Developing the Counselor as a Person and as a Professional: Attitudinal Changes in Core Counseling Courses

Abstract

This quantitative pilot study examined changes in counseling students’ professional attitudes in 3 master\u27s-level core courses. Results indicated significantly more change occurred during an ethics course than during the other courses. Changes occurred in attitudes consistent with humanistic philosophy, including self-awareness, professional impairment and self-care, healthy professional relationships, empathy, and multicultural awareness

Voices from the Desks: Exploring Student Experiences in Counselor Education

“…Counseling programs require students to explore their own mental wellbeing and history of crisis and life struggle (Hayes, 2014). Learning basic counseling skills (i.e., empathy, reflection, genuineness, and selfreflection) can be an intensely challenging yet rewarding experience (Coll, Doumas, Trotter, & Freeman, 2013;Hayes, 2014). Personal counseling services and other personal growth activities help students build a foundation of mental health that supports competent and effective practice (Irving & Williams, 1999).…”

“…Self-Care practices have been widely cited as an important part of the developing counselor's skill set (Coll et al, 2013;Roach & Young, 2007). Self-care reduces compassion fatigue, improves stamina, and supports ethical practice (Simpson & Falkner, 2013).…”

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“…Self-Care practices have been widely cited as an important part of the developing counselor's skill set (Coll et al, 2013;. Self-care reduces compassion fatigue, improves stamina, and supports ethical practice (Simpson & Falkner, 2013 For many graduate students, financial issues are viewed as a source of significant stress (Benshoff, Cashwell, & Rowell, 2015;El-Ghoroury et al, 2012).…”

“…reflection) can be an intensely challenging yet rewarding experience (Coll, Doumas, Trotter, & Freeman, 2013;Hayes, 2014). Personal counseling services and other personal growth activities help students build a foundation of mental health that supports competent and effective practice (Irving & Williams, 1999).…”

Stigma of mental illness and multicultural counseling self-efficacy : investigating the implications of the multicultural training environment, mental health literacy, and empathy.

“…Even without agreement as to its precise nature, it continues to be considered one of the most important qualities of a therapist and a cornerstone of humanistic counseling practice (Coll, Doumas, Trotter, & Freeman, 2013).…”