Effects of counselor gender and gender-role orientation on client career choice traditionality.

The purpose of this study was to test common assumptions about the effects of counselors' gender and gender-role orientation on clients' career choice traditionality. A sample of 240 career counseling clients (120 women and 120 men) were counseled by a male or female counselor, who were further classified as possessing a masculine, feminine, or androgynous gender-role orientation as determined by the Bem Sex-Role Inventory. The clients' career choice traditionality was measured on three occasions: during the counseling sessions, at the conclusion of counseling, and with respect to clients' actual career choices 6 months after completion of the counseling process. Results showed that counselor gender and gender-role orientation had no effects on any of the three measures of client career choice traditionality. Client gender emerged as the only significant determinant of client career choice traditionality. We discuss the implications of these findings for counseling research and practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

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)     

Mexican Americans' bilingual ability, counselor bilingualism cues, counselor ethnicity, and perceived counselor credibility.

In a completely crossed, factorial design, 186 Mexican American college students were exposed to a counselor introduction that identified her as either Mexican American or Canadian American, followed by an audiotape-recorded bogus counseling session in which the counselor either spoke English only or English combined with cues of Spanish-speaking ability. After listening to the tape-recorded counseling session, participants rated the counselor's credibility and cross-cultural competence. No effect was found on ratings for counselor language or counselor ethnicity. However, ratings of both counselor credibility and cross-cultural competence were found to be a function of participants' bilingual ability. Combined with evidence of a similar relationship between generation since immigration and ratings of the counselor, these findings suggest that, as Mexican Americans acculturate, their perceptions of counselor credibility and cross-cultural competence diminish. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Differential effects of two test-interpretation styles in counseling: A field study.

Two styles of test interpretation, delivered and interactive, were compared in ongoing career counseling for 26 university honors students. The styles were used in interpreting the Personality Research Form and the Vocational Preference Inventory in the second session. Clients listed their thoughts in session after each test was interpreted. After the session, clients evaluated session impact and counselor influence. Clients in the two conditions did not differ in the number of thoughts listed or in the favorability of their thoughts. However, clients who received an interactive interpretation also considered their sessions to be deeper and their counselors to be more expert, trustworthy, and attractive than did clients who received a delivered interpretation. Implications for test-interpretation practice and research are discussed. (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)     

The relationship of trainee self-efficacy to the process and outcome of career counseling.

This investigation examined the role of counselor trainees' self-efficacy on measures of career counseling process, "small o" outcome, and outcome with actual clients. Twenty-four counselor trainees saw 55 clients in 3 to 12 individual sessions. Results indicated that (a) career counseling self-efficacy increased by a standard deviation from prepracticum to postpracticum; (b) client scores significantly improved from pretest to posttest across multiple career outcome measures; (c) clients' working alliance, goal attainment, and decidedness indicated significant growth; (d) the significant growth on the process variable and small o outcome variables did not appear to be related to career counseling self-efficacy; and (e) career counseling self-efficacy apparently related to certain career counseling outcome measures in a manner suggesting much greater complexity than the "more self-efficacy is better" philosophy would imply. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perception of a physically disabled counselor in a counseling session.

Conducted a counseling-analog study to determine whether an apparently physically disabled counselor compared with an able-bodied counselor would be perceived as exhibiting higher levels of 4 therapeutic ingredients. Ss were 189 undergraduates who were randomly divided into 2 groups. 1 group viewed a videotaped counseling session (role-played) with the counselor in a wheelchair. The comparison group viewed the same counseling dyad except the counselor was seated in a chair. Both groups rated their respective counseling tape sessions on the Barrett-Leonard Relationship Inventory. The disabled counselor was rated significantly higher on all therapeutic variables compared with the same counselor when viewed as nondisabled. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of level of acculturation and counseling style on Hispanic students' perceptions of counselor.

It was hypothesized that level of acculturation and counseling style would affect Hispanic students' perceptions of certain counselor attributes and willingness to see a counselor. Pretesting on an acculturation scale placed 94 Hispanic undergraduate college students in one of three types, Hispanic acculturated, bicultural, or Anglo acculturated. The participants viewed a counseling videotape of one of two White female counselors portraying either a directive or a nondirective counseling style and rated her on two scales. Results indicated that acculturation had a significant effect on ratings of trustworthiness and counselor understanding. Counseling style had a significant effect on the students' perception of counselor knowledge of psychology, counselor willingness to help, and on their own willingness to see a counselor. Sex of the participants had a significant effect on perceptions of counselor attractiveness. (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)     

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)     

Perceptions of a sex-fair counselor and her client.

Investigated the effects of sex-fair counseling on 18 male and 21 female undergraduates' perceptions of (a) a female counselor, (b) a same-sex client, and (c) their own attitudes. The experimental design was a 2?×?2 factorial in which a female or a male client discussed traditional or nontraditional career plans with the counselor. The only significant findings regarding perceptions of the counselor were that women anticipated that they would feel more comfortable with the counselor who facilitated nontraditional career exploration than did men. Women tended to evaluate traditional and nontraditional clients similarly, whereas men evaluated the traditional client more favorably regarding academic achievement. Ss' own attitudes regarding occupational choice did not differ significantly between the 2 types of counseling, although the nontraditional condition did seem to result in greater flexibility among women. (29 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mexican-American acculturation, counselor ethnicity, counseling style, and perceived counselor credibility.

Used a 3?×?2?×?2 factorial design to study the effects of S acculturation (low, medium, or high), counselor ethnicity (Anglo-American or Mexican-American), and counseling style (directive or nondirective) on Mexican-American Ss' perceptions of and willingness to see a counselor. Within acculturation levels, Ss were randomly assigned to view stimulus materials (in which the counselor's ethnicity was varied) and to listen to tape recordings of a simulated counseling session (in which the counseling style was varied). No evidence was found of an acculturation effect for any dependent variable. However, Ss gave higher credibility ratings and were more willing to see a counselor who was Mexican American for personal, academic, and vocational concerns. Also, more positive ratings were given to the directive counseling style than the nondirective counseling style. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Client and Counselor Trainee Attachment as Predictors of Session Evaluation and Countertransference Behavior in First Counseling Sessions.

This study investigated client and counselor trainee attachment as predictors of session evaluation and countertransference behavior in 93 first counseling sessions. Results indicated that client attachment predicted aspects of session evaluation, whereas counselor attachment and the interaction of client and counselor attachment predicted aspects of countertransference. Specifically, client fearful attachment was negatively associated with client ratings of session smoothness and depth and with counselor ratings of session smoothness. Counselor dismissing attachment was positively associated with supervisor ratings of hostile countertransference. Furthermore, interactions between client and counselor attachment predicted hostile and distancing countertransference reactions, such that countertransference was highest when the client had a preoccupied attachment pattern and the counselor trainee had a fearful or dismissing attachment pattern. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Differential effects of counselor self-disclosure, self-involving statements, and interpretation.

After viewing a 20-min videotape of a simulated counseling session, 217 college students rated the counselor on expertness, attractiveness, and trustworthiness and on their willingness to see that particular counselor for a personal problem. The session ended with the counselor either summarizing the session, disclosing a past or a present personal problem, making self-involving statements, or offering dynamic interpretations. Results show that present self-disclosure, past self-disclosure, and self-involving statements were not viewed as significantly different from each other and were viewed as significantly more attractive than the summary and dynamic interpretation. There were no significant differences for expertness or trustworthiness. ANOVA showed that the raters were most willing to see the counselor when he ended the session with interpretations and least willing to see him when he ended with summary sessions. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Client self-terminations after one counseling session: Effects of problem recognition, counselor gender, and counselor experience.

From a pool of 758 clients seen individually by 1 of 34 counselors at a large university counseling center, 533 clients were identified as having self-terminated from counseling after their initial session or as having continued in counseling for at least 3 sessions. The authors investigated potential relationships between continuation in counseling and the variables of counselor experience, counselor gender, and counselor recognition of clients' problem definitions. As predicted, the results of logit analyses indicated that clients were more likely to self-terminate after 1 session when problem recognition was absent. This relationship was more pronounced for experienced counselors than it was for trainees, suggesting a possible explanation for the lack of a direct relationship between counselor experience and continuation in counseling in recent studies. Female counselors had higher rates of early premature terminations than male counselors. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Overcoming opposition and resistance: Differential functions of expertness and attractiveness in career counseling.

Hypothesized that counselor expertness would be effective in overcoming opposition to the content of counseling, whereas counselor attractiveness would be effective in overcoming resistance to the counseling process. Two studies of career counseling were conducted: a laboratory analog with 36 vocationally undecided undergraduates and a field study with 45 high school sophomores taking a career planning course. In both studies, counselor role (expert or attractive) was crossed with Ss' initial level of resistance in a repeated measures design. Pre- and postmeasures of Ss' attitudes toward vocational exploration (the content of counseling) and attitudes toward counseling were used to assess change in opposition and resistance, respectively. A behavioral compliance measure of opposition was added in Study 2. Study 1 supported only the resistance hypothesis. Study 2 supported both the opposition and resistance hypotheses and thus demonstrated the differential functioning of expertness and attractiveness. Implications for interpersonal influence research and for the practice of career counseling are discussed. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perceptions of counselor self-disclosure: An analogue study.

120 male and 120 female university students viewed a videotaped vignette of a simulated counseling session. Counselor self-disclosure was manipulated so that Ss were presented a counselor exhibiting no disclosure, interpersonal disclosure, or intrapersonal disclosure. Ss rated these counselors across a variety of professional (e.g., competency) and personal (e.g., likability) dimensions. Results reveal that counselors who self-disclose are evaluated significantly more favorably than counselors who do not. There is no evidence that disclosing counselors are viewed as less competent or less mentally healthy as suggested in previous research. The implications of these findings for further research on counselor self-disclosure and for clinical practice are explored. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of counselor race and counseling approach on Asian Americans' perceptions of counselor credibility and utility.

Conducted 2 studies in which Asian Americans rated a counselor's performance in a simulated counseling session with an Asian American student. Two tape recordings of a contrived counseling session were prepared in which the client responses were identical but the counselor responses differed, 1 depicting a "directive" counseling approach and 1 a "nondirective" approach. Each tape recording was paired with 2 different introductions, 1 in which the counselor was identified as Asian American and 1 in which the counselor was described as Caucasian American. In the 1st study, 52 Asian American university students were randomly assigned to 1 of the 4 introduction–approach combinations. In the 2nd study, 48 Japanese Americans who were members of the Young Buddhist Association were randomly assigned to the 4 introduction–approach combinations. In both studies, the counselor was rated as more credible and approachable when employing the directive counseling approach than when using the nondirective counseling approach. Evidence was found that Asian American university students see Asian American counselors as more credible and approachable than Caucasian American counselors, while the association members viewed them as equally credible and approachable. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)