Psychological Counseling Education Research Articles

Determination of Psychological Counsellor Candidates’ Competency Levels and Educational Needs in terms of Therapeutic Conditions in the Process of Individual Counselling

The purpose of the present study is to enhance the quality of psychological counselling education by identifying needs and competencies in the field. The lack of specific studies on therapeutic conditions in psychological counseling education on a national scale has led us to conduct the current study. The study group consists of 20 students (12 female, 8 male) taking Individual Counselling course during spring term in 2019- 2020 academic year. According to the audio recordings, the participants were seen to be unable to behave at expected level under the title of concreteness of therapeutic conditions. In addition, they were observed not to provide necessary conditions under the title of transparency. However, it has been revealed that they managed to develop empathy. Moreover, they were seen to be unable to fulfill here and now principle at expected level. Finally, they were found to perform respect conditions.

Effect Of A Group Leader Training Program On The Group Counseling Skills Of Psychological Counselor Candidates

It is important to encourage psychological counselor candidates to do practice, as well as provide the theoretical basis for the counseling in a group within the psychological counseling education. Otherwise, they may be reluctant to manage a psychological counseling group. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a training program on the group counseling skills of counselor candidates. The experimental group of the research consisted of 37 group leader candidates (18 males and 19 females). Quantitative data were obtained using the Skilled Group Counseling Scale. Qualitative data were obtained from evaluation reports of the candidates at the end of the training and analyzed using the content analysis method. Quantitative findings of the research showed that, at the end of the training, all of the total and subscales scores of the Group Counseling Skills Scale of the candidates significantly meaningfully increased. Qualitative findings were grouped under 3 themes, as achievements (group counseling skills, group leader self-efficacy, and professional awareness), boosters, and difficulties.

Psikolojik Danışman Adaylarına Göre Etkili Psikolojik Danışmanın Özellikleri ve Psikolojik Danışman Eğitiminin Etkisi

Purpose of this study is to investigate the views of psychological counselor candidates, on the characteristics of effective psychological counselor, changes that their psychological counseling education has made in them, and in their opinion, how psychological counseling education should be. The study was conducted in qualitative research method, and data was collected via three open-ended questions from a total of 196 undergraduate students 169 female (86%) and 27 male (14%) of Psychological Counseling and Guidance programs from two state universities. Data obtained were analyzed by content analysis. According to the findings, psychological counselor candidates indicated that the characteristics an effective psychological counselor should have are having good communication skills and having the necessary conditions for good communication; willing to be with people and to help them; self-awareness and resilient; objectivity and openness to new things; professional attitude, ethics, and attitude towards life. Participants summarized the changes that they experienced due to their education as the increase of personal qualities such as knowing one’s self more and changing it, knowing others better and understanding them better, and some professional qualities as starting to have better communication. For a more effective psychological counseling education, psychological counselor candidates suggested that increasing practicum classes and supervision, rearranging the courses and years in terms of number, term, and methodology, and improving the academic staff-student relations. Findings were discussed according to literature.