Dogmatism and Externality in Locus of Control As Related to Counselor Trainee Skill In Facilitative Responding

It was hypothesized in this study that dogmatism and externality in locus of control are inversely related to skill in facilitative responding when the effects of specific counselor training program, number of graduate hours in counseling, age, sex, race, and religious affiliation are controlled. The participants were 215 master's degree candidates majoring in guidance and counseling at three southwestern universities. Dogmatism and externality were measured by the Opinion Scale, and skill in facilitative responding was determined by application of the Gross Rating of Facilitative Interpersonal Functioning Scale to written responses of participants to 16 audiotaped client stimulus statements. Multiple regression and partial correlation techniques were used to test the hypothesis, and the results supported the hypothesis. The authors discuss implications of this study for counselor selection and education.     

Teaching Group Counseling Skills: Problems and Solutions

The authors discuss ethical and professional issues regarding group counseling and argue that it is challenging to meet or exceed the standards established by the American Counseling Association's Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs for teaching principles and theories, leadership skills, and group counseling methods for effective group practice. This task is especially difficult for counselor education programs that do not have doctoral students who can provide instruction and group leadership. The authors present a model involving 2 courses that allow for mastery of skills and solve practical dilemmas of providing an experiential group experience and leadership opportunities.