Comparing Family Functioning of Counselors in Training With the Family Functioning of Noncounselors

Abstract

The authors compared level of family‐of‐origin dysfunction of counseling and non‐counseling master's‐degree students. Counseling students' families had significantly higher levels of dysfunction, but counselors did not score lower in level of graduate adjustment.

Perception of Counselor Behavior and Current Intergenerational Family Relationships

“…Bowen's view, however, is based largely on theoretical assumptions with little or no empirical research to support his claims. Notwithstanding a few recent exceptions (i.e., Buelow, Bass, & Ackerman, 1994;Lawson & Gaushell, 1991), addressing counselor emotional-psychological functioning within a family-of-origin relational context has been based primarily on anecdotal reports (Liaboe & Guy, 1987). It is this issue that, in part, accounts for the current dearth of empirical research on this subject.…”

Integrating the Spiritual Dimension Into Traditional Counselor Education Programs

“…Proponents of the model contend that it is appropriate because many students are attracted to the helping professions because of their own problems (Maeder, 1989;Miller, 1981;Rascusin, Abramowitz, & Winter, 1981;Rippere & Williams, 1986;Warkintin, 1963). They cite studies that counseling students are less healthy than other graduate students or other normative populations, on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) clinical scales (Bud win, 1977;Phillips, 1970;White, 1989);in overinvolvement of children in spousal relationships (Lawson & Gaushell, 1991);and in dysfunction in their families of origin (Buelow, Bass, & Ackerman, 1994). They also cite research that indicates that family-of-origin problems are correlated with greater effectiveness of counseling students (Watts, Trusty, Canada, & Harvill, 1995;Wilcoxon, Walker, & Hovestadt;Wittmer, Sword, & Loesch, 1973).…”

The Impact of Counselor Training on Students’ Couple Relationships: A Qualitative Inquiry

“…As a result, Furr and Carroll have urged future study attending to counseling students' personal relationships. Buelow and Bass (1994) have made a similar recommendation, as their quantitative exploration of student family functioning indicated that counseling students' families demonstrated significantly higher dysfunction indicators than graduate students enrolled in economic and science majors. They recommended attending to students' dysfunctional relationships; as such relationships may interfere with students' progress as clinicians.…”

“…Research recommendations advocating for attention to counseling students' interpersonal relationships have also been left uncultivated (Buelow & Bass, 1994;Furr & Carroll, 2003). Furr and Carroll (2003) analyzed counseling student transcripts describing critical incidents in counselor development.…”