Premium
Emotion‐focused therapy for symptoms of generalised anxiety in a student population: An exploratory study
Author(s) -
O’Connell Kent Julie Anne,
Jackson Aaron,
Robinson Mark,
Rashleigh Chuck,
Timulak Ladislav
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
counselling and psychotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.38
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1746-1405
pISSN - 1473-3145
DOI - 10.1002/capr.12346
Subject(s) - anxiety , worry , clinical psychology , psychology , intervention (counseling) , population , assertiveness , exploratory research , psychotherapist , experiential learning , medicine , psychiatry , environmental health , sociology , anthropology , mathematics education
Anxiety issues continue to retain the highest prevalence rates within student counselling services (SCS) with generalised anxiety a prominent concern. These issues are associated with poor academic achievement, attrition and self‐injurious behaviours. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is moderately effective in treating generalised anxiety in students. Initial studies of emotion‐focused therapy (EFT) for GAD are indicating successful outcomes for clients though research investigating a brief format within SCS populations is needed. Aim The present exploratory study represents an early effort to examine the effectiveness of brief EFT for generalised anxiety symptoms within a university SCS and the clients’ experiences of this type of therapy. Method Participants ( n = 15) presenting to a SCS with worry and generalised anxiety symptoms received an individual EFT for GAD intervention. Outcomes were assessed using two outcome measures pre‐ and post‐therapy and a semi‐structured post‐therapy interview examined the clients’ experiences of therapy and its outcomes. Results Quantitative pre–postdata indicated large effect sizes. Qualitative data described experiences of decreased anxiety, increased self‐understanding, resilience, self‐compassion and assertiveness. Experiential work and the therapeutic relationship were experienced as helpful aspects of therapy though experiential work was difficult. Personal difficulty engaging in therapy and some remaining symptoms were unhelpful aspects. Conclusion Findings suggest that brief EFT for generalised anxiety symptoms in students may be an effective SCS intervention and warrants further investigation.