The effectiveness of a risks and benefits based group intervention to increase positive attitudes toward seeking counseling

Abstract

This study examined a one-session intervention aimed at changing attitudes toward seeking counseling and intent to seek counseling. The sample included 96 undergraduate students at a large eastern university. We used an intervention that focused on the anticipated risks and benefits of seeking counseling, using a video prompt and either an Individual Intervention or a Group Intervention. We hypothesized that the Group Intervention would increase positive attitudes toward seeking counseling and increase intent to seek professional psychological help. Results demonstrated that after exposure to both the individual and group intervention, there was an increase in anticipated benefits, positive attitudes toward seeking counseling, and intent to seek counseling. Results also indicated that the change in attitudes from pre-test to post-test accounted for 5% variance in post-test scores for perceived intention to seek help. Interestingly, Non- Caucasian participants in the group intervention showed a trend towards increased positive attitudes toward seeking counseling