Personality: A Predictor of Theoretical Orientation of Students Enrolled in a Counseling Theories Course

Abstract

Selecting a single psychotherapeutic orientation can be a challenge for counselor education students. The authors examined the relationship between counseling theory selection and personality variables of students enrolled in a counseling theories course. A discriminant function analysis was used to identify the personality traits that would determine theoretical orientation choice. No statistically significant results were found. Results indicated that students showed no personality-based preference of theory. Additionally, no significant differences were found on selected subscales of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (I. B. Myers,

Selecting a Theory of Counseling: What Influences a Counseling Student to Choose?

“…No themes were evident that indicated that participants' own personality factors were an influence in selecting a theoretical orientation (e.g. [15]). …”

“…Studies on the influence of personality on theoretical orientation have been conducted (e.g. [13]), a recommendation for future research would be to look at other influences such as religious affiliation [3,4] and other factors due to the multifaceted nature of developing a theoretical orientation in counseling [15].…”

“…Freeman, Hayes, Kuch, & Taub, [15] found no connection between personality type and theoretical orientation. As a result, they concluded that theory selection is a complicated and multifaceted process that cannot be easily understood through the lens of one or two counselor traits.…”

“…Other factors observed as an influence in acquisition of theoretical orientation are cognitive style [2], religious beliefs [3,4] and personal belief systems [14]. As counselor/therapists develop over time, even their interaction with varying personal and professional life events, can cause an evolving of theoretical orientation over the span of their career [15,40].…”

“…For example, some studies have found that a counselor's self-professed theory is oftentimes different than what they actually practice in therapy [8,31,36], while other researchers have found that the counselors do practice what they profess as their theoretical orientation [18]. Research on the connection between personality factors as an influence on theory selection is mixed [15,44]. Erickson [13] found that there was a connection between counselors' Myers-Briggs Type Indicator scores and selection of a theoretical orientation.…”