The Effectiveness of a Counseling Program Based on Mind and Body Techniques in Developing the Self-Efficacy Among volunteer teachers to teach displaced children in the Gaza Strip

Objective: The current study aimed to identify the effectiveness of a guidance program based on mind-body techniques in developing the self-efficiency of volunteer teachers for displaced children in the Gaza Strip. Methods and Materials: The semi-experimental method with a pretest-posttest design was used, and the experimental sample comprised (28) teachers, who were selected and divided into two groups, one experimental and the other control. A mind-and-body-based program was designed for study purposes and implemented in the experimental group in (14) sessions, twice a week, each lasting (80)minutes. Data was collected and analyzed using a self-efficacy scale. Findings: The results revealed significant differences between the experimental and control groups in the post-test measures of self-efficacy. The experimental group showed notable improvements in self-confidence, problem-solving ability, and social competence. The calculated t-value for the overall scale was (20.11), showing a significant difference between the groups. The eta-squared (η²) value for the total score was (0.95), reflecting a very large effect size, as this value exceeds (0.20). The effect size was also substantial, with a value of (9.70). Regarding differences between pre-test and post-test measures within the experimental group, the results showed significant differences favoring the post-test, with a t-value of (20.16), an eta-squared value of (0.95), and an effect size of (9.82). No significant differences were found between post-test and follow-up measures in the experimental group, with a t-value of (0.57), an eta-squared value of (0.02), showing a tiny effect size, as this value is less than (0.20), and an effect size of (0.20). This suggests that the mindfulness-based counseling program was effective and maintained its impact even after a six-week follow-up period. Conclusion: These results show that the mind-body-based program plays a significant role in developing self-efficacy. Therefore, these results can apply mind-body techniques to other groups for similar or different counseling purposes.