Values, counselling theory and the school counsellor

This paper begins with an examination of the values implicit in the four dominant counselling theories found in England and Wales — client-centred, psychoanalytic, behaviourist, and eclectic. It then presents the findings of a study which attempted to measure the extent of support given to each of these theories. A 16-item questionnaire was answered by 107 school counsellors; in addition, 42 counsellors were interviewed. The data showed that British counsellors strongly supported the Rogerian and eclectic positions, and rejected both the psychoanalytic and behaviourist views.