Counseling Self-Efficacy and Counseling Competence in Prepracticum Training

Counseling self-efficacy and counseling skills were examined over time in a graduate prepracticum class. Efficacy increased with training, but its relationship to performance of skills was weak.     

Student Evaluation of the Tutorial System in Engineering Programmes

The tutorial system in engineering education is a common feature of most undergraduate degree courses and often takes a sizeable percentage of the total contact hours of the programme. Therefore its effectiveness and control is a very important issue and of interest to all parties concerned. The paper summarises, through a case study, some important elements which contribute to the quality of the tutorial system. The relationships between the value of the tutorial, the course, professor and teaching assistant ratings, as measured by student's responses, are examined.     

Simulated Consulting Experiences in Counselor Preparation

Simulation, using role-playing and commercially available materials, was used to provide counselor-teacher consultation experience for counselor trainees. Students in a master's level guidance program worked with teachers in a consultative situation on a series of problems. Representative situations in which a teacher might consult with a counselor about possible courses of action in solving a problem were presented via simulation. Experienced teachers rated the adequacy of counselor recommendations concerning the problem situation. The trained counselors' recommendations were rated as superior (p < .01 level) to those of untrained counselors. These results support the use of simulation as a technique for counselor education. Implications for counselor education programs are discussed.     

Inclusion of Biological Foundations of Human Behavior in Counselor Education

Biological factors, including those that are genetically based, often affect human behavior profoundly. A lack of knowledge and awareness of these factors by counselors may result in failure to provide or ensure adequate help for their clients. Despite recommendations that information on biological foundations be included in counselor education programs, current textbooks and counseling approaches studied by prospective counselors largely omit this area. Through case study examples, the significance of biological factors is explored. The author recommends that counselor educators understand the biological foundations of behavior and begin to incorporate such information into their instruction.     

An Affective Sexual Awareness Program for Counselors

Most counseling students and counselor educators lack adequate preparation for working with clients who have sexual problems. The authors developed a program to facilitate increased awareness of one's own sexuality as a basis for aiding others in that area. The program emphasizes small group participation in order to provide security to explore sexuality and its effects on interpersonal relationships. The program uses brief videotape vignettes of affective-sexual behaviors of individuals and pairs (heterosexual and same-sexed pairs), followed by group discussion. Interpersonal interaction exercises are used to aid participants in relating to their own sexuality. Overall response to the six presentations reported here has been favorable.     

Critical Issues in Counselor Education: Mentors,Models, and Money

Three issues that affect research in counselor education and supervision are discussed. Mentoring practitioners, methodological diversity, and funding issues are critically examined.