Cognitive counselling intervention: treatment effectiveness in an Italian university centre

ABSTRACT

Offering counselling to students is increasingly considered as a key academic service. However, the reduction of resources allocated to Italian universities emphasises the need to assess the quality of interventions. This paper presents data reporting the effectiveness of a university counselling service. A sample of 45 undergraduate students completed a cognitive-relational intervention at a counselling service in a University in the North of Italy. The project focused on the development of reappraisal skills and problem-solving strategies to manage difficult situations. The results showed a significant pre and post-intervention reduction in self-reported psychopathological symptoms (measured with Symptoms Check List 90-Revised) as well as in general levels of distress (measured with Clinical Outcome in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure). A significant increase in reappraisal levels, measured with the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, was observed, which is a focal element of the counselling intervention. There were no detectable changes in the level of suppression.

KEYWORDS:

• University counselling
• cognitive-relational approach
• effectiveness
• reappraisal

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Maria Grazia Strepparava is Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Medical Faculty of Milan-Bicocca University. Her leading research interests include eating disorders in children and cognitive psychotherapy.

Marco Bani is a psychologist, psychotherapist and PhD at the University of Milano Bicocca. His primary research interests include psychotherapy training and outcome evaluation.

Federico Zorzi is a psychologist, psychotherapist and PhD at the University of Milano Bicocca. His primary research interests include emotion regulation and outcome evaluation.

Deborah Corrias is a psychologist, psychotherapist and PhD student at the University of Milano Bicocca. Her primary research interest include medical training and communication.

Rossella Dolce is a psychologist, psychotherapist and PhD at the University of Milano Bicocca. Her primary research interest include post-partum depression.

Giorgio Rezzonico is Full Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Medical Faculty of Milan-Bicocca University. His leading research interests are personality disorders and cognitive psychotherapy.