Counseling Self-efficacy Research Articles

The person of the therapist: therapists’ personal characteristics as predictors of alliance and treatment outcomes

Objective Studies examining the unique contribution that the therapist has on outcomes (i.e., “therapist effects”) have increased in recent years. Therapist effects are believed to occur via how the therapist’s interpersonal and intrapersonal qualities influence the therapeutic relationship, which in turn influences outcomes. The current study focused on the extent to which professional self-doubt, counseling self-efficacy, and humility are therapist qualities that influence treatment outcomes. Methods: Data were collected from 46 therapists at a multi-site community behavioral health organization. Therapists completed measures of therapist characteristics. Therapists’ responses were matched with de-identified archival client data (N = 1, 817) that contained an outcome and alliance measure administered every session. Multilevel modeling was used to determine the extent to which therapists’ personal characteristics predicted client outcomes. Results: Results of the unconditional model for the alliance measure indicated a lack of growth in alliance scores across treatment. Approximately 5% of the variance in rate of growth for treatment outcome was between therapists. When controlling for the effects of counseling self-efficacy, professional self-doubt was marginally significant. When counseling-self-efficacy was removed from the model, professional self-doubt was no longer marginally significant. Conclusion: The findings highlight the complexity of therapist effects and the need for future research on this topic.

He Effects of Novice Counselor’s Inner Career Decision-Making Motivation on Psychological Burnout - Mediating Effects of Counselor Self-Efficacy

he Effects of Novice Counselor’s Inner Career Decision-Making Motivation on Psychological Burnout - Mediating Effects of Counselor Self-Efficacy

The relationship between Professional Identity and Burnout of Novice Counselor : Mediating Effects of Counselor Self-Efficacy

The relationship between Professional Identity and Burnout of Novice Counselor : Mediating Effects of Counselor Self-Efficacy

Nurse practitioner experiences providing nutrition counseling to adult patients in primary care.

Poor nutrition is one of the leading risk factors for preventable chronic diseases in the United States. Nutrition counseling has been shown to improve clinical outcomes in the adult primary care setting. Nurse practitioners (NPs) can help fill the critical need for nutrition counseling, yet little is known about their role providing nutrition counseling. To describe the primary care NP's experience in providing nutrition counseling to adult patients in primary care practice. Qualitative descriptive study design. Data were collected through virtual semi-structured interviews with 18 board-certified primary care NPs. Interviews were audio-recorded, de-identified, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed. Data collection and analysis took place concurrently and continued until data saturation was achieved. Five themes emerged from NPs' descriptions of their experiences in providing nutrition counseling to adult patients in primary care practice: (1) role of nutrition counseling in NP primary care practice; (2) developing NP self-efficacy in nutrition counseling; (3) nutrition counseling is more than the provision of information; (4) emotional aspect of nutrition; and (5) barriers to behavior change. Findings suggest that although NPs understand the importance of nutrition counseling in primary care practice and provide it in some capacity, its continuance is limited by multiple barriers. Future research should evaluate ways to enhance NPs' preparedness to provide nutrition counseling, assess specific resources and tools to aid in nutrition counseling, and determine best practices for communication when delivering nutrition counseling. Future interventions have the potential to positively affect patients' dietary practices and improve clinical outcomes.

Perceptions of Telemental Health Care Delivery During COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study With Providers, February-March 2021.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated adoption of telemental health (TMH). Providers with limited TMH experience faced challenges during the rapid switch to remote patient care. We investigated TMH providers’ perceptions about remote care one year into the pandemic according to when providers adopted telemedicine (i.e., before vs. after March 2020) and how much of their caseloads were served remotely (i.e., < 50% vs. ≥ 50%). Between February–March 2021, 472 TMH providers completed a cross-sectional, web-based survey that measured perceived benefits and satisfaction with telemedicine, therapeutic alliance, patient-centered communication, eHealth literacy, multicultural counseling self-efficacy, and facilitating factors of using telemedicine. Providers who began using telemedicine before the pandemic reported having better training, task-related therapeutic alliance with patients, and ability to conduct multicultural interventions, assessments, and session management. Providers who served ≥ 50% of their caseload remotely reported greater satisfaction with their practice, stronger beliefs about the benefits of telemedicine, and greater perceived effects of telemedicine on alleviating the impact of COVID-19. There were no differences in reports of patient-centered communication nor eHealth literacy. In conclusion, providers who adopted TMH more recently may require additional training and support to successfully establish a working alliance with their patients, especially with multicultural aspects of care.

Severity and Correlates of the Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in a Nationally Representative Sample of Turkish Secondary Boarding School Counselors

The aim of this study was to examine the severity of the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in a nationally representative sample of secondary boarding school counselors and their association with sociodemographics, school counselor self-efficacy, self-esteem, happiness, and stressful life events. Participants consisted of 181 (52.5% women; M = 26.91) school counselors working at different secondary boarding schools across Turkey who completed the measures related to sociodemographics, happiness, self-esteem, school counselor self-efficacy, stressful life events, depression, anxiety, and stress. After confirming construct validity and reliability of the self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and stress scales, data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson product moment correlation analysis, and multivariate multiple regression analysis. The study results suggested that depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms are prevalent among school counselors, approximately 23% of whom experience at least moderate symptoms of depression and stress, and approximately 31% experience at least moderate symptoms of anxiety. Moreover, the results indicated that the most commonly experienced symptoms were dysphoria in depression, situational anxiety in anxiety, and impatience in stress among school counselors. This study also found that sociodemographic factors and school counselor self-efficacy were not associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. However, higher levels of happiness and self-esteem and fewer stressful life events experienced within the past year consistently showed a negative association with exhibiting decreased symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among school counselors. Self-care activities focusing on increasing self-esteem and happiness and teaching skills to cope effectively with stressful life events may help to diminish the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among secondary boarding school counselors.

Influence of E-Counseling Skills on Counseling Self-Efficacy Among E-Counselors in Malaysia

Despite the rise in e-counseling services in Malaysia, there is an apparent lack of studies conducted from e-counselors’ perspectives on e-counseling features and provisions. The aim of the study is to determine the relationship between e-counseling skills and counseling self-efficacy. This quantitative study applied the descriptive correlational method in order to identify the relationship between e-counseling skills and counseling self-efficacy among e-counselors. The instrumentation involved the use of the Counseling Self-Estimate Inventory (COSE) and a self-constructed questionnaire, the E-Counseling Skills Scale which has undergone validity tests. 233 e-counselors from various institutions in Malaysia were selected using the simple random sampling technique to participate in completing an online survey form. Findings showed that respondents reported a high level of e-counseling skills (M = 4.07, SD = 0.60) and a moderate level of counseling self-efficacy (M = 4.00, SD = 0.67). E-counseling skills was positively correlated with counseling self-efficacy (r = .421, p &lt; .05). The multiple regression analysis reported that the subconstruct “goal identification and attainment” of e-counseling skills best predicted counseling self-efficacy (β = .27, t(225) = 2.33, p .05). The findings implied that a higher ability to apply e-counseling skills is linked to higher counseling self-efficacy among e-counselors in Malaysia. This study suggests further improvement and standardization in the counselor education and training policy, specifically in terms of e-counseling interventions for both professional counselors and counseling trainees.

Empowering Counseling Trainees with Foreign Language Anxiety: A Strengths-Based Relational-Cultural Approach

ABSTRACT Foreign language anxiety (FLA) is an under-addressed concern for non-native English speaking (L2) counseling trainees in U.S. counselor training programs. We review the literature on FLA, discuss its negative impact on counselor self-efficacy (CSE), and detail a peer-led support group grounded in Relational Cultural Theory (RCT) to address L2 counseling trainees’ FLA.

Counselor self-efficacy, spiritual well-being and compassion satisfaction/fatigue among mental health professionals in Pakistan

Counselor self-efficacy, spiritual well-being and compassion satisfaction/fatigue among mental health professionals in Pakistan

Model of Relationship between e-Counselling Skills, e-Counselling Ethics and e-Counselling Limitations with Counselling Self-efficacy

Despite the increasing number of e-counsellors, there is a lack of studies especially in the Malaysian context that highlight the skills and practices among e-counsellors and how these are linked to their perceptions when providing e-counselling. This study identifies the relationship between e-counselling skills, e-counselling ethics and e-counselling limitations with counselling self-efficacy among e-counsellors in Malaysia. A total of 159 e-counsellors from various institutions in Malaysia participated in this online survey study. The respondents were selected using the simple random sampling method. The Counselling Self-Estimate Inventory was adopted, and three self-constructed scales were employed for data collection purposes. Correlation analysis found that e-counselling skills (r = 0.597, p &lt; 0.001), e-counselling ethics (r = 0.201, p &lt; 0.001) and e-counselling limitations (r = -0.511, p &lt; 0.001) were significantly correlated to counselling self-efficacy. The structural equation model analysis confirmed the model of relationship between e-counselling skills, e-counselling ethics, e-counselling limitations and counselling self-efficacy. From the three dimensions, e-counselling limitations predicted counselling self-efficacy the best (β value = -0.60), followed by e-counselling ethics (β value= 0.56) and e-counselling skills (β value= 0.18). The findings imply that the extent of e-counsellors’ perceptions on the limitations present in e-counselling play an important role to predict the variance in counselling self-efficacy among e-counsellors. Professional counselling bodies, supervisors and counsellor educators are urged to design a more comprehensive educational and training programme for counsellors. Both counsellor candidates and professional counsellors will benefit from this study as it provides insights for more effective implementation of e-counselling.

Humans First, Professionals Second: Impact of Psychological Distress on Counselling Self-efficacy and Empathy of Trainee Clinical Psychologists

The current study aimed to find the relationship between the Psychological Distress (PD) of trainee clinical psychologists with their Counseling Self-Efficacy (CSE) and how this relationship may impact their empathy. It was hypothesized that (i) There will be a significant relationship between PD with CSE and empathy of trainee clinical psychologists, (ii) There will be a significant impact of the relationship between PD and CSE on the empathy of trainee clinical psychologists. A purposive convenient sampling technique was used to gather a sample of trainee clinical psychologists who have at least 1 month to 36 months of experience in client dealing and who are currently working in the field. A total sample of 103 (M = 25.92, SD = 2.73) was collected, including both males (5.8%) and females (94.2%). Participants of the study were provided an online form consisting of self-reported measures including the Kessler PD Scale (K10), Counselor Activity Self-Efficacy Scales (CASES) (Lent, Hill, &amp; Hoffman, 2003), and Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI; Davis, 1980, 1996). Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) to interpret and further analyze scores. Pearson product-moment correlation showed a significantly weak positive correlation of PD with CSE (p-value &lt; 0.05) and empathy (p-value &lt; 0.01). Regression Analysis (R²=0.07) represented the variance caused by PD and CSE on empathy. This research is a base to appreciate the efforts of the clinical psychologists under training as well as a means to encourage them to accept their distress and seek help for it.

Predictors of Counseling Self-Efficacy: Examining Counselor Trainees' Perception of Supervisory Interaction Style

The present research examined the relationship between perceived supervisory autonomy support and counseling self-efficacy (CSE) of counselor trainees. We explored whether this relationship was mediated by autonomous work motivation using the framework of self-determination theory (SDT; Ryan &amp; Deci, 2017) . Participants were master’s level mental health counseling interns (n = 182) enrolled in field internships. Mediational analyses showed that autonomous work motivation partially mediated the relationship between perceived autonomy support from supervisor and counselor trainees’ CSE. Results underscore the importance of adopting autonomy-supportive styles of clinical supervision for enhancing counselor trainees’ counseling self-efficacy. What is the public significance of this article?: This study suggests that when clinical supervisors provide an environment that supports counselor trainees’ autonomy, trainees experience increased autonomous motivation, which further enhances their counseling self-efficacy.

Helping skills courses: The effects of student diversity and numeric marginalization on counseling self-efficacy, counseling self-stigma, and mental health.

We examined the effects of racial/ethnic diversity and numeric marginalization on learning outcomes (changes in counseling self-efficacy, self-stigma for seeking counseling, and mental health) with 402 students in 30 sections of helping skills classes. Students self-identified as African American, Asian, Hispanic/Latinx, Other, or White. We operationalized class diversity with the diversity index developed by Chang (1999) and numeric marginalization as the percentage of students in the class that shared a target student's identity. Using two-level Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM; students nested within classes), we predicted counseling self-efficacy, counseling self-stigma, and mental health from student identity (Level 1), and the cross-level interaction between diversity and numeric marginalization (Level 2). Results suggested that classroom diversity had no effects on counseling self-efficacy but was associated with greater self-stigma. However, more classroom diversity was linked with better mental health for Latinx students. With African American students, numeric marginalization was associated with more counseling self-stigma. Surprisingly, for Asian students, numeric marginalization (i.e., a greater percentage of Asian students in a classroom) was linked with worse mental health. Finally, diversity had no effects on outcomes for White students. Findings demonstrate the importance of racial/ethnic composition in helping skills courses. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Psychometric Synthesis of the School Counselor Self-Efficacy Scale (SCSE)

Results from a study (n = 1,005) using the School Counselor Self-Efficacy Scale (SCSE) and subsequent psychometric synthesis of 12 SCSE studies were presented. Aggregated total scale α was .96 (subscale αs ranged from .72 to .90). Structural models fitted to the data provided evidence of good fit for both 4- and 5-factor models.

Assessment of Counseling Self-Efficacy: Validation of the German Counselor Activity Self-Efficacy Scales-Revised.

Background: Many authors regard counseling self-efficacy (CSE) as important in therapist development and training. The purpose of this study was to examine the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the German version of the Counselor Activity Self-Efficacy Scales-Revised (CASES-R).Method: The sample consisted of 670 German psychotherapy trainees, who completed an online survey. We examined the factor structure by applying exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis to the instrument as a whole.Results: A bifactor-exploratory structural equation modeling model with one general and five specific factors provided the best fit to the data. Omega hierarchical coefficients indicated optimal reliability for the general factor, acceptable reliability for the Action Skills-Revised (AS-R) factor, and insufficient estimates for the remaining factors. The CASES-R scales yielded significant correlations with related measures, but also with therapeutic orientations.Conclusion: We found support for the reliability and validity of the German CASES-R. However, the subdomains (except AS-R) should be interpreted with caution, and we do not recommend the CASES-R for comparisons between psychotherapeutic orientations.

Malaysian School Counselor's Self-Efficacy: The Key Roles of Supervisor Support for Training, Mastery Experience, and Access to Training.

The concept of self-efficacy has been widely studied and shown to contribute to individuals’ job satisfaction. For counselors, the concept measures their belief in their ability to conduct counseling sessions. However, it is an understudied area. As Bandura states, self-efficacy and its sources should be investigated and measured within its domain, which in this case is school counseling. This study examined the impact on school counselors’ self-efficacy and job satisfaction of the personal and environmental factors: (a) mastery experience, (b) social persuasion, (c) vicarious learning, (d) physiological and affective state, (e) the access to training, and (f) perceived supervisor support of training. The cross-sectional study involved 541 Malaysian secondary school counselors nationwide via a random sampling-distributed questionnaire. Results which were analyzed using PLS-SEM, with importance-performance functionality embedded in it, indicated that mastery experience, access to training, and perceived supervisor support of training explained 45.6% variance in counseling self-efficacy and together with counseling self-efficacy, contributed 13.2% variance in job satisfaction among the school counselors. The importance-performance map analysis revealed supervisor support of training as of greatest importance in shaping counseling self-efficacy. Counseling self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between mastery experience, access to training, supervisor support toward training, and job satisfaction Arising from this finding is a proposed theoretical framework in which efficacy information (i.e., mastery experience), environmental determinants (i.e., access to training and supervisor support of training) and cognitive determinant (i.e., counseling self-efficacy) corresponded together congruently and lead to higher job satisfaction. Suggestions are also made for training providers, content developers, and policymakers to include these factors in professional development training and continuous education, to sustain the wellbeing of school counselors.

Exploring Therapist Self-Efficacy Change Profiles Using Latent Growth Curve Analysis

ABSTRACT Objective: This study investigated the overall developmental trajectories of three conceptually progressive aspects of counseling self-efficacy, including helping skills (HS), session management (SM), and counseling challenges (CH), among beginning therapist trainees in China. Method: Participants included 103 beginning therapist trainees in a master’s level counselor training programme in China, who filled out measures of counselor self-efficacy in three waves over one year of practicum. Results: (a) Trainees showed highest initial level of HS, followed by SM, with CH being the lowest; and there were significant increases in all three aspects of self-efficacy. (b) Trainee age, gender, and personal therapy hours as a client were associated with the overall self-efficacy developmental trajectories. Specifically, elder therapist trainees reported higher initial levels of self-efficacy in HS and CH; female trainees reported lower initial level but higher increases in CH self-efficacy over practicum; and trainees who had more hours of personal therapy as clients showed higher initial levels on HS but not on other aspects or the change trajectories. Conclusion: Results in this study may inform trainers regarding trainees’ developmental characteristics, and assist them in planning targeted support to better foster trainee progress.

Integrating video-modeling into counseling skills and techniques course and its impact on counseling self-efficacy.

Counselor education requires a comprehensive curriculum including entry-level courses as counseling skills and techniques which foster students’ basic knowledge in counseling and perceived counseling self-efficacy (CSE). Counselor candidates are provided opportunities to observe skills and techniques in practice through video modeling (VM) as one of the most favored teaching methods. The use of VM is not a common method in counselor training in Turkey; therefore, first aim of the current study was to investigate how VM-integrated counseling skills and techniques course affected students’ perceived counseling techniques efficacy and CSE. The second aim was to gain a deeper understanding of the use of VM as a teaching method in this course. A mixed-methods sequential explanatory design was used. The research setting of the current study was the undergraduate counseling skills and techniques course that integrated 10 previously developed short videos about counseling techniques or processes. There were 41 third-year students enrolled in this course who participated in the study (quantitative phase). Seven voluntary students (out of 41) participated in the focus group (qualitative phase). The paired samples t-test was applied to analyze the effectiveness of VM and the content analyses were conducted to examine qualitative data. Results showed that the VM-integrated course increased students’ perceived efficacy in using techniques and general CSE. Results of the focus group were categorized under four themes and provided critical insights to better understand the factors leading to increased self-efficacy. The results of this study were discussed in the light of previous literature on counselor education.

Physician trainees’ compassion satisfaction, burnout, and self-efficacy when caring for people who inject drugs

Background: Front-line providers working with people who inject drugs (PWID) are at increased risk of experiencing burnout. Few studies have examined protective factors against burnout incurred in the care of PWID, including harm reduction counseling skills. We measured self-efficacy in harm reduction counseling, burnout, and compassion satisfaction among Internal Medicine (IM) trainees caring for PWID. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed IM interns and residents. Self-efficacy was assessed by asking trainees about attitudes, comfort, and knowledge in harm reduction counseling on a five-point Likert scale. Burnout and compassion satisfaction were assessed via an adapted 20-question Professional Quality of Life Scale. We compared self-efficacy in harm reduction counseling, compassion satisfaction, and burnout between interns and residents using ANOVA and Mann–Whitney U tests. We used Spearman’s rho correlational analysis to examine the relationship between these three variables. Results: Seventy-nine IM trainees (36 interns, 43 residents) completed the survey for a 52% response rate. Residents reported higher self-efficacy in harm reduction counseling, similar levels of burnout, and higher compassion satisfaction compared to interns. Across training levels, we found a negative correlation between burnout and compassion satisfaction (r = −0.55, p < 0.01) and a positive correlation between compassion satisfaction and comfort counseling PWID on harm reduction (r = 0.30, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Among IM trainees at an urban institution serving a large population of PWID, self-efficacy in harm reduction counseling and compassion satisfaction increase with time in training while burnout remains similar. Strengthening trainees’ capacity to counsel PWID on harm reduction may improve their compassion satisfaction in caring for this population, potentially leading to improved care. This relationship should be explored longitudinally in larger cohorts and through evaluations of harm reduction-focused medical education.

Acceptability and feasibility of telehealth as a training modality for trainee psychologist placements: a COVID-19 response study

ABSTRACT Objective This study examined the extent to which telehealth placements are feasible for developing perceived competence as a psychologist and are an acceptable training modality for provisional psychologists. Method Fifteen provisional psychologists who undertook a postgraduate placement using telehealth completed an online survey. Acceptability and attitudes towards future telehealth service provision were assessed via Likert scales and open-ended questions. Feasibility was assessed via comparison using Wilcoxon Rank Signed tests of pre- and post-placement self-efficacy using the Psychology Counsellor Self-Efficacy Scale. Open-ended questions were analysed using content analysis. Results Participants reported high satisfaction with the telehealth placement. Perceived self-efficacy improved between pre- and post-placement on all competencies except for research. Students reported that a telehealth placement enabled them to improve in all areas, with particular benefits including rapport building, therapeutic questioning, and management of safety and ethical concerns. Challenges of a telehealth placement included assessing mental status, isolation from peers, and technical difficulties. Students reported positive attitudes towards future use of telehealth. Conclusions Telehealth appears to offer an acceptable, feasible and valuable training experience for developing competence for provisional psychologists. Undertaking a telehealth placement may help prepare clinicians for future use of telehealth, especially in relation to ethics and risk management. Key points What is already known about this topic: (1) Psychologists typically report a reluctance to utilise telehealth and uptake has remained low prior to COVID-19 despite changes in Medicare. (2) Limited training in telehealth, especially around ethical issues and managing risk, is a key barrier to telehealth utilisation amongst psychologists. (3) Only very limited research has examined the use of telehealth placements in tertiary training, despite the need to pivot to telehealth placements during COVID-19. What this topic adds: (1) This study highlights that telehealth placements are both feasible and acceptable for developing competence and skill in trainee psychologists. (2) Telehealth placements equipped provisional psychologists with enhanced skills specific to telehealth service provision including managing ethical and safety concerns online. (3) Provisional psychologists who completed a telehealth placement reported an intention to utilise telehealth in future service provision.