Telephone counsellors' conceptualising abilities and counselling skills

Telephone counsellors must make accurate assessments of callers' needs so as to provide appropriate counselling help or referral. But few researchers have examined counsellors' conceptualising abilities in relation to their counselling skill. Two studies involving telephone counsellors were carried out. The first relied on counsellors' post-interview conceptualisations of callers' problems and needs and found no link between the accuracy of these conceptualisations and counselling skill. The second used Kagan's Interpersonal Process Recall (IPR) to retrieve counsellors' conceptualisations made during the course of their interviews. The accuracy of these conceptualisations-in-action was related to level of counselling skill. Implications for training and research are discussed     

The response-shift bias in a counsellor education programme

Student counsellors' pre-test, post-test and retrospective pre-test scores on the Counselor Evaluation Rating Scale (CERS) were used to investigate the presence of a 'response-shift bias', to estimate the overall effectiveness of training and to promote counsellors' continuing self-reflection on their work. Results from three groups of trainees spanning 3 years revealed the presence of a response-shift bias, confirmed the effectiveness of the training programme and demonstrated the students' continuing self-analysis of their own counselling skill.     

Willingness to seek counselling, and factors that facilitate and inhibit the seeking of counselling in Indonesian undergraduate students

This paper describes a study designed to investigate Indonesian undergraduates' attitudes to counselling. It focuses on the results derived from data analyses of a questionnaire measuring the level of willingness to seek counselling, factors inhibiting and facilitating the seeking of counselling in Indonesian students. The exploration was differentiated into professional counselling outside the university and the university counselling services. The self-administered questionnaire was distributed among 1,279 students. The results indicated that the level of willingness to seek counselling was low. The use of social networks was the most important discouraging factor. Wide dissemination of information about counselling services, efforts to enhance confidentiality in counselling and counsellors' understanding of students' world and ways of thinking were strongly suggested to encourage students to seek counselling.     

Counsellors' perspectives on the use of the Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life (SEIQoL) in an alcohol counselling setting

As part of a randomised controlled trial to investigate the feasibility of using the Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life (SEIQoL) within an alcohol counselling setting, counsellors' views of using the tool were sought. Data about the service users' use of SEIQoL were collected during the counselling session, and focus groups and questionnaires were used to collect data on counsellor perceptions and experiences of using the tool. SEIQoL was easy and quick to use and provided users with a graphic, visual and dynamic means to identify important areas that contributed to their quality of life; it appeared to enhance the reflective process early on in counselling. Counsellors reported that service users requested the tool be used more frequently during the counselling process and they felt it could be a useful review tool.     

The responsibilities of counsellor supervisors: A qualitative study

A study was carried out to investigate whether supervisors of counsellors considered themselves to be clinically responsible for the work of their supervisees, what responsibilities they considered themselves to have for the counsellors' work, and how they managed their responsibilities. The purpose of the study was to enhance the counselling profession's understanding of the responsibility of supervisors and of the supervisory relationship. The study was confined to supervisors working in private practice. Ten experts in the field of counselling and supervision were interviewed, using a semi-structured questionnaire. The interviews were analysed using the 'constant comparative method'. They revealed that the participants would not use the term 'clinical responsibility' to describe their responsibilities. There were mixed views about the nature of the responsibility of the supervisor when supervising counsellors practising independently. The participants indicated a preference to supervise only the most experienced counsellors, with whose practice they were already familiar and in whose work they already had considerable confidence. None of the supervisors interviewed considered themselves to be legally responsible for the counsellors' work. All the participants were aware that the risks associated with counselling in private practice could be considerable and had an acute sense of responsibility for the content of the work. Reluctance to take action against supervisees who were in breach of the code of ethics was expressed. There was scepticism about the requirement for them to have supervision for their supervisory work. Implications for the practice of counselling supervision and for the profession are discussed.     

Counselling problem drinkers: The realm of specialists. Alcoholics Anonymous or generic counsellors?

A study was carried out to investigate counsellors' attitudes and experiences in working with people with drinking problems and counsellors' understanding of Alcoholics Anonymous as a helping agent. Ninety-four counsellors responded to a questionnaire about their work with people with drinking problems and their knowledge of AA. Generic counsellors tended not to feel competent working with clients with alcohol problems. Feelings of competence increased with greater experience of the client group and, to a lesser extent, with more hours of specialist training. It was found that counsellors whose intake of alcohol amounted to more than eight units per week were less likely to take on clients with alcohol problems than were those who drank less. Counsellors usually had some knowledge of AA but had little understanding of the 12-step programme that forms the basis of recovery for alcoholics as described by AA. They were, however, in favour of clients attending AA as an adjunct to individual counselling     

Exploring counsellor perceptions of the impact of counselling supervision on clients

This qualitative study explores counsellors' experiences and perceptions of how counselling supervision impacts their clients. The literature review highlights little research in this area. Data collection combined open-ended questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Analysis was phenomenological incorporating participant validation. The findings indicate that supervision impacts client work both helpfully and unhelpfully. Areas that emerged as having the most direct impact on client work were: exploration of client-counsellor dynamics and raising counsellor self awareness, professional development, emotional support and the quality of the supervisory relationship. Benefits and dangers for clients not taken to supervision were highlighted. Congruence and confidence were the most direct link between supervision and client work.     

The Counselling Interview Rating Form: a teaching and evaluation tool for counsellor education

The Counselling Interview Rating Form (CIRF) was developed to evaluate trainee counsellors' use of microskills and other aspects of the counselling session. The CIRF provides a structured format for evaluation that enhances the teaching and learning of interviewing skills by supervisors and trainee counsellors respectively. Uses of the CIRF in educational and clinical settings are described.     

Coping with childhood cancer: The case for long-term counselling help for patients and their families

A case is made for a skilled, independent counselling service to be made available to children with cancer, and their families. Evidence is presented from a selected review of recent literature, and the stated needs and views of a small group of parents obtained by counsellors' in-depth interviews. This evidence shows the stresses imposed, and the inability of the medical team fully to address these needs concurrently with treating the illness. Skilled, long-term counselling for patient and family is seen to be an important aspect of a comprehensive childhood cancer service.     

Perceived Marital Changes Following Marriage Guidance Training

Training to become a marriage guidance counsellor in Scotland involves a relatively demanding 18 months' programme of both didactic and experiential learning. Changes in the counsellors' marital relationships following training were evaluated using the Marital Adjustment Test and two ad hoc questionnaires. Of the 49 counsellors who (a) began training between 1976 and 1980, (b) completed the training and (c) were still counselling in February 1983, 33 participated, as did 30 of their partners. In general, the counsellors and their partners reported increased marital satisfaction following the training period, though five counsellors and two partners reported a decrease. The findings from the ad hoc questionnaires were also encouraging.     

Counsellors' attitudes towards Disability Equality Training (DET)

This paper explores the attitudes and conceptions held by trainee and practising counsellors towards people with disabilities. Awareness of counsellors' own views of disability and impairment can complicate the counsellor-client relationship when the latter is seen primarily from a deficiency model perspective or self-defined model of disability, rather than a person in their own right. DET was introduced to 25 counsellors on a postgraduate training programme. Participants indicated that coverage of disability awareness and equality issues was vital if they were to reflect the principles of open access to counselling services for all, as set out in the Disability Discrimination Act Part III (1996, 1999). Benefits and implications of inclusion of this subject area in counsellor training and suggestions for content are considered in the light of the author's own experience of counselling as a disabled person.     

An investigation into the validity of role play as a procedure for counsellor skill assessment

The aim of this study was to determine the validity of role play as a method for assessing counsellor skill. Video recordings of twelve counsellors' performance in both real and simulated counselling interactions were analysed. Skill assessment included molar ratings of eight skill areas and molecular measures of 28 behaviours. A comparison of counsellor performance between conditions indicated that there was little difference between the real and role-play situations. It is concluded that the modified extended role-play format employed in the present study might be a valid technique for assessment of counselling skills.     

Israeli Adolescents' help-seeking behaviours in relation to terrorist attacks: the perceptions of students, school counsellors and teachers

Exposure to terror seriously threatens the well-being of children and adolescents. School mental health professionals cope simultaneously with the counselling needs of their clients and with their own fears and doubts. This report is based on two studies. The first study was concerned with the perceptions of Israeli adolescents of the place of terrorist attacks in their lives. It also examined adolescents' help-seeking attitudes and behaviours in relation to terrorist attacks. The second study investigated Israeli school counsellors' and teachers' perceptions of their own roles and professional attitudes in relation to terror. A better understanding of the effects of terrorism on adolescents as well as potentially effective approaches to coping with its individual and organisational outcomes are proposed.     

Experiencing risk in person-centred counselling: a qualitative exploration of therapist risk-taking

With increasing emphasis being given to the importance of the relationship in counselling, this paper is based on an initial exploration of counsellors' experiences of risk when bringing their own person into play, and the way in which these experiences relate to the quality of psychological contact. Qualitative interviews with eight practising counsellors were conducted using a person-centred approach. Themes emerging included the process of risk-taking for counsellors, the process of reaction and response for clients and the effects on the relationship both in the immediate session and in the long term. Most participants expressed the view that the greatest impact of a critical moment of risk-taking was to facilitate deeper levels of contact, usually described in terms of being more 'authentic', ' real' and 'loving'. In a few cases the risk-taking intervention led to a rupture in the relationship, sometimes precipitating the end of the therapy. The study also highlighted the interdependence of the types of interventions and the quality of contact. The author's reflections are also given.     

Problem restructuring processes for ill-structured verbal analogies

The processes involved in analogy solving have been an important investigative area in cognitive psychology. Although problem restructuring has been a central construct in problem solving theory, no restructuring processes have been proposed for analogical reasoning. Yet, the stimulus terms for analogies, as they appear on ability tests, are often ill-structured. That is, they are ordered in a way that does not permit direct problem comprehension. In the current study, both perceptual and semantic problem restructuring processes were hypothesized for analogy solving. The independence, stage of execution, and susceptibility to strategic control of the two processes were examined. The results from two experiments indicated that (1) ill-structured analogies are restructured during problem solving, (2) perceptual and semantic restructuring processes are independent and executed at different stages of analogy solving, and (3) both processes exhibited automaticity since repetition of analogy solution attenuated but did not eliminate either restructuring process. A model of analogical reasoning that incorporated both restructuring processes and their execution sequences was proposed. The nature and automaticity of perceptual and semantic analogy restructuring processes were disscussed.     

Pastoral Counselling

The beginnings of the modern pastoral-care and counselling movement in the 1960s are reviewed, in particular, the attempt to integrate theology with the behavioural sciences, and the theories born of that integration with the practice of pastors and religious leaders. The developments of the last ten years are explored and the tensions of the movement analysed. Pastoral counsellors' contribution to counselling in general in the United Kingdom, and to pastoral ministry both here and overseas, is assessed.     

The fears of the counsellors: a qualitative study

The author begins this paper with the claim that fear is a relatively under-researched topic in counselling despite its prevalence. Ten counsellors were interviewed concerning their fears encountered in their therapeutic work. Participants were also asked what they had found to be helpful and unhelpful when attempting to deal with these fears. Fears reported are categorised into fears of losing control, fears of being separated from a group by way of disapproval or rejection, and fears of physical and/or sexual assault. Substantive quotations are provided from the interviews. The author concludes with the contention that a deeper consideration and enhanced understanding of counsellors' fears will assist counsellors and their supervisors to accord fear an appropriate and healthy respect without becoming unduly frightened in the process.