Abstract:

This study aims to examine the effects of a group counseling program based on spirituality-integrated cognitive behavioral therapy on adolescents’ trait anger, anger control, external dysfunctional emotion regulation, and positive religious coping. The research used a quasi- experimental design with a pretest-posttest control group. Criterion sampling, which is one of the purposive sampling types, was used in the selection of the participants in the study. Participants who met the criteria determined within the scope of the study were ranked according to their scores. Then, odd-numbered ones were assigned to the control group, and even-numbered ones were assigned to the experimental group. While the mean age of the experimental group (n=10) comprising 6 female and 4 male participants was 16.1, the mean age of the control group (n=10) comprising 8 female and 2 male participants was 15.4. The psychological counseling program was applied to the experimental group with 8 sessions, each lasting 90 minutes. The trait Anger and Anger Style Scale, Religious Coping Scale, and Adolescent Emotion Regulation Scale were used as data collection tools. Mann-Whitney U Test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test were used in data analysis. As a result of the study, it was found that the cognitive behavioral therapy-based group spiritual counseling program significantly decreased adolescents’ trait anger and external dysfunctional emotion regulation skills, and significantly increased their anger control and positive religious coping levels. The findings were discussed within the literature framework and recommendations were presented.

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