Strength-centered group counseling program for individuals in the process of loss and grief: A pilot study

Sümeyra Yaşar Kılınç; Mehmet Engin Deniz

doi:10.26466/opusjsr.1821823

EN TR

Strength-centered group counseling program for individuals in the process of loss and grief: A pilot study

Abstract

Grief is a process that encompasses all of the emotional, cognitive, physical, and behavioral responses an individual exhibits in response to the loss of a person, object, or situation. This study aimed to test the effectiveness of the pilot application of a strength-centered group counseling program developed for individuals who are in the grieving process. Individuals aged 18-40 who had experienced a loss within the last 18 months, were not undergoing ongoing individual psychological support were included in the group process. The pilot study was conducted according to a single-group experimental design with pre-test and post-test measurements. The program was implemented online over a total of 10 weeks, with one 90-minute session per week, on an experiment group of 7 individuals. Data collection instruments included the Grief and Meaning Reconstruction Inventory, the Grief Cognitions Questionnaire, and the Character Strengths Inventory. The pre-test and post-test scores of individuals in the grief process were compared using the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test, a non-parametric test. As a result, it was concluded that there was an increase in the levels of meaning restructuring about grief among group members and a decrease in negative thoughts in their grief cognition levels. Significant increases were observed in several character strengths (hope, gratitude, zest, and resilience).

Keywords

Loss and grief, character strengths, group counseling

Kayıp ve yas sürecindeki bireylere yönelik güçlendirme odaklı grupla psikolojik danışma programı: Pilot çalışma

Abstract

Yas; bireyin kaybettiği kişi, nesne veya durum karşısında gösterdiği duygusal, bilişsel, fiziksel ve davranışsal tepkileri içeren bir süreç olarak ele alınmaktadır. Bu araştırmada, yas sürecinde olan bireylere yönelik geliştirilmiş güçlendirme odaklı grupla psikolojik danışma programının pilot uygulamasının etkililiğini test etmek amaçlanmıştır. Son 18 ay içerisinde kayıp yaşamış, devam eden bireysel psikolojik destek süreci olmayan, 18-40 yaş aralığındaki kişiler grup sürecine dahil edilmiştir. Pilot uygulama çalışması ön test-son test ölçümlü tek gruplu deneysel desene göre yürütülmüştür. Program, haftada bir gün 90 dakika olmak üzere toplam 10 hafta süreyle çevrimiçi olarak 7 kişilik deney grubu üzerinde uygulanmıştır. Veri toplama araçları olarak kayıp ve anlamı yeniden yapılandırma envanteri, yas bilişleri ölçeği ve karakter güçleri ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Yas sürecindeki bireylerin ön test ve son test puanları non-parametrik testlerden Wilcoxon İşaretli Sıralar testi ile karşılaştırılmıştır. Sonuç olarak, grup üyelerinin yas ve anlamlı yeniden yapılandırma düzeylerinde artış olduğu, yas biliş düzeylerinde olumsuz düşüncelerde düşüş olduğu sonucuna varılmıştır. Birkaç karakter gücünde (Umut, şükran, yaşam coş-kusu ve öz denetim) önemli artışlar gözlemlenmiştir.

Keywords

Kayıp ve yas, karakter güçleri, grupla psikolojik danışma

Supporting Institution

There is no supporting institution

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval for the research was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Social and Human Sciences Research Unit at Yıldız Technical University (document dated November 20, 2023, meeting number 2023.11, and report number 20231102420).

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Applied and Developmental Psychology (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Sümeyra Yaşar Kılınç ^*
0000-0003-0677-6590
Türkiye

Mehmet Engin Deniz
0000-0002-7930-3121
Türkiye

Publication Date

March 13, 2026

Submission Date

November 12, 2025

Acceptance Date

March 12, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 23 Number: 2026

DOI

https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1821823

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA25SX26NS

APA

Yaşar Kılınç, S., & Deniz, M. E. (2026). Strength-centered group counseling program for individuals in the process of loss and grief: A pilot study. OPUS Journal of Society Research, 23(2026), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1821823

AMA

1.Yaşar Kılınç S, Deniz ME. Strength-centered group counseling program for individuals in the process of loss and grief: A pilot study. OPUS JSR. 2026;23(2026):1-16. doi:10.26466/opusjsr.1821823

Chicago

Yaşar Kılınç, Sümeyra, and Mehmet Engin Deniz. 2026. “Strength-Centered Group Counseling Program for Individuals in the Process of Loss and Grief: A Pilot Study”. OPUS Journal of Society Research 23 (2026): 1-16. https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1821823.

EndNote

Yaşar Kılınç S, Deniz ME (March 1, 2026) Strength-centered group counseling program for individuals in the process of loss and grief: A pilot study. OPUS Journal of Society Research 23 2026 1–16.

IEEE

[1]S. Yaşar Kılınç and M. E. Deniz, “Strength-centered group counseling program for individuals in the process of loss and grief: A pilot study”, OPUS JSR, vol. 23, no. 2026, pp. 1–16, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.26466/opusjsr.1821823.

ISNAD

Yaşar Kılınç, Sümeyra - Deniz, Mehmet Engin. “Strength-Centered Group Counseling Program for Individuals in the Process of Loss and Grief: A Pilot Study”. OPUS Journal of Society Research 23/2026 (March 1, 2026): 1-16. https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1821823.

JAMA

1.Yaşar Kılınç S, Deniz ME. Strength-centered group counseling program for individuals in the process of loss and grief: A pilot study. OPUS JSR. 2026;23:1–16.

MLA

Yaşar Kılınç, Sümeyra, and Mehmet Engin Deniz. “Strength-Centered Group Counseling Program for Individuals in the Process of Loss and Grief: A Pilot Study”. OPUS Journal of Society Research, vol. 23, no. 2026, Mar. 2026, pp. 1-16, doi:10.26466/opusjsr.1821823.

Vancouver

1.Sümeyra Yaşar Kılınç, Mehmet Engin Deniz. Strength-centered group counseling program for individuals in the process of loss and grief: A pilot study. OPUS JSR. 2026 Mar. 1;23(2026):1-16. doi:10.26466/opusjsr.1821823

Strength-centered group counseling program for individuals in the process of loss and grief: A pilot study

Abstract

Keywords

Kayıp ve yas sürecindeki bireylere yönelik güçlendirme odaklı grupla psikolojik danışma programı: Pilot çalışma

Abstract

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Ethical Statement

References

Details

Primary Language

Subjects

Journal Section

Authors

Publication Date

Submission Date

Acceptance Date

Published in Issue

DOI

IZ

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