The Effect of a Computer-Assisted Counseling Program Based on Rational-Emotive Therapy on the Modification of Irrational Beliefs and the Anxiety Reduction

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Behavior Therapy Vol. 21; no. 2; pp. 79 - 91
• Main Authors: Fukui, Itaru, Nishiyama, Kaoru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japanese Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies( JABCT ) 30.09.1995
• Subjects: anxiety; CAC; irrational beliefs; Rational emotive therapy
• ISSN: 0910-6529; 2424-2594
• DOI: 10.24468/jjbt.21.2_79

Two types of computer programms for computer-assisted counseling (CAC) based on the RationalEmotive therapy were built. The first program provides clients with feedback on whether their beliefs are rational or irratirnal, and teaches them rational beliefs. The other program provides them with feedback on whether their beliefs are rational or irrational, makes them think about their irrational beliefs, disputes those beliefs, and teaches rational beliefs. Two experiments were designed to evaluate the effects of these programs. In Experiment 1, Junior College students who have high trait anxiety were randomly divided into 3 groups. one group was counseled once with the first program (F-CAC group) ; one group was counseled once with the second program (D-CAC group) ; and one was acontrol group with no experience of CAC. The result showed that for both the F-CAC group and the D-CAC group there was modification of their irrational beliefs. Only for the D-C AC group was a decrease of anxiety measured by SADS. In experiment 2, high anxiety students were counseled five times using the second program during about 3 weeks. The results showed that there wrs more modification of the subjects' irrational beliefs in experiment 1, and was decrease of anxiety measured by STAI (S-FORM), SADS, FNE, and was decreasing tendency of anxiety measured by STAI (TFORM) and MAS. These results revealed that the CAC based on Rational-Emotive therapy can modify irrational beliefs, and decrease anxiety.