Native American college students' preference for counselor race and sex and the likelihood of their use of a counseling center.

39 female and 23 male Native American college students completed questionnaires assessing their preference for counselor race and sex and the likelihood of their using a counseling center. Both females and males demonstrated a strong preference for Native American counselors, regardless of problem situation. Males preferred male counselors, but females expressed a preference for female counselors only if they had a personal problem. Likelihood of using the counseling center increased as counselor preference increased. Likelihood of using the counseling center increased if Ss could be seen by a counselor of the same race regardless of problem situation. Only in the personal-problem situation did likelihood ratings increase if Ss could be seen by a counselor of the preferred sex. Ss were less likely to indicate they would go to the counseling center with a personal problem if they would be seen by either their 3rd- or 4th-choice counselors. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of counselor sex and sex role and client sex on clients' perceptions and self-disclosure in a counseling analogue study.

Studied the effects of client sex and counselor sex and sex role on the counseling relationship, using an analogue format in which 35 male and 39 female undergraduate students participated in simulated counseling interviews. Ss were stratified by sex and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment conditions: (a) masculine male counselor, (b) feminine male counselor, (c) masculine female counselor, and (d) feminine female counselor. At the conclusion of the interview, the S completed the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory (Form OS-M-64) and a questionnaire assessing the S's satisfaction with the counseling session. The audiotapes of the sessions were rated by trained judges for (a) positive affective self-references, (b) negative affective self-references, and (c) total non-affective self-references of the Ss. Male Ss were more satisfied with the counseling process than female Ss. Male Ss indicated greater satisfaction and a higher level of counselor regard with feminine counselors than with masculine counselors, regardless of counselor sex, but female Ss indicated greater satisfaction and a higher level of counselor regard with masculine counselors than with feminine counselors, regardless of counselor sex. Male Ss talked most about themselves with feminine female counselors and least about themselves with masculine female counselors, while female Ss talked most about themselves with feminine male counselors and least about themselves with masculine male counselors. These findings are related to the feminist pleas for same-sex pairing in the counseling relationship. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of counselor sex, race, and language style on black students in initial interviews.

Hypothesized that greater counselor-subject compatibility in race, sex, and language would result in greater client satisfaction and depth of exploration. Ss were 37 black students in a special program for the disadvantaged at a leading eastern state university and 3 black male, 2 black female, 6 white male, and 3 white female counselors. Data were analyzed using the multivariate analysis of covariance with counselor sex and race the independent variables and client depth of self-exploration and satisfaction the dependent variables. Covariates were counselor's level of facilitative conditions and comprehension of nonstandard English. Results indicate that Ss preferred black counselors to a significantly greater degree than white counselors and that they explored themselves in greater depth with female counselors (p     

Preferences for counselor gender: Students' sex role, other characteristics, and type of problem.

102 female and 67 male students (aged 17–74 yrs) from a large urban university rated their preferences for counselor gender for 9 client concerns and completed the Bem Sex-Role Inventory and a demographic questionnaire. Most Ss who expressed a preference for counselor gender preferred male counselors over female ones for all concerns other than problems with sexual issues. Preferences for male counselors were expressed more often, however, for vocational/academic and social/interpersonal concerns than for personal/intimate problems. Discriminant analyses revealed profiles of Ss who preferred male counselors or had no preference. Variables such as S sex-role, age, and race were found to be particularly useful in predicting gender preferences. Results are interpreted in terms of S. L. Bem's (see record 1981-25685-001) gender-schema theory. (32 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interpersonal influence process in real-life counseling: Investigating client perceptions, counselor experience level, and counselor power over time.

Examined the interpersonal influence process within an actual counseling context over an average of 8 sessions. Counselors were either beginning or advanced practicum students or doctoral interns (n?=?27); clients were 31 students who sought counseling at a university center. Before and after counseling Ss completed the Counselor Rating Form, the Expectations about Counseling measure, and the Counselor Perceptions Questionnaire. Results indicate that (a) the actual counselor experience level did not affect client perceptions of the counselor; (b) perceived counselor expertness, attractiveness, and trustworthiness changed over time, but not in the same direction across counselors; (c) different levels of client need did not affect clients' perceptions of counselor characteristics; and (d) counselors rated as highly attractive indicated they had more therapeutic power over clients than counselors rated as moderately attractive. (46 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A laboratory study of the effects of varying levels of counselor eye contact on client-focused and problem-focused counseling styles.

Studied the effects of varying durations of counselor eye contact over 2 counseling conditions: (a) client-focused counseling style, defined as the counselor focusing on the client's thoughts and feelings about the presenting problem; and (b) problem-focused counseling style, defined as the counselor focusing on the problems themselves. 60 female undergraduates observed videotaped segments of counseling interviews depicting 1 of 6 conditions involving either client-focused or problem-focused counseling styles and either low, medium, or high counselor eye contact. Ss then rated the counselor on 3 dimensions of counselor effectiveness: genuineness, competence, and self-confidence. Results show that counselors using both counseling styles were rated progressively higher on all 3 dimensions from the low- to the medium- to the high-gaze condition. In the problem-focused condition, the counselor was rated lower on the genuineness factor than either competence or self-confidence. When broken down by gaze levels, these differences did not hold up for the high level of eye contact. There were no significant differences between counselor ratings on the 3 dimensions of counselor effectiveness for the client-focused condition. Results are discussed with respect to related research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Use of trait labels in counseling supervision by experienced and inexperienced supervisors.

On the basis of attribution theory, it was hypothesized that as supervisors gain experience at counseling, they would attribute their supervisee's counseling behaviors less often to counselor traits than would supervisors who have little or no counseling experience. 10 min of an audiotaped counseling session were presented to 82 Ss in 4 groups: undergraduate psychology students, master's degree students in counseling and clinical psychology, post-master's degree students, and post-PhD counselors. The Ss then rated the degree to which the counselor could be described by 8 trait labels. As predicted, Ss with more counseling experience made weaker trait attributions than did those with little or no experience. It is suggested that this result is due to the increased empathy of experienced counselors. (8 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Afro-American preferences for counselor characteristics.

Examined 128 Black college students' (aged 17–52 yrs) preferences for salient counselor characteristics. Ss were asked to express their preference for counselors similar or dissimilar to them across 8 counselor characteristics (ethnicity, sex, religion, educational background, socioeconomic background, attitudes and values, personality, and age) identified from previous research. A total of 120 paired comparisons were generated to compare preferences for the 16 similar and dissimilar counselor characteristics. Results reveal that Ss expressed preferences for counselors who, in comparison to themselves, were more educated, had similar attitudes and values, were older, and had similar personalities; these characteristics were more important to the Ss than the counselor's race and ethnicity. Additional analysis of within-group preference profiles revealed no consistent difference by commitment to Afro-American culture, sex, or previous counseling experience. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Client fear of negative evaluation and type of counselor response style.

Despite frequent admonitions that counselors should use a reflective response style, research has shown no differences in the effectiveness or greater preference for a reflective over other response modes. As one explanation of these results, it was postulated that an interaction may occur between a client's level of social-evaluative anxiety and exposure to a particular counselor response style. Ss were 48 male and 48 female undergraduates who met selection criteria on the Fear of Negative Evaluation (FNE) Scale. It was predicted that high FNE Ss relative to low FNE Ss would show (a) greater comfort with counselor behaviors and (b) greater preference for both a friend and another counselor to respond like the taped counselor when exposed to a reflective rather than a confrontive response style. Results indicate few differences due to FNE status, type of response style, or sex, offering no support for the predicted interaction on any of the dependent measures. Groups' mean ratings indicated that, in general, Ss rated their degree of comfort as above average on most items regardless of anxiety level and type of counselor response. Findings on the preference measures replicate the outcomes of E. Venzor et al (see record 1977-10773-001) and extend them to additional variables examined in the study. Explanations for the absence of differences are explored. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Impressions of counselors as a function of counselor physical attractiveness.

Assessed the effects of counselor physical attractiveness and interactions between attractiveness and counselor and S sex. 40 male and 40 female undergraduates rated their 1st impressions of a counselor and their expectations for counseling outcome on the basis of a photograph of either an attractive or an unattractive person and a brief, audiotaped self-introduction by either a male or a female counseling psychologist. Attractiveness did not show main effects but did interact with sex variables, which did show several main effects. Female counselors, particularly in the attractive condition, received higher ratings than male counselors on several impression variables, and female Ss gave higher ratings on impression variables than did male Ss. Both attractive and unattractive counselors were within the normal range of attractiveness, however. It is suggested that within the natural setting, sex of counselor and client may play a more important role independently and in conjunction with attractiveness than does attractiveness alone in influencing impressions and expectations. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Trust and self-disclosure among black college students.

Investigated 2 models of counseling to determine which best facilitated self-disclosure and trust in 18 black undergraduates. One model involved professional counselors; the other consisted of minimally trained peer counselors. Ss were systematically assigned to 1 of the 2 models and exposed to 5 60-min counseling sessions with either a professional or a peer counselor. It was hypothesized that persons participating in a peer counseling experience will trust and self-disclose at a higher level than persons participating in a professional counseling experience. Data from the Self-Disclosure Questionnaire and J. B. Rotter's 1967 Interpersonal Trust Scale did not support the hypothesis. Both groups disclosed and trusted at a significantly higher level after treatment. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Client preferences and anticipations about counselor self-disclosure.

120 female undergraduates were preselected according to high or low preference for counselor disclosure. Ss were then given 1 of 2 forms of instructions about the likelihood of counselors using self-disclosure (high or low anticipation). Finally, Ss viewed a brief videotape of a counseling session in which counselor disclosure was either present or absent. As predicted, Ss gave higher ratings on the Counselor Rating Form to self-disclosing counselors than to nondisclosing ones. Ss whose high preferences and anticipations were confirmed gave higher ratings to disclosing counselors. For Ss who had low preference and anticipation, disconfirmation led to higher ratings of disclosing counselors. Implications for distinguishing between preference and anticipation in research on expectancy are discussed. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Breach of confidentiality and perceived trustworthiness of counselors.

200 male undergraduates heard audiotaped counselor–client interactions that culminated in a decision by the counselor to breach or maintain confidentiality. In a control condition no confidentiality manipulation was presented. The degree of seriousness of the client's problem was manipulated in addition to the level of counselor experience, type of presenting problem, and counselor. Ss were randomly assigned to 1 of 48 cells defined by a 3 (confidentiality: confidential, nonconfidential or control) by 2 (problem seriousness: highly or moderately serious) by 2 (counselor experience: expert or nonexpert) by 2 (presenting problem: suicide or drug abuse) by 2 (counselor: A or B) between-Ss factorial design. Among other measures Ss rated counselors on trustworthiness on the Counselor Rating Form. A Confidentiality?×?Problem Seriousness Interaction indicated that with highly serious client problems breaching confidentiality was associated with significantly lower trustworthiness ratings compared to all other conditions. (11 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Differential effects of counselor self-disclosure statements on perception of the counselor and willingness to disclose: A cross-cultural study.

Mexican and American undergraduates watched simulated interviews in which the counselor engaged in one of three forms of self-disclosure (SD) or else no SD. Although all subjects indicated that they would be most willing to self disclose to the counselor who did not personally engage in SD, Mexicans and Americans differed in how they perceived the counselors. Mexicans rated the counselor who did not engage in SD as being more trustworthy and expert than the others; Americans had no clear preference. For Mexican-American clients treated in this country, counselors may need to maintain a degree of formality that is unnecessary with American clients. (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)     

Behavioral cues to counselor expertness.

Two male and 2 female counselors at each of 3 levels of training and experience conducted an initial interview with a female confederate client who presented the same role to all counselors. Videotapes of these interviews were viewed by 120 undergraduates who rated the counselors' expertness, indicated counselor behaviors that contributed to their judgments, and rated their willingness to refer close friends to the observed counselors for various concerns. Only individual counselor performance contributed significantly to rated expertness. Data do not support those of L. D. Schmidt and S. R. Strong (see record 1970-09304-001), which show an inverse relationship between training/experience and rated expertness. Willingness to refer was differentially related to rated expertness, depending on the client concern. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)