Applied Research in Consulting

investigating the Effectiveness of Gestalt Therapy-Based Group Counseling on Post-Traumatic Damage and Growth in Individuals Experiencing the Psychological Consequences of War

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Gholam Hossein Adab 1
Maryam Mamghanieh 2
Farzaneh Ghavami 3
Behnam Askari Ahmadabad 4
mehranoosh ghanizadeh 5

1 PhD in Health Psychology, Kharazmi University; Deputy of Social and Mental Health, General Department of Health, Tehran Municipality, Tehran, Iran.

2 PhD in Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, University of Tehran; Head of Mental Health Department, General Department of Health, Tehran Municipality, Tehran, Iran.

3 MSc in Personality Psychology, Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch; Expert-in-Charge, General Department of Health, Tehran Municipality, Tehran, Iran.

4 MSc in Clinical Psychology, Allameh Tabataba’i University; Head of Social Health Department, General Department of Health, Tehran Municipality, Tehran, Iran.

5 PhD Student in Counseling, Islamic Azad University, Abhar Branch. Abhar, Iran.

Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of Gestalt therapy-based group counseling on post-traumatic damage and growth in individuals experiencing the psychological consequences of war. The research method was quasi-experimental, employing a pretest-posttest control group design. The statistical population comprised individuals in Tehran experiencing the psychological consequences of the 12-day war, from whom 30 participants were selected via purposive sampling and randomly assigned to either the experimental or the control group. The experimental group participated in eight 90-minute sessions of Gestalt therapy-based group counseling, while the control group was placed on a waiting list. Data were collected using the Farahbakhsh (2025/1404) Post-Traumatic Damage and Growth Questionnaire. The gathered data were analyzed using Univariate Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The findings indicated that after controlling for pretest scores, a significant difference existed between the two groups in the posttest; furthermore, the Gestalt therapy-based group counseling significantly reduced post-traumatic damage and increased post-traumatic growth in individuals experiencing the psychological consequences of war. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that Gestalt therapy-based group counseling—through its emphasis on increasing awareness, acceptance of emotional experiences, resolving unfinished business, and enhancing authentic contact with self and others—can be utilized as an effective approach to mitigate the psychological consequences of war and facilitate the psychological reconstruction of affected individuals.

Keywords

Gestalt Therapy
Group Counseling
Post-Traumatic Damage
Post-Traumatic Growth
Psychological Consequences of War
 
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