Development and Implementation of a Group Counseling Program Based on the Picture Interpretation Test-Revised (PITR) for University Adjustment of International Students

This study aimed to develop and implement an emotional support group counseling program designed to enhance self-understanding, emotional expression, and perceived social support among international students. Considering the linguistic limitations often faced by international students, the program employed a non-verbal, projective approach using the Picture Interpretation Test-Revised (PITR), also known as the “Person in the Rain.” The program consisted of six sessions, each structured to guide participants through stages of emotional exploration, self-reflection, recognition of coping resources, relational recovery, and emotional integration through image expression and group interaction. A total of 23 international students enrolled at K University in Korea participated in the study. Data were collected from worksheets, drawings, verbal interactions, and in-depth interviews during the group counseling sessions and analyzed using thematic analysis. The results indicated that participants were able to project and express their emotions naturally through the pictorial stimuli, and experienced emotional stabilization and relational support through empathy and exchange within the group. Additionally, participants reported increased awareness of personal coping resources, as well as enhanced self-understanding and emotional expression. This study demonstrates the practical potential of non-verbal, projective counseling interventions for international students with limited language proficiency, and provides foundational insights for developing alternative counseling programs for multicultural and psychologically vulnerable populations.