Counseling

The topic of bartering in psychotherapy is intriguing, especially in this day and age. The current ongoing events could invoke economic turmoil or a new monetary system that could call for an improvisation towards the medium of exchange in counseling and psychotherapy. The bartering system seems to be an ideal alternative, especially during times of economic uncertainty. This paper will further discuss the history of money and its progress, how the psychology field is addressing the barter system and professional recommendations for the bartering system in counseling and psychotherapy. Article number: 1

SUBJECT & OBJECTIVES: This study discusses some main approaches in philosophical counseling and explains Ali Ṣafāei Ḥāeri’s approach based on his works. METHOD & FINDING: This fundamental and qualitative study adopted a theoretical descriptive-analytical method. Ali Ṣafāei Ḥāeri’s approach can be called a truth-oriented self-transformation approach based on logical and refined thinking. The difference between his approach and others is that he draws a coherent thought system in which each sub-approach has a specific place. Moreover, he does not consider human life confined to short-term material life.CONCLUSION: In his approach, thinking should be freed from deviations, and human knowledge should start from immediate perceptions by raising fundamental questions. In the right raw materials, deliberation is done, the power of thought makes conclusions, and the results are compared with the power of reasoning and emulation. The power of perfectionism determines the best goals and the best way to reach them while man chooses with his own free will. Using these cognitions, man reaches the correct worldview and understanding based on the truth about human beings, existence, creator, purpose, and role of humans. These bits of knowledge are developed through reminders and exercises, and the philosophical advisor plays his role in all these stages.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness training in reducing psychological distress and pessimism in girls who have abuse experience in childhood. Methods: The study was semi-experimental with a pretest-posttest method and a control group. The present study population included all senior high school girls in the 8th district of Tehran with child abuse experience. A total of 30 participants were selected using the convenience sampling method and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (15 participants in the experimental group and the other 15 participants in the control group). In order to collect the sample group, Girls with a history of abuse were invited to participate in the study. Among the girls who participated and volunteered, those who had a high harassment score (scores above 75), were selected as the sample group. Kessler Life Orientation and Psychological Distress Questionnaires were performed as a pre-test, and the experimental group received mindfulness treatment in 8 sessions, 60 minutes each, then the questionnaires mentioned as post-tests in both groups performed. Data were analyzed by analysis of covariance. Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference between psychological distress and pessimism in the experimental group and the control group. Conclusion: The results also showed the effect of mindfulness training as one of the supportive methods in reducing the psychological distress and pessimism of girls with child abuse experience.

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the predictive roles of self-compassion and marital self-regulation on marital adjustment among married women attending counseling centers in Tehran in 2023. It sought to enrich the understanding of how these psychological constructs contribute to marital satisfaction and stability. Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional design was employed with a sample of 350 married women selected through available sampling from various counseling centers in Tehran. Measures included the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) to assess marital adjustment, the Self-Compassion Scale developed by Neff (2003) for evaluating self-compassion levels, and a 16-item scale by Wilson et al. (2005) for measuring marital self-regulation. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 27, with linear regression analyses performed to explore the relationships between the constructs. Findings: The findings revealed that both self-compassion and marital self-regulation significantly predicted marital adjustment among the participants. Specifically, higher levels of self-compassion and marital self-regulation were associated with better marital adjustment. The regression model explained 37% of the variance in marital adjustment scores, highlighting the substantial impact of these factors on marital satisfaction. Conclusion: This study underscores the critical importance of self-compassion and marital self-regulation in fostering marital adjustment. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at enhancing these psychological resources could contribute significantly to improving marital satisfaction and relationship stability among couples, particularly those seeking counseling services.