شبكة المعلومات العربية التربوية

This study aimed to measure the effectiveness of two counseling programs in reducing the degree of social phobia for a sample of high basic level students in Dura schools. The social phobia scale was applied to the study sample which consisted of (400) students (190 males, 210 females), the final sample of the study consisting of (30) students was selected and randomly assigned into three study groups, each consisting of (10) students. The first experimental group was given a technological counseling program; the second experimental group was given a cognitive behavioral counseling program, while the third group (control group) did not receive any counseling program. The problem of the study involves examining the following main question: What are the two counseling programs effective in reducing the degree of social phobia for a sample of high basic level students in Dura schools? The data were processed statistically using (SPSS 17.0), and the results were as follows: 1) The prevalence of social phobia in the study sample of both sexes was (13.25%). 2) Results of the study indicated that both training programs were more effective in reducing social phobia. 3) The technological program outweighs the behavioral cognitive program in reducing social phobia. 4) Four weeks after the programs follow up data indicated that the sampled students in the experimental group retained their gains due to the participation in the counseling programs. The study recommended the use of virtual reality therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy in the treatment of social phobia because of their positive effect in alleviating the symptoms of social phobia. (Author’s abstract)