School Counselor Consultation: Teachers’ Experiences with Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

Professional development in schools is often conducted to assist teachers in curriculum, instruction, and general pedagogy. Little emphasis is placed on social-emotional issues experienced by teachers, although high levels of stress and burnout are common. School counselors are in an ideal position to support teachers by providing consultation focused on social-emotional health. This qualitative investigation explored teachers’ experiences with Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. Teachers participated in Rational Emotive Behavior-Group Consultation conducted by a school counselor for six sessions across 7 weeks. Data were collected with questionnaires administered at the conclusion of the group consultation. Consensual Qualitative Research was utilized to analyze the data and identify categories, domains, and core ideas. Emergent themes included increased wellbeing and improved relationships. Implications for teachers, students, and school counselors along with recommendations for future research are discussed.