Using Yalom’s When Nietzsche Wept to Enhance Psychological Mindedness in Future Counselors

Abstract

This study examined the effectiveness of a structured, literature-based intervention designed to enhance psychological mindedness among counselor candidates. Psychological mindedness, a core competency for mental health professionals, involves the capacity to understand one’s own internal processes as well as those of others, yet empirical interventions targeting its development remain limited. To address this gap, an experimental book reading and discussion-based program grounded in Irvin D. Yalom’s When Nietzsche Wept was implemented with undergraduate counseling students in Türkiye. Participants in the experimental group (n = 20) engaged in weekly reading and discussion sessions over 7 weeks, while the control group (n = 20) received no intervention. Psychological mindedness was assessed at pretest, posttest, and 45-day follow-up. Results indicated that the intervention significantly increased psychological mindedness in the experimental group and that these gains were maintained over time. The findings support literature-based experiential methods in counselor education as effective tools for fostering reflective professional competencies.