Cognitive behavioral counselling with isolated university students

Social isolation is a concern for many university students. Methods for counsellors to help these shy and lonely clients have evolved, starting with behavior modification techniques popular in the 1960's. Recent developments in helping techniques have taken the form of structured approaches which implement behavioral as well as cognitive techniques. However, none of these has achieved the goal of a well-integrated model. The author presents one such attempt, based on Meichenbaum's Stress Innoculation Training and Fremouw's Integrated Behavioral Treatment. The model includes Cognitive Structuring, Stress Reduction and Skill Development components which overlap and interlock into a comprehensive therapy approach. Examples for each component are described. Finally, a summary statement is made in which the author describes the value of the model.