Age, Gender, and Ethnicity of Counsellor Trainees and Corresponding Counselling Self-Efficacy: Research Findings and Implications for Counsellor Educators

Sarah Lam,Susan Tracz,Christopher Lucey

doi:10.1007/s10447-012-9175-3

Abstract

This study explored the counselling self-efficacy of students in a counsellor education programme, in regard to age, gender, and ethnicity characteristics. To assess counselling self-efficacy, the Counselling Self-Estimate Inventory (COSE) of Larson et al. (Counsellor Education & Supervision 41: 120–130, 1992) was administered at the end of a semester to counselling students engaged in different stages of a counsellor training program. No significant differences were found in regard to gender and age-group categories, but significant differences were found among ethnic groups. It was found that Asian and White students generally had similar and also lower counselling self-efficacy means than the other ethnic groups in the sample in regard to several counselling-specific categories. Implications for counsellor educators in training counselling students of diverse characteristics are discussed.

Highlights

Since the 1960’s, the multicultural movement in counselling has raised research interest in and awareness of the counselling needs of culturally different clients (Heppner et al 2009)
To identify the interconnectedness between counsellor diversity status and professional development, this study explored the relationship between counselling students’ age, gender, and ethnicity and their counselling self-efficacy
In examining the ANOVA results, there were no significant differences between age groups for Total Self-Efficacy or for any of the subscales

Summary

Introduction

Since the 1960’s, the multicultural movement in counselling has raised research interest in and awareness of the counselling needs of culturally different clients (Heppner et al 2009). Multicultural counselling addresses diverse populations and the influences of culture on the counselling relationship, which includes “the unique cultural background of [the] mental. Int J Adv Counselling (2013) 35:172–187 health professionals” Gelso (2010) suggests that the diversity status of the counsellor is “significantly under-addressed” in the discourse about multicultural counselling Even when the diversity status of the counsellor is addressed, oftentimes the focus is the impact on therapeutic alliances and treatment outcomes (Wintersteen et al 2005) rather than on the counsellor’s professional development

Methods

Results

Conclusion