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Abstract
This study investigated the effects of three counseling interventions compared to a wait list control group on women's body cathexis and self cathexis. Also investigated were participants' preceptions of expertness, attractiveness, and trustworthiness of their counselors. The therapies used were cognitive therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, and reflective therapy.
Seventy nine women experiencing body image problems completed Secord and Jourard's Body Cathexis/Self Cathexis Scales and were classified into either moderate or severe body image disturbance groups. Participants were randomly assigned to a therapy or the control group. Those assigned to the therapies participated in three structured interviews and did homework. The cognitive therapies attempted to change self-statements and reflective therapy explored feelings. At the end of counseling the women completed the Body Cathexis/Self Cathexis Scales and the Counselor Rating Form. The control group again completed the Body Cathexis/Self Cathexis Scales and began therapy.
A double repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance and a correlation coefficient were performed on scores on the Body Cathexis/Self Cathexis Scales. An analysis of variance was performed on scores on each of the three scales of the Counselor Rating Form.
All participants improved in body cathexis and self cathexis. Therapy was better than no therapy. Cognitive therapy was best for body cathexis, and cognitive therapy and cognitive behavior therapy were best for self cathexis. Participants in both classifications improved significantly on body cathexis.
In terms of influence, participants in cognitive therapy perceived their counselors as more expert. Women experiencing moderate body image problems perceived their counselors as more expert and trustworthy than women experiencing severe body image problems.
The findings provide support for using cognitive therapy for women experiencing body image problems and for using cognitive therapy and cognitive behavior therapy for self concept problems. The findings also suggest that the intensity of clients' problems may affect client perceptions of expertness, and trustworthiness of counselors.
