PSYCHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOLERANCE OF UNCERTAINTY IN CONTEMPORARY STUDENTS THROUGH COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY

Abstract

The article presents a theoretical, methodological, and empirical study of the psychological features of developing tolerance of uncertainty in contemporary students through counseling and psychotherapy. The concept of tolerance of uncertainty is examined as an integrative personality characteristic that facilitates effective functioning under conditions of uncertainty through cognitive appraisal, emotional responses, behavioral reactions, and related psychological mechanisms. It is established that psychological counseling and psychotherapy play a significant role in the system of contemporary psychological support and are widely employed to address a diverse range of psychological problems at different stages of personality development, from coping with situational life difficulties to addressing complex psychological disorders. It is determined that counseling and psychotherapeutic interventions provide psychological support to individuals facing uncertain circumstances and contribute to the development of tolerance of uncertainty, which is particularly relevant for contemporary young people. The results of an empirical study of tolerance of uncertainty among contemporary students are presented, revealing an insufficiently developed capacity to respond effectively and adaptively to unpredictable and unstable life situations. A psychological program aimed at developing tolerance of uncertainty in contemporary students through psychological counseling and psychotherapy is proposed. The program is based on three interrelated components: cognitive, affective, and conative. The structure of each group session comprised three blocks: informational, praxeological, and acmeological. The findings indicate that implementation of the psychological program contributed to positive changes in students’ attitudes toward uncertain situations and increased their readiness to respond adaptively to unpredictable life circumstances.