Another Look at Counselor,Client, and Supervisor Ratings of Counselor Effectiveness

The purpose of the study was to compare the perceptions of counselors, clients, and supervisors with regard to the effectiveness of counseling. The Counseling Evaluation Inventory (CEI) was used as a measure of counseling effectiveness, using client satisfaction as a criterion. 25 graduate student counselors provided self-ratings on the CEI. Additional CEI ratings of these counselors were obtained from 120 of their clients and their practicum supervisors. The counselor self-ratings and the supervisors' ratings were significantly correlated with each other, but neither was significantly correlated with the client CEI ratings. In addition, the client CEI ratings were significantly higher than both the counselor self-ratings and the supervisors' ratings.     

Sex and Conceptual Level Empathic Responses to Ambivalent Affect

Four variables (helper conceptual level, helper sex, client sex, and type of client affect), their interactions, and effects on empathic ability were examined. All undergraduate “helpers” had been trained in empathic response and were asked to respond empathically to videotaped role-playing “clients.” Client videotapes were equally divided among male and female clients, and among ambivalent and nonambivalent affect states. A significant interaction was found between helper conceptual level and type of client affect. Female helpers were found to be more empathic than male helpers, and responses to the nonambivalent affect statements were more empathic than responses to the more complex ambivalent affect statements.     

Instrumentation (GSR) and Its Effects On Counselor Responses

This study investigated the feasibility of using client GSR responses to increase counselor sensitivity to clients during the counseling interview. Six counselors counseled 22 clients under experimental conditions in which they observed clients' GSR responses and 22 control clients whose GSR responses were not visible to them. Clients were matched on the variables of age, sex, general diagnosis, counseling session number, and type and effect of medication, if any. Counselor responses, classified according to a modified Porter scale, were compared between experimental and control conditions. A significant difference (p<.01) between experimental conditions was observed with counselors appearing to use more probing and fewer understanding statements while viewing their clients' GSR responses.     

A Theory of Imperfection

In most counseling classes, entering students are very eager to learn techniques and theories of counseling. It is as if the students believe that these techniques will then enable them to be good counselors. If students were to succeed at their initial intention—the mastery of counseling theory and technique—all they would have are tools to distance them from their clients. In essence, the students would have the tools to work on clients and not with them. This article comments on the paradoxical nature of the teaching of counseling theory. The article demonstrates that what is correct are people and not the image people have of themselves. What is correct are the counselor's feelings between his or her clients and him or her. All counselors need do is pay attention to the correctness of their own responses to each client. They can only take a client as far along the road as they have traveled. All counselors really need to know is themselves. At this point their imperfections may be viewed as perfect and they need not depend on theories of counseling.     

Perceptions of Sex Roles: The Influences of Client Gender and Student-Counselor Attitudes

The author asked student counselors to predict sex-role behaviors of a hypothetical female or male client experiencing academic and personal difficulties. In general, student-counselor attitudes (liberal or moderate) toward sex roles influenced their predictions of client behavior in work and education roles but not in family roles. The sex of the client also influenced their judgements. The author discusses the implications of these findings for future research and for training programs to reduce sex bias in counseling.     

Client Perceptions of Counselors With and Without a Practicum

The Counseling Evaluation Inventory (CEI) was used to elicit information about the relationship between secondary school counselors with and without a practicum and their clients. The 167 counselors who volunteered for this study represented a 61 percent return. Analysis of variance procedures were used to test the difference between counselors with and without a practicum and to test the influence of age, teaching experience, counseling experience, and sex on these results. The results indicate that counselors with a practicum experience are rated significantly higher on the CEI than counselors without a practicum. When the factors of age, years of counseling experience, years of teaching experience, and sex were partialled out, client ratings of counselors with a practicum continued to be rated significantly higher than client ratings of counselors without a practicum.     

Counselor Characteristics and Effectiveness in Serving Economically Disadvantaged and Advantaged Males

This study compared the personality characteristics, determined by the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16 PF), of practicing junior and senior high school counselors serving economically disadvantaged and economically advantaged males. A Counseling Evaluation Inventory (CEI) composite client-rating score, derived from seven male clients and determined for each counselor, was the effectiveness criterion. Male clients from both economic populations perceived as effective those male counselors who expressed characteristics associated with the popular American masculine stereotype and those female counselors who showed characteristics associated with the popular American feminine stereotype. The IPAT specification equations, one for each sex applied to the results of the 16 PF, provide a practical screening device for predicting counselor effectiveness with both economically disadvantaged and advantaged male clients.     

Counseling sexually abused girls: the impact of sex of counselor

OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted to assess the impact of sex of counselor on the therapeutic process for sexually abused girls in individual counseling. METHOD: Raters evaluated videotapes of counseling sessions recorded for 35 sexually abused girls who had been systematically assigned to brief-term psychoeducationally oriented treatment with either a male or female counselor. Clients' in-session behavior was rated using accepted therapeutic process measures, while statistically controlling for the effect of girls' pretreatment comfort level with male and female counselors. RESULTS: Overall, MANCOVA results revealed that girls' participation in counseling was not significantly related to session number, the child's age (i.e., preadolescent vs. adolescent), or the sex of counselor who provided treatment services. However, univariate results and graphic representations of girls' behavior suggest that adolescent clients, when compared with their preadolescent counterparts, seemed to be more reluctant to discuss certain child sexual abuse topics. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that caution is warranted regarding categorical recommendations on the assignment of young female survivors to male counselors. Delimitations and limitations of the study and directions for future research are discussed.     

Effects of Recording on Counselors and Clients

Early research on the effects of audio recording on counselors and clients found no adverse effects, particularly on clients. This research fostered a set of beliefs about recording which is now being extrapolated to the area of video observation. Recent research, however, does suggest that audio and, in particular, video recording has an inhibitory effect on clients and counselors. The nature of these effects on clients has been found to depend on several client characteristics. Although recording is not as inhibitory as clients expect it to be, counselors tend not to be sensitive to the inhibiting effects that do occur in their clients. Implications of recent research for counselors and counselor educators are examined.     

Counseling Outcome as a Function of Counselor Nationality for American Expatriate Clients

This study tested the proposition that national similarity between counselor and client results in improved counseling outcome. Using a repeated-measures, quasi-experimental design, eight female counselors (four Turkish, four American) saw 16 volunteer, expatriate female American clients for single, individual counseling sessions. Results indicated no differences on (a) clients’ and counselors’ ratings of working alliance and of progress on goals, or (b) clients’ ratings of utilization intent as a function of counselor nationality. Irrespective of nationality, clients’ ratings of working alliance were higher than their counselors. These results echo a trend suggesting that clients’ preferences for cultural/ethnic similarity dissipate as the research methodology approximates actual counseling sessions. Additionally, local mental health service providers may be a viable resource for expatriate Americans.     

Counselors and Client Confidentiality

The school counselors of one state were surveyed about the methods they employed in releasing pupil personnel information to requesting sources. Results indicated that while the methods used to release such data varied by type of information and requesting agency, complete confidentiality was rarely, if ever, extended to school-age clients. Information concerning the educational progress and vocational development of the client was most readily shared with others. While most requested information was released in some form, other school personnel were most likely to receive unabridged data.     

Effects of Client Race‐Ethnicity on Perceptions of Counselor Trainees: Study 1 and Study 2

The authors investigated the impact that racial stereotypes have on counselor trainees' perceptions of the attributes and behaviors of ethnically diverse male clients. Two studies were conducted in which participants were counselor trainees (Study 1, N = 58; Study 2, N = 75) who received a case study in which a male student sought counseling for problems affecting his school work. No differences were revealed in Study 1. In Study 2, counselor perceptions of client attributes differed across client race–ethnicity. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for training counselors, particularly regarding multicultural courses and workshops.     

Teaching Feminist Counselor Responses to Novice Female Counselors

This article describes an innovative teaching method to teach novice counselors 4 counselor responses based on selected goals of feminist counseling. Using a workshop format and ongoing group supervision, graduate student counselors were taught 4 counselor responses: empowerment, decreasing the power differential between client and counselor, taking a gender role perspective, and placing client issues in a sociocultural context. An evaluation of the teaching approach showed that counselors were able to apply feminist counselor responses in counseling sessions with clients and that these clients reported experiencing these responses.     

Effects of Low-level Counselor Functioning on Clients

Three counselors identified as functioning at a low level on basic facilitative skills were paired with both a high- and a low-level functioning client for three sessions. Functioning levels for both counselors and clients were determined by appropriate rating scales. The results indicated negative change in interpersonal functioning levels on the part of high-level clients and no significant change on the part of low-level clients.     

Counselors,Confidentiality, and Life-Endangering Clients

Counselors value both the confidentiality of client information and the sanctity of human life. These values come into apparent conflict, however, when counselors work with life-endangering clients in such situations as child abuse and homicidal and suicidal threats. Legal incursions into the activities of mental health professionals should not threaten counselors into abandoning good clinical judgment or into refraining from treating potentially dangerous clients. Ethical and legal standards guide counselors in their treatment of such clients. Breaching confidentiality is rarely necessary. Counselors should understand their ethical codes and their state statutes.     

Childhood sexual experiences among substance-using non-gay identified Black men who have sex with men and women

This study explored potential variations in childhood sexual abuse (CSA) by examining qualitative accounts of first sexual experiences among non-disclosing, non-gay identified Black men who have sex with men and women (MSMW). We analyzed data from semi-structured qualitative interviews with 33 MSMW who described first sexual experiences with male and female partners. Thematic analysis revealed four patterns of first sexual experiences including: unwanted sexual experiences with a male or female consistent with definitions of childhood sexual abuse; consensual sex with an older male or female; bodily exploration with another male or female child; and consensual sex with a peer-age female. Most of the experiences described by participants as consensual with an older male or female, however, met criteria for childhood sexual abuse found in the extant literature. Several men discussed childhood sexual experiences (CSE) relative to their experiences with alcohol, drugs, and same-sex behavior as adults. Findings suggest that the relationship between CSE and risk-taking behavior may be shaped by whether men perceive their experiences as abusive or consensual, and have implications for researchers, treatment providers and counselors.     

Heterosexual Bias Among Counselor Trainees

Master's level counselor trainees rated an audiotaped and role-played intake interview of a female client whose sexual orientation was varied. In Condition 1, the client referred to her partner as “Doug,” a man; in Condition 2, the client referred to her partner as “Diane,” a woman; in Condition 3, the client referred to her partner as “Chris,” whose sex was unidentifiable. Subtle forms of heterosexual bias were found through participants' ratings of the unidentifiable client. When responding to the ambiguous condition involving the unidentifiable client, 83% of the participants assumed the client was heterosexual. When they were debriefed, participants expressed concern over the lack of training on issues related to counseling lesbian and gay clients. Use of the ambiguous case example, as in this study, is recommended for training to assess and confront increasingly subtle forms of heterosexual bias.     

Helping Counselors Minimize Client Reluctance

A review of work settings in which counselors are employed suggests that almost all counselors work with a number of reluctant clients. Counselor education, however, is largely directed toward preparing counselors to work with voluntary clients. This article reviews some of the bases of client reluctance, certain motivational principles appropriate to counselor practice, myths associated with counselor preparation, and some suggestions of existing techniques that may be helpful with reluctant clients.     

Experiences of HIV/AIDS Counselors in Zimbabwe and Their Perceptions on the State of HIV/AIDS Counseling in Zimbabwe

This study investigated Zimbabwean counselors' experiences of providing HIV/AIDS counseling and their perceptions about the state of HIV/AIDS counseling in Zimbabwe. The participants were a diverse group of counselors, 30 through 59 years of age, who provided counseling services to HIV/AIDS clients. Participants thought HIV/AIDS counselors in Zimbabwe received minimal support and supervision and were undertrained. They identified that the first sessions with clients were the most difficult. They also found it problematic to work with couples who were serodiscordant (one partner who is HIV positive and the other HIV negative) and couples wanting children. The later stages of the counseling process were also found to be challenging. Though the participants acknowledged they had negative psychological experiences when counseling HIV/AIDS clients, they also expressed feelings of satisfaction and fulfillment in their work.     

The Effects of Modeling,Feedback, and Experiential Methods on Counselor Empathy

This study compares the effects of three supervisory techniques—modeling, feedback, and experiential intervention—in teaching counseling students to communicate empathic understanding. The students participated in three simulated counseling interviews during which their responses to standard clients were rated on the degree of empathic understanding conveyed. After each of the first two interviews students in the experimental groups were given one of the three supervisory treatments; students in the control group received no supervision. The ratings indicated that the modeling method of supervision was more effective than the feedback method and the feedback method was more effective than the experiential method in helping the counselors communicate empathy. No significant differences were found between students receiving experiential supervision and those in the control group. The interaction between method and sex was significant in that male students responded better than female students to the feedback method.