The Effectiveness of a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Based Counseling Program in Reducing Irrational Thoughts and Enhancing Self-Esteem Among Wives of Individuals with Psychological Disorders in Jerusalem

Abstract

The study aims to explore the effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral therapy-based counseling program in reducing irrational thoughts and enhancing self-esteem among wives of individuals with psychological disorders in Jerusalem. The study utilizes a quasi-experimental design with a one-group pretest-posttest approach. The sample consists of 14 wives of individuals with psychological disorders from the Hadi Center for Psychological Support in Jerusalem, aged between 32 and 60 years, choosing through purposive sampling. The study uses two scales: one for irrational thoughts and the other for self-esteem, which were administered before the intervention. Participants then underwent a counseling program consisting of 14 sessions. After the completion of the program, the same scales were administered post-intervention and again six weeks later to assess the sustainability of the program’s effect. The results reveal significant differences in the pretest and posttest measurements on both scales, favoring the posttest, indicating the effectiveness of the counseling program in reducing irrational thoughts and enhancing self-esteem among the participants. Additionally, the results show no statistically significant differences between the posttest and follow-up measurements on the irrational thoughts scale, suggesting the sustained effectiveness of the program. However, there are statistically significant differences between the posttest and follow-up measurements on the self-esteem scale, indicating sustained program effectiveness in this area as well Based on the findings, the study recommends the development and implementation of counseling programs grounded in psychological theories by counselors to assist individuals with psychological disorders in coping with life stressors resulting from having a family member with a psychological disorder.