Emerging adults’ experiences of brief group interventions: two approaches to possible selves

ABSTRACT

The present study used thematic analysis to explore participants’ subjective experiences of two group approaches targeting emerging adults’ possible selves. Eighty-six emerging adults were randomly assigned to one of the interventions and responded to four open-ended questions following the completion of the group program. The themes that materialized from the researchers’ interpretation of the data were organized into three overarching categories. These categories included psychosocial changes (four themes), experiences that facilitated group processes (nine themes), and experiences that hindered group processes (five themes). Themes were associated with one or both interventions. The researcher’s analyses of participant experiences highlighted both shared and distinct aspects of the interventions. Findings from the present inquiry provided further support for group intervention as a promising means of strengthening possible selves in emerging adulthood. Moreover, they suggest different possibilities for group counsellors to consider when offering such programming to emerging adult clients.

KEYWORDS:

• Group intervention
• possible selves intervention
• emerging adulthood
• possible selves
• qualitative analysis
• thematic analysis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Grant # 430-2016-01226.

Notes on contributors

Zarina A. Giannone

Zarina A. Giannone, completed her PhD at the University of British Columbia and is an applicant to the College of Psychologists of British Columbia.  She currently works at the Vancouver Psychology Centre and the Canadian Centre for Mental Health in Sport, providing treatment, assessment and sport psychology services to adolescents and adults. Dr. Giannone is also an instructor in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on identity development and intervention among athletes and adults throughout the life span.

Shelly Ben-David

Shelly Ben-David, is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of British Columbia. Her program of research focuses on the prevention and early intervention of mental illness for youth and young adults through understanding barriers and facilitators to service delivery, and the development of psychosocial interventions. Dr. Ben-David’s research areas include digital mental health, identity, early psychosis, and youth engagement in research.

Daniel W. Cox

Dr. Daniel W. Cox, is an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia and holds the Myrne B. Nevison Professorship in Counselling Psychology. His research focuses on interpersonal and change processes as they relate to posttraumatic stress, depression, and suicide.

David Kealy

David Kealy, is an Assistant Professor in the Psychotherapy Program, Department of Psychiatry, at the University of British Columbia.  His research is focused on understanding mental health issues related to identity, personality, and interpersonal relationships, and on the processes that influence psychotherapy.