C.H. Patterson: Reflections on Client-Centered Therapy

C.H. Patterson (Pat) has long been a prominent contributor to counseling and counselor education. His published works have been many and varied, including such books as Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy and Foundations for a Theory of Instruction and Educational Psychology. Though these efforts have proven of considerable value, Pat's presentation and interpretation of client-centered therapy has been of particular significance. In this article Pat is interviewed regarding his current views on the client-centered approach.     

Ethical Concerns for Counselor Educators

This article identifies four areas of ethical concern in counselor education. Counselor educators in the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES) region were surveyed regarding their attitudes and practices concerning these four areas. Survey results with conclusions and recommendations are given. Vignette 1: J. Jones, a single counselor education professor, is told by K. Adams, a single female graduate student in one of his classes, that she finds him very attractive. She then invites him to her home for dinner. Vignette 2: J. Smith, a student and advisee of counselor educator M. Thompson, is taking a group dynamics course from her this semester. He believes that participation in the course has triggered his desire to work on some issues in his personal life. He approaches Dr. Thompson to be his counselor. Vignette 3: Counselor educator F. Rogers suggests an idea for a research study to graduate student P. Collins. Ms. Collins carries out the study and submits a paper describing it in order to meet a requirement in Dr. Rogers's class. Dr. Rogers later decides that with some revision this paper could be publishable. He spends many hours revising the paper so that it is suitable for publication. When he submits it, he lists himself as first author. Vignette 4: Counselor educator A. Johnson is serving on C. Young's dissertation committee. Ms. Young, who is a training director at a major business in the community, offers Dr. Johnson a lucrative consulting contract with her company.     

Experiential Learning Theory as a Guide for Effective Teaching

David Kolb's experiential learning theory involves a framework that can be helpful in designing courses that meet the needs of diverse learners. Kolb described learning as made up of two dimensions, prehending or grasping information, and transforming or processing that information. The prehending dimension ranges from concrete experience to abstract conceptualization. The transforming dimension ranges from reflective observation to active experimentation. Kolb suggested that learning occurs as the individual moves through a cycle of concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation. The cycle is then repeated at more complex levels. A course design that provides systematic activities in all four of these modes (concrete experience, reflective observations, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation) will be sensitive to the students' learning styles while at the same time challenging them to develop competence in other ways of learning as well. Students are thus encouraged to master the information with which the course deals and to develop skills in processing and applying that information. They are therefore engaged in learning how to learn, a competence that is critically important for effective adult functioning.     

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.     

PILOTing Courseware

The declining costs of microcomputers will enable counselor education programs to take advantage of this medium in developing instructional programs and units. PILOT, an amazingly simple computer language, is outlined for producing computer-assisted instruction (CAI). Authoring systems that internally contain the logic and programming necessary for the development of CAI lessons are discussed. Applications for training, especially simulations, are included.