The Effect of Nonverbal Skills Training on Counselor Trainee Nonverbal Sensitivity and Responsiveness and on Session Impact and Working Alliance Ratings

Abstract

Counselor trainees (N = 18) were randomly assigned to treatment (nonverbal sensitivity) or control (empathy training) conditions. Trainees saw a recruited client before (first 2 weeks) and after (last 2 weeks) a 15‐week counseling methods class. Trainees rated their sensitivity to nonverbal behaviors, counseling self‐efficacy, and the extent to which they focused on client nonverbal behavior. Clients filled out the Session Evaluation Questionnaire and Working Alliance Inventory at pre‐ and posttesting. Trained raters viewed videotapes of the counseling sessions and rated the extent that counselors focused on client nonverbal behavior. As hypothesized, trainees in the treatment condition, when compared with those in the control condition, increased their focus on client nonverbal behaviors. In addition, clients of treatment condition counselors showed significant differences in working alliance ratings. Trainees in both conditions increased their rating of nonverbal sensitivity and self‐efficacy from pre‐ to posttesting. Implications are discussed.