Session evaluation and recall of important events as a function of counselor experience.

Session evaluation and type of participant-recalled important event were investigated in 25 novice counselor dyads and 9 experienced counselor dyads during 9 sessions of short-term counseling. Counselor experience was the independent variable and session evaluation was the dependent variable. Results based on the Session Evaluation Questionnaire (W. B. Stiles, 1980) showed a significant interaction effect between counselor experience and role of participant (client or counselor) for session depth. Clients also reported an increase in positive affect over the course of counseling. Experienced counselors recalled more important events involving insight, whereas novice counselors recalled more important events involving exploration of feelings or self-critique. The type of important event recalled by clients also changed over the sessions of counseling. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Empirical investigation of the cognitive mediational paradigm for research on counseling.

Examined relations among counselor and client cognitions, behaviors, and ratings in 29 counseling sessions involving 10 different counselor–client pairs, using stimulated recall and content analysis. Clients were university students; there were 4 counselors with 7–25 yrs' experience and 3 who were counseling interns. The design of the study permitted assessments of the impact of counselor experience (novice vs experienced) and stage of counseling (early, middle, and end) on these variables. Consistency in various parts of the sequential chain of counselor intention (counselor behavior, client perceptions of counselor intention and behavior, client cognitive processing, and client behavior) was lower for interpersonal cognitive than for interpersonal behavioral or intrapersonal cognitive–behavioral links. Consistency across different elements in this chain was observed to account for a significant proportion of the variance in counselor ratings of session effectiveness. Consistent, interpretable patterns observed across counselor intentions, counselor behaviors, and client cognitive processing are discussed. Relatively few effects of stage of counseling or of counselor experience were observed. (32 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationship of client problem type to novice counselor response modes.

Investigated effects of type of client problem and counselor gender on counseling response modes in a sample of 31 novice counselors. Counseling response modes were analyzed using the Hill Counselor Verbal Response Modes Category System on two different interviews with a peer help-seeker. For one interview, help-seekers used a genuine interpersonal problem and for the other interview, they used an intrapersonal problem. Results indicated that counselors used significantly more information responses on intrapersonal problems and more reflection responses on interpersonal problems. In general, there was a trend for male counselors to use more minimal responses than female counselors. Implications of these findings are discussed in relation to furthering understanding of the therapeutic responding of novice counselors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Racial similarity of client and counselor and client satisfaction with counseling.

Client evaluations of a precollege counseling interview were obtained for 13 black and 13 white students counseled by 3 experienced black counselors and 8 experienced white counselors. Black students tended to react more favorably to black and to white counselors than did white students. In general, racial similarity of client and counselor was not an important factor in these counseling interviews. The hypothesis that counselors are differentially effective in counseling students of a different racial background than their own lacks support. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Changes in counselor adherence over the course of training.

Following recommendations of S. F. Butler and H. H. Strupp (1993), novice counselors were used to examine the development of adherence and counselor interactional style over the course of manual-based training in time-limited dynamic psychotherapy (TLDP; H. H. Strupp & J. Binder; 1984). Adherence to TLDP was assessed with the Vanderbilt Therapeutic Strategies Scale. Counselor interactional style was assessed with the client version of the Working Alliance Inventory. Growth curve analyses showed a significant linear increase in TLDP adherence and in client-rated working alliance for the novice counselors across 4 supervised training sessions. Time-series analysis (cross-correlations) indicated there was a lead-lag relationship with (a) counseling sessions in which higher ratings of counselor interactional style followed sessions with more counselor adherence to a general psychodynamic interviewing style and (b) sessions with higher ratings on adherence to psychodynamic interviewing style preceded sessions with higher level of adherence to TLDP specific strategies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sex of client and sex and experience level of counselor.

Examined how sex of client and sex and experience level of the counselor affected behaviors in counseling. 12 male and 12 female counselors, half inexperienced and half experienced, each recorded the 2nd counseling session with 1 male and 1 female client. Satisfaction items, frequency counts of counselor and client verbal behavior, activity levels, and judges' ratings were obtained for each session. Results indicate that same-sex pairings had more discussion of feelings by both counselor and client, and that inexperienced males and experienced female counselors were more active and empathic and elicited more feelings from clients than did their counterparts. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evaluative reaction to interpersonal touch in a counseling interview.

Investigated the effects of the use of touch gestures by counselors on client evaluative responses to the counseling experience, using a 2 (touch vs no touch)?×?2 (male vs female client)?×?2 (male vs female counselor) between-Ss design. Clients who were touched evaluated the counseling experience more positively than no-touch control Ss. However, the magnitude of the effect of touch was affected by the sex composition of the counseling dyad, with stronger effects occurring when clients were touched by an opposite-sex counselor. Results are discussed in terms of conceptual implications and with respect to applied relevance for therapeutic practice and the training of counselors. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cognitive mediation in person-centered and rational-emotive therapy.

Relations among counselor and client cognitive and behavioral variables were examined in relation to counselor and client ratings of counseling effectiveness. Unlike previous cognitive-mediational process research on counseling, the conceptual and coding systems used were tailored specifically to two different counseling approaches. Data were obtained from videotapes of 20 counseling sessions and from 40 stimulated recall interviews with both counselors and clients following the counseling sessions. Ten of the sessions followed a rational-emotive format; 10 followed a person-centered format. Both therapeutic conditions consisted of two dyads, each studied experimentally during 5 sessions selected from brief counseling interventions. Results indicated that variables composed from both cognitive and behavioral data predicted participant ratings of counseling effectiveness more than did behavioral variables alone. As in previous research, such relations seemed to depend on a strong negative correlation between counselor transparency (accurate client perceptions of counselor intentions) and participant ratings of counseling effectiveness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Differential effects of self-disclosing versus self-involving counselor statements across counselor–client gender pairings.

60 male and 60 female undergraduates listened to 1 of 8 audiotaped recordings of a counseling interview between either an experienced male or female counselor and a male client, for male Ss, or a female client, for female Ss. One half of the male and female Ss heard a tape containing counselor self-disclosure statements; the other half heard a tape containing counselor self-involving statements. Ss rated counselors' expertness, attractiveness, and trustworthiness, and generated written responses to each self-disclosing or self-involving counselor statement. Across all counselor–client gender pairings, self-involving counselors were rated as significantly more expert, attractive, and trustworthy than were self-disclosing counselors. Further, client responses to self-disclosing counselor statements contained significantly more questions about the counselors, were significantly longer responses, and were significantly more likely to be phrased in the past or future rather than in the present tense. Finally, client responses to the self-involving counselor statements contained significantly more client self-referents. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hypothesis formation and testing in clinical judgment.

Examined the influence of a counselor characteristic (cognitive complexity), a general client observation (disability status), and a specific client observation (positive, negative, or inconsistent personality test results) on the quality of clinical hypotheses counselors develop about clients' problems and the number of questions they generate to test these hypotheses. 35 graduate students in counselor training completed a measure of cognitive complexity (the Paragraph Completion Method) before being presented with the case folders of 6 hypothetical clients. Ss were asked to read the material and form hypotheses concerning why the clients sought counseling. The case folders had varied client observations. Results show no effect of any of the independent variables on hypothesis quality; however, there was a significant interaction between specific and general client observations on the number of questions developed to test clinical hypotheses. Results suggest that both specific and general observations are important factors in clinical judgment. (7 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Counselor verbal response modes and experienced empathy": Correction to Barkham and Shapiro.

Reports an error in "Counselor verbal response modes and experienced empathy" by Michael Barkham and David A. Shapiro (Journal of Counseling Psychology, 1986[Jan], Vol 33[1], 3-10). The second paragraph of the author acknowledgement should have read as follows: We thank Ian Spalding for supervision of the session recordings, Liz Colley for programming and advice on data analysis, Richard Shillcock and Jane Oakhill for response mode coding, and Robert Elliott for comments on a draft. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 1986-15306-001.) Client and counselor perceptions of empathy at different stages in the counseling process were examined in relation to the verbal response modes used by counselors in 24 client–counselor dyads. Each of 6 counselors (aged 32–58 yrs) at college counseling centers was studied in counseling with 4 clients, of whom 2 were in initial sessions and 2 were in sessions drawn from ongoing counseling relationships. Clients perceived counselors as showing significantly greater empathy during ongoing than during initial sessions, and counselors perceived themselves as showing significantly greater empathy during initial sessions than did clients rating the same sessions. Clients rated counselors using fewer general advisements as more empathic, whereas counselors who rated themselves more empathic used more explorations and fewer reassurances. At the moment-to-moment level tapped by interpersonal process recall, exploration was the only category strongly associated with both client and counselor experiences of empathic communication in both initial and ongoing sessions. (50 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Verbal activity, sex, counselor experience, and success in counseling.

Examined the contribution made by client and counselor verbal activity, client and counselor sex, and counselor experience to satisfaction and symptom relief. Ss were 18 male and 5 female counselors employed at a university counseling service (9 of whom were experienced), 34 undergraduates, and 2 graduate students. 20 of the students were female and 16 were male. Counselor-offered facilitative conditions were held constant. Data were analyzed using a multiple regression analysis. Clients seeing experienced counselors reported better outcomes. Neither sex nor activity of the therapeutic participants contributed to therapeutic success. Explanations of findings and implications for counseling practice are discussed. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Client compliance with homework directives during counseling.

Investigated compliance with homework directives in counseling in 61 clients (aged 21+ yrs), with the cooperation of 18 post-master's degree counselors in a community counseling agency for adults. Compliance was examined as a function of counselor variables, client variables, and therapy variables, using rankings of counselor ability and skills, a rating of cases, and data on homework assignments. Neither counselor ability nor specific counseling skills were related to client compliance. Initial severity of client problems was related to outcome but not to compliance. Clients who remained in counseling had better compliance than those who terminated early. Whether clients presented career or personal/emotional problems was unrelated to compliance. Therapy variables that predicted compliance included assignments given early in counseling, a history of compliance, and whether counselors checked their client's attitude about homework and did not stress their own status. It is suggested that variables associated with the conduct of counseling more strongly influence compliance with homework than do either counselor or client variables. (37 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gay and bisexual male clients' perceptions of counseling: The role of perceived sexual orientation similarity and counselor universal-diverse orientation.

A recurring question in multicultural counseling is whether client–counselor similarity on sociodemographic characteristics benefits counseling. A related issue is how counselor orientation to diversity relates to counseling process and outcome, both as a main effect and in interaction with counselor–client sociodemographic match. This cross-sectional study investigated these questions in relation to gay and bisexual male clients' counseling experiences by examining clients' perceived similarity to their counselor in sexual orientation, as well as counselors' self-reported orientation to diversity (assessed in terms of level of universal-diverse orientation [UDO]). Data were from 83 male–male client–counselor dyads recruited from lesbian/gay/bisexual-affirming counseling practices, where clients identified as gay or bisexual and counselors identified as gay, bisexual, or heterosexual. Counselor UDO was positively and uniquely associated with client ratings of the working alliance, session depth, and session smoothness. Perceived sexual orientation similarity was not directly related to any of the counseling-related criterion variables. Moreover, when counselors reported low levels of UDO, perceived similarity was negatively associated with the client-rated alliance and perceived improvement. Client religious commitment—a control variable in all analyses—was uniquely and negatively associated with client ratings of perceived improvement in counseling. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Factors related to client return rate following intake.

Examined the relationship of client sex, intake counselor sex and experience level, and the sex of the counselor to whom the client was referred to the percentages of clients returning for counseling following an intake interview. In addition, the effect on return rate of referral to another counselor vs continuation with the counselor seen at intake was examined. Results from 67 male and 74 female counseling center clients and 25 regular counseling staff indicate that clients of both sexes were significantly less likely to return when initially interviewed by male rather than female intake counselors. Further, clients referred by male intake counselors to other male counselors were significantly less likely to return than were clients seen by and/or referred to female counselors. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An investigation of the effects of client sex and presenting problem in referral from intake.

Examined the extent to which client sex and presenting problem were related to the sex of the counselor to whom the client was referred for individual counseling. Data were collected from the files of 142 counseling center clients seen initially by an intake counselor and then referred for individual counseling; the 25 intake counselors, 14 male and 11 female, were the center's professional staff and maintained regular client loads as well as sharing intake responsibilities with other staff members. Results indicate a predominance of same-sex referrals regardless of client sex, sex of the intake counselor, or the client's presenting problem. While intake counselors were more likely to keep clients of their own sex for continued individual counseling, the tendency to make same-sex referrals was most evident when clients were referred to other counselors. The results suggest that sex is a salient factor in the assignment of clients to counselors and that further study of the conditions under which same-sex vs opposite-sex counselor–client pairings lead to differentially effective counseling outcomes is needed. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Differential expression of empathy in a counseling analogue.

Administered an incomplete sentences measure of conceptual functioning to 40 graduate counseling students. Ss then made written responses to 12 statements by each of 2 clients in a 2 * 2 factorial analysis of variance design (Counselor's Complexity * Analogue Complexity). Results indicate that (a) the more complex counselors expressed a significantly higher level of empathy, and (b) the level of empathy manifested was conditioned by a significant interaction effect between type of counselor and client. The implications for studying the phenomena of differential effects are discussed. (21 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perceived counselor characteristics, client expectations, and client satisfaction with counseling.

Examined (a) the relationship between perceived counselor expertness, attractiveness, and trustworthiness and client satisfaction; (b) the relationships between specific client expectations on perceived counselor characteristics and client satisfaction; and (c) the effects of actual counselor experience level on perceived counselor characteristics and client satisfaction. The 55 counselors who participated in the study were either beginning or advancing practicum students, doctoral-level interns, or PhD counselors; clients were 72 students who sought help at a university counseling center. Clients completed an Expectations About Counseling (EAC) questionnaire before entering counseling, as well as the Counseling Evaluation Inventory (CEI) and Counselor Rating Form (CRF) after several weeks of counseling. CRF and CEI were correlated, but EAC scores were not strongly related to the CEI or CRF scores. Actual counselor experience level did not differentially affect CEI or CRF scores. Findings are discussed in terms of several variables (e.g., legitimate power, source variables, and client satisfaction) that may differentially affect the influence process over time. (32 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Counselor and helpee perceptions of counselor intentions in relation to outcome in a single counseling session.

Determined whether counseling session could be predicted from different variables (i.e., counselor intentions, helpee's perceptions of counselor's intentions, match between counselor and helpee on intentions), focusing on counselors' and helpees' perceptions. Four 32–43 yr old experienced counselors each saw 4 undergraduate helpees for single 50 min counseling sessions. Counselors and helpees evaluated sessions and then reviewed videotapes during which counselors identified their intentions and helpees rated the helpfulness for each counselor turn. Results indicate that helpees perceived more intentions to support, focus, and clarify and less self-control and resistance than counselors had intended. The highest match between counselors and helpees occurred for getting information, setting limits, and clarifying. Helpees' ratings of helpfulness were highest for counselors' intentions involving needs, resistance, cognitions, and relationships, and lowest for setting limits, getting information, supporting, and focusing. Session outcome was related to different counselor and client perceptions, indicating that participants valued different events within sessions. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)