Abstract

This study aims to develop a person-centered group counseling program and test its effects based on the therapeutic principles of person-centered counseling with a group of people with a relationship addiction tendency. For these purposes, an in-depth interview on the interpersonal experiences of people with a relationship addiction tendency and effective counseling approaches with six people with a relationship addiction tendency and four experts before developing a ten-session program based on them. To test the effects of the program, 20 people with relationship addiction tendency were assigned to the experiment and control group and compared and analyzed at a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up point. Measuring instruments used in the study included scales on relationship addiction, self-concept clarity, unconditional self-acceptance, and distress tolerance. The findings show that the experiment group that implemented the person-centered group counseling program had significant effects on their relationship addiction, self-concept clarity, unconditional self-acceptance, and distress tolerance as people with a relationship addiction tendency compared to the control group. To test the generalization possibilities of the program, the person-centered group counseling program was also applied to the control group that completed a follow-up questionnaire. The program intervention in the control group generated partially significant results compared with changes the experiment group. Finally, the study discussed its significance and limitations.