Adding Mindfulness to CBT in Group Counseling: A Randomized Pilot Study on Self-Efficacy, Cognitive Flexibility, and Self-Compassion
Beg Toprak, D. Alkan, Gülfem Çakır-Çelebi, Evrim Çetinkaya-Yıldız
Primenjena psihologija March 25, 2026 DOI: 10.19090/pp.v19i1.2615 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental (pre-test/post-test with control group) Randomized Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 17 |
| Population | University students from several faculties at a public university in Southern Anatolia, Türkiye |
| Intervention | CBT and mindfulness-based group counseling |
| Duration | 8-week program |
| Measures | Cognitive Flexibility Inventory, Self-Compassion Scale, Self-Efficacy Scale |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | The combined CBT and mindfulness group counseling program significantly improved cognitive flexibility and self-compassion compared to a control group, but did not significantly improve self-efficacy between groups, although within the experimental group self-efficacy increased from pre-test to post-test. |
Abstract
This study examined the impact of an eight-session group counseling program that combined cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with mindfulness meditation on three key aspects: self-efficacy, cognitive flexibility, and self-compassion. The study group consisted of 17 university students from several faculties at a public university in Southern Anatolia, Türkiye. The data were gathered using the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory, the Self-Compassion Scale, and the Self-Efficacy Scale. The experimental group engaged in an 8-week program that combined CBT and mindfulness-based group counseling, whereas the control group received no intervention. The results of this study indicated that, in the experimental group, participants’ self-efficacy, cognitive flexibility, and self-compassion post-test scores were significantly higher than pre-test scores. The results also suggest that although no significant differences were obtained in self-efficacy post-test scores between the experimental and control groups, participants who received the intervention demonstrated higher post-test scores in cognitive flexibility and self-compassion than those in the control group.