The Effect of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing-Based Online Group Counseling for University Students: Psychological Need Satisfaction, Psychological Resilience, Psychological Well-Being, and Small 't' Trauma

Objectives: The present study explored the effect of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)-based online group counseling for university students whose basic psychological needs had not been met in relation to need satisfaction, psychological resilience, psychological well-being, and small "t" trauma. Method: Using three measurements, namely a pretest, posttest, and follow-up test, this study employed a 4 x 3 experimental design comprising four groups, two experiments, one control group, and one placebo group. The data were collected using the Psychological Need Satisfaction Scale, Psychological Well-Being Scale, and Small-t Trauma Effects Scale. A two-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni correction were performed for the data analysis. Results: The findings showed a significant positive time-intervention interaction effect with respect to psychological needs and its subcategories (autonomy, relatedness, and competence), as well as psychological resilience, psychological well-being, and the small-t trauma effect and its two subcategories (negative effects on self and future perception and negative effects on emotions, thoughts, and behaviors). The effect of EMDR-based online group counseling on negative effects on body sense (the subcategory of small-t trauma) showed no significant interaction of time and intervention. Conclusion: The results indicated that, in addition to healing trauma, EMDR was also found to be effective in relation to psychological resilience and well-being.