Counselor Sex Role Orientation, Flexibility, and Working Alliance Formation

Abstract

The authors examined the hypothesized relationship among counselor androgyny, counselor flexibility, and the establishment of client‐rated working alliances. In Study 1, 41 counseling students completed the Bem Sex‐Role Inventory (BSRI; Bem, 1981a) and the Counselor Behavior Analysis Inventory (Gabbard, Howard, & Dunfee, 1986). Contrary to the hypothesis, there was no relationship between androgyny and counseling flexibility. In Study 2, 42 counseling students completed the BSRI and videotaped counseling sessions with a recruited client. Analyses revealed a significant relationship between counselor flexibility and client ratings of working alliance, but no relationship between counselor androgyny and counselor flexibility. Research and clinical implications are discussed.