Counselor Preparation Programs Research Articles

Ethics and Values as Major Factors Related to Multicultural Aspects of Counselor Preparation

Counselors and future counselors face a variety of challenges as society becomes more diverse and laden \n\\h ditfering value systems. As the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice (American Counseling /Association, 1995) is changed to become more inclusive of the values held in a diverse society, changes in counselor preparation to incorporate these changing vaiues are necessary.The authors discuss how values and ethics inform counseior preparation and recommend the appiication of J. A. Banks's (1981,1988) muiticuitural educational pedagogy to counselor preparation programs.

School Counselor Preparation to Meet the Guidance Needs of Exceptional Students: A National Study

A representative sample of counselor educators at U.S. universities were surveyed to identify the kinds of curricula school counselor preparation programs use for preparing students to work with exceptional students (ES). Program courses in exceptional student education (ESE), competencies, field experiences, state certification requirements for ESE courses, the degree of importance accorded by counselor educators to prepare graduates to serve ES, and the educators' level of satisfaction with current program requirements were investigated. Sixty‐two percent of the programs surveyed did not offer a specific ESE course; however, 53% of these programs (N = 146) reported that ESE competencies were incorporated in other program courses.

Integrating Spirituality Into Counselor Preparation: A Developmental, Wellness Approach

Recent surveys of the general public and of counseling professionals suggest the pervasive importance of spirituality in the lives of all individuals. Yet, the infusion of spirituality in counselor preparation programs continues to be a concern. Incorporating spirituality within a wellness paradigm can help counselors and counselor educators value and address spirituality as an integral component of optimum human functioning. By distinguishing between religiosity and spirituality and operationally conceptualizing spirituality as a life span developmental phenomenon that is essential for achieving wellness, counselor educators can more readily incorporate spiritual issues within the philosophy of the counseling profession.

Transforming School Counselor Preparation Programs

(2002). Transforming School Counselor Preparation Programs. Theory Into Practice: Vol. 41, Transforming School Counseling, pp. 169-176.

A Comparison of Existing School Counselor Program Content With The Education Trust Initiatives

In a national survey of entry‐level school counselor preparation programs, counselor educators were asked about the extent to which they addressed, in their classes, concepts defined by The Education Trust literature and the extent to which these concepts were important in preparing school counselors. The relationship between existing programs and The Education Trust initiatives for the preparation of school counselors is discussed.

A National Survey of School Counselor Preparation Programs: Screening Methods, Faculty Experiences, Curricular Content, and Fieldwork Requirements

This article describes the results of a national survey regarding the preparation of entry‐level school counseling students. The questionnaire asked counselor educators about credit hours, screening methods, previous faculty experiences in a school setting, course content, and fieldwork requirements. Survey results revealed similarities and differences among school counselor preparation programs.

Factors Associated with the Inclusion of Managed Care Concepts in the Curricula of Master's Level Counselor Preparation Programs

A survey of 60 counselor preparation programs was conducted to determine to what degree the behavioral methodologies endorsed by managed care are included in the curricula. The majority of respondents indicated that community counseling programs provide a generalist rather than a specialist approach to counselor education. Only one-fourth of the programs teach a specific course in managed care concepts, but nearly one-half of the surveyed counselor preparation programs incorporate managed care concepts into existing courses. Respondents were evenly divided as to whether the emphasis on managed care in the treatment community should influence the curricula. Results suggest that the specialist training advocated by managed care is not fully endorsed by counselor preparation programs.

Sexuality Counseling in Counselor Preparation Programs

This article describes a sexuality counseling course designed for a master’s level counselor preparation program. Course content and process underscores material helpful to counselor preparation programs considering the addition of a sexuality counseling course to their curriculum. Print and video resources are identified to facilitate the acquisition of human sexuality knowledge.

Then and Now: Examining Quality Dimensions of Counselor Preparation Programs

This study examines methods that have been used to assess the quality dimensions of educational programs. The purpose of assessing these methods is to provide improved procedures for evaluation to increase the accountability of counselor preparation programs. This will help guide counseling into the status of a mature profession.

Diversity‐Sensitive Counseling Today: A Postmodern Clash of Values

This article is the second in an ongoing series devoted to a critical reassessment of the status of diversity‐sensitive counseling. The current discussion focuses on the use of existing counseling theories and interventions in a diversity‐sensitive counseling context, and potential limitations of affirmative action in the American Counseling Association's organizational structure and in counselor preparation programs. Inconsistencies are noted between the strategies now being used to achieve diversity and the philosophical foundations of the counseling profession. At issue are the conflicting values of various constituencies within the Association.

Counseling Students' Perceptions of Supervisory Modalities

ABSTRACT In this study, graduate students in counseling at various levels of training were surveyed regarding their preferences for and use of various modalities of supervision, and their views of the strengths and weaknesses of these modalities. Findings revealed differences in use of supervision modalities for beginning, intermediate, and advanced trainees, but no differences in preferences, and low usage of supervisory modalities that are rated by students as having the most strengths. Implications for developmental theories of supervision and for counselor preparation programs are discussed.

Current Perceptions of the Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Education Degrees in Counselor Preparation

Results of a survey of program coordinators of counselor preparation programs addressing current perceptions regarding the doctor of education and doctor of philosophy degrees are presented and implications are discussed.

Follow‐Up Surveys for Counselor Preparation Program Graduates and Their Employers

Ratings were obtained for item‐inclusion importance for counselor preparation program follow‐up surveys for program graduates and their employers. Survey elements are suggested.

African American Faculty and White American Students

The development of culturally competent counseling skills and knowledge is experienced differently when faculty and students are from culturally and/or racially different backgrounds. This article reviews some of the factors that influence learning and teaching in counselor preparation programs when the faculty member is African American and the students are White Americans.

Grief counseling training in counselor preparation programs in the United States: A preliminary report

A survey of counselor preparation programs was conducted to document the status of grief counseling training in the United States. Respondents gave their opinion about the importance of teaching grief counseling and their reasons for including/not including grief counseling in their curricula. Specific information about the manner in which grief counseling is currently being addressed in counselor preparation programs was also gathered. Results from 135 programs indicated that training in grief counseling is considered important by most respondents, most programs do address grief counseling, and grief counseling is taught primarily by infusing the topic into various courses. Class lecture/discussion was the most frequently reported method for teaching grief counseling. Suggestions for further research on grief counseling training are included.

Using the Phone-In Procedure

This study surveyed marriage and family therapy supervisors in counselor preparation programs. The study investigated a component of live supervision; that is, the phone-in procedure. Supervisors were asked to read a supervision case and then select the most appropriate phone-in response from five distractors. Supervisory phone-in responses were developed from recommendations found in the literature. After reviewing findings from this study, it was suggested that having received supervision while using the phone-in improved the likelihood of selecting the most appropriate response. It was therefore suggested that those planning to use live supervision and the phone-in procedure consider obtaining supervision of their supervision.

Professional Identification of Counselor Preparation Programs

A survey of 521 counselor preparation programs nationwide revealed that most programs with master's or both master's and doctoral degrees have a counseling professional orientation as opposed to psychological or other orientation.

CACREP: The Need for a Mid‐Course Correction

Since its inception in 1981, CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) has been AACD's (American Association for Counseling and Development) program accrediting agency. As of April 1991, 72 counselor preparation programs have earned CACREP accreditation. Recommendations to modify CACREP's standards and system of governance are made with the intention of increasing CACREP's influenceand making it accountable to the constituents it serves.

Use of Live Supervision in Counselor Preparation

This study investigates the use of live supervision in counselor preparation programs. The perceived impact of live supervision on program management and student development are also considered.

Textbooks Used in Counselor Education Programs

In this article the authors present results of a nationwide survey that identified textbooks most used by counselor preparation programs in 10 important content areas.