Publication Date: 2024
Current Psychology (19364733)43(39)pp. 30989-30998
Therapists are crucial in addressing the multifaceted challenges of fostering psychological well-being. The demanding nature of their profession emphasizes the need for ongoing professional development and support. Within the field of mental health interventions, there is increasing interest in investigating transformative approaches to chronic mood disorders. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and treatment based on allegorical schema modes in mitigating chronic mood disorders and difficulties in emotion regulation among therapists. Using a quasi-experimental design, psychotherapists from Tehran’s 3rd district participated in pre-test and post-test assessments between December 2021 and December 2022. Fifteen therapists were included in each group through convenience sampling. Experimental Group 1 received 10 to 12 weekly face-to-face sessions based on allegorical schema modes, while Experimental Group 2 underwent cognitive-behavioral therapy sessions. Data collection included the Bromez Mood Questionnaire and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Analysis employed ANCOVA to compare outcomes between groups. The analysis revealed significant differences between research groups in chronic mood disorders and difficulty in emotion regulation, with F-values of 9.227 (p < 0.001) and 12.607 (p < 0.001), respectively. Post hoc tests showed significant differences in chronic mood disorders between the cognitive-behavioral group and both the allegorical schema modes group (MD = 4.583, p = 0.012) and the control group (MD = 7.333, p < 0.001). However, no significant difference was found between the allegorical schema modes group and the control group. Integrating cognitive-behavioral therapy and allegorical schema modes into therapists’ ongoing support systems can aid in fostering adaptive coping strategies and promoting overall psychological health in the face of the demanding challenges inherent in the therapeutic profession. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024.
