The National Teachers College

Graduate Program School of Teacher Education

I. Title of the Journal : The Effectiveness of Group Psychotherapy in Reducing the Student’s
Negative Thoughts
Author : Agnes Montalbo
Submitted by: Lea Chrisel C. Yu
Submitted to: Dr. Cesar Chester Relleve, RGC

II. Insights gleaned from the journal

Students are not excluded from negative feelings. Negative thought habits may become
intrusive and continuous, taking a toll on the student's mood, attention to assignments,
working memory, and academic results. We think negative thoughts sometimes like such as
anger, fear, shame, and other unpleasant feelings are common when they emerge and then
fade away. However, we're trapped in negative thinking habits, not only do they make us sad,
they can cause or exacerbate anxiety and depression, and they can also have a negative effect
on things like our immune system and overall health.

In Tel’s findings (2012) shows that the practice of counseling in the Philippines found
that the most common issues faced by respondents were school-related problems of children
and adolescents, marital and family problems. School counselors definitely have a role to
play in supporting students who suffer from anxiety and negative thought habits because they
are qualified to deal with these issues. For example, some have experience in the use of
cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), evidence-based treatment to alleviate negative thinking
in anxious children. However, it is not practical to send every anxious child to a school
counselor, or to do so every time they feel stressed out.

Analysis in the Hoag (1997) study found that group therapy for children had stronger
results compared to no medications or placebo and that individual therapy was no more
effective than group therapy. I believe that group therapy is beneficial in helping students
resolve current problems and negative emotions, and can help them find ways to mitigate or
alleviate their negative thoughts and prepare them for a bigger problem ahead of time.
III. Application of Insights in Relation to
A. Research
Counseling is can help people develop coping mechanisms and develop thoughts
and feelings. But for others, the negative stigma that accompanies recovery sessions is a
significant barrier to seeking assistance. Despite an increasing awareness of the benefits
of counseling for people of all backgrounds and circumstances of life, this negative view
still makes some people reluctant to provide assistance. I suggest further research focuses
on how to strengthen counseling practices in the Philippines especially in times of
pandemic and to resolve current problems and issues in the field of counseling.
B. Application
As an aspiring counselor, I agree that this career is very rewarding and
demanding. The most rewarding part of being a counselor is to understand that you have
a part to play in shaping the lives of students. I feel good when we help students plan for
their academic, jobs and social challenges by connecting their school success with the
potential success of their future lives. Motivating them to explore and experience the
world around them and help them figure out what they want to do with their lives. Giving
hope to students who feel powerless and troubled. Inspiring them to be everything they
can be, so that they can go out to the world and pay for it by helping others.

On the other hand I think becoming a counselor is overwhelming because we

have a lot of workload, but we have received little support. This makes me realized that
in my life as a counselor, I need to learn how to deal with my own problems.