Effectiveness of Schema Therapy on Psychological Symptoms and Suicidal Thoughts in Individuals Attending Counseling Centers

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of schema therapy on psychological symptoms and suicidal thoughts in individuals attending counseling centers. The research design was quasi-experimental, employing a pretest-posttest control group framework. The statistical population of this study included individuals visiting counseling centers in Babol, Iran, in 2023. Using convenience sampling, 28 individuals were selected and assigned to experimental and control groups (14 participants in each group). The experimental group underwent eight 90-minute sessions of schema therapy interventions, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Data were collected using questionnaires on psychological symptoms and suicidal thoughts, and hypotheses were tested using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The findings indicated a significant difference in the mean scores of psychological symptoms and suicidal thoughts between the control and experimental groups in the posttest compared to the pretest. Therefore, schema therapy has an impact on psychological symptoms and suicidal thoughts in individuals attending counseling centers.