<p>When individuals face difficulties in solving their problems, they often seek support from mental health professionals. However, obtaining support for their own issues can be more challenging for these professionals. For this reason, studies to improve the mental health of psychological counselors, one of the mental health professionals, should be included. This study explores the impact of cognitive behavior-based group counseling on life satisfaction, psychological well-being, social emotional loneliness, and psychological resilience among third-year psychological counseling (PC) students. Additionally, the study evaluated the participants’ opinions on group counseling practices. Using an intervention design and explanatory sequential model, the study involved 24 PC students divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group attended 10 group counseling sessions and a subsequent focus group interview. Independent groups t tests, two-factor ANOVA, and content analysis were used for evaluation. The results revealed no significant difference in social emotional loneliness between the groups. However, the experimental group exhibited notable improvements in life satisfaction, psychological well-being, and psychological resilience, with these gains maintained in follow-up assessments. Qualitative data also revealed that students’ psychological health was better after the group. It was stated by the students that the experiences during the group process were instructive and useful. Considering the positive effect of group counseling on students’ mental health, it is recommended that universities, especially those with mental health programs, increase the number of applied courses. Employing experienced group counseling academics can better prepare psychological counselors, boosting their confidence and easing their workforce transition.</p>