations from graduates in this field. Conclusion: According to the findings, the lived experience of participants showed that studying counseling can influence the personal life and perspective about marriage and marital relationships from different aspects.

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Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of emotion focused couple therapy on mental well-being and performance of maladapted couple referred to counselling centers. Methods: the present study had a quasi-experimental design with pretest-posttest, and a control group. The statistical population of the study consisted of all incompatible couples (n=30 couples) who had referred to counseling centers in shiraz in 1397, which were selected through available sampling method. Out of these 30 couples, 15 couples were randomly substituted as experimental group and 15 couples as control groups; and individuals in both groups were evaluated using questionnaires before performing the intervention in the experimental group. Data collection tools included the Great Oral and Magyar-Moe Welfare Family Performance Scale, the experimental group received ten 90-minute sessions of emotional treatment, while the control group did not receive any treatments. Data were analyzed by one–way analysis of covariance. Findings: The results of one-way analysis of covariance on the mean scores of post-test of mental well-being and family dysfunction of experimental and control groups with pre- test control, respectively (p<0.0001, F=40.77) and (p<0.0001, F=172.59), which indicates the significance of the effect of emotion-focused couple therapy. Conclusion: The analysis showed the effectiveness of emotion-focused couple therapy in increasing mental well-being and performance of conflicted couples.

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Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of applying the principles of Impact Therapy on problem-solving skills, hopefulness, and life satisfaction in teenage girls living in families with high tension. Methods: This research, in terms of purpose was an applied study using the pretest-posttest control group method. From the community of the 16 to 18-year-old girls from currently divorced parents who had referred to the court during the past 5 years. Individuals were selected through convenience sampling. The life satisfaction questionnaire by Diener, Basadur Creative Problem-Solving and Hopefulness questionnaires were used to collect data. Findings: Intergroup comparison showed that the difference between the mean scores of life satisfaction (p=0.042), problem-solving skills (p=0.049), and hope (p=0.012) between the experimental and control groups was significant. Therefore, administering group Impact Therapy was effective and increased life satisfaction, problem-solving skills and hope of adolescent girls in stressful families. Results: Impact Therapy helped participating teenagers cope with and overcome their stress by promoting resilience. Teenagers from tension-filled families became more determined individuals and gained more control over the events surrounding them. In other words, these interventions helped people to better deal with various issues in life and even consider unpleasant events as opportunities.