Systematic dilemma counseling: theory, method, research.

Abstract

Dilemma counseling, with theoretical base in cognitive structure research and with systematic method of dilemma formulation, extrication route, creative inquiry, and solution generation, is intended for ubiquitous and highly troubling avoidance-avoidance conflict cases (psychological dilemmas). In an exploratory experiment, 120 undergraduates with highly troubling psychological dilemmas were randomized among three conditions: dilemma counseling, eclectic counseling, control. Individual counseling occurred in a single intensive 2-hr. session. Dependent measures of quality of solution were taken at termination of counseling and measures of outcome a week later. Dilemma counseling, compared with eclectic counseling, produced significantly greater reduction in problem troublesomeness and each treatment produced significantly more improvement than the control condition. Dilemma counseling achieved significantly better solutions and more solutions than eclectic counseling. There was significant rank concordance of quality of solution between clients and independent professional psychologists. Number of solutions was positively correlated with extraversion in eclectic counseling but negatively correlated with extraversion in dilemma counseling. Correlation coefficients differed significantly. Dilemma counseling was compared with other cognitive counseling approaches and research in dilemma counseling was discussed.