The effect of psychodrama-based support groups on the self-effi̇cacy levels of psychologi̇cal counselors: An interventi̇on study

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of a psychodrama-based group intervention on the self-efficacy levels of psychological counselors who are in the early stages of their professional careers. In this context, the primary objective of the research is to determine whether psychodrama, as a creative and experiential method, contributes to the counselors' perception of professional competence. The study was conducted using a pretest–posttest control group experimental design. A psychodrama-based group intervention consisting of eight sessions was applied to the study group, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Data were collected through the "Psychological Counseling Self-Efficacy Scale" and a 16-item information form developed by the researcher. This form consisted of three sections: demographic characteristics, professional competence indicators (supervision frequency, number of clients), and participants' subjective self-evaluations. Subjective assessments were made using visual analog scales (VAS) scored between 0 and 10, evaluating five dimensions: perceived support need, perceived professional competence, perceived daily life competence, professional spontaneity, and everyday spontaneity. The findings revealed a statistically significant increase in the self-efficacy and professional spontaneity levels of the psychological counselors in the study group after the intervention, compared to their pre-intervention scores. This result suggests that the applied psychodrama intervention contributed to the enhancement of participants' perceived professional competence and flexible intervention capacity. In contrast, no significant difference was observed in the self-efficacy levels or subjective competence perceptions of the control group between pretest and posttest measurements. These findings support the conclusion that the observed change is attributable to the intervention itself, and that psychodrama may be an effective method for supporting professional development. Overall, the results indicate that psychodrama is a powerful tool for enhancing self-efficacy at both cognitive and affective levels. Based on these findings, it is recommended that psychodrama practices be integrated into the professional training processes of psychological counselors. Keywords: Psychological Counselor Self-Efficacy, Psychodrama, Professional Self-Efficacy