This study dealt with the problem of training selected basic interviewing skills to beginning counselors. The purposes of this investigation were 1) to assess the effectiveness of microcounseling for training the skills of open-ended questioning and verbal minimal encouraging; 2) to assess the influence of microcounseling on counselor verbal participation; 3) to determine whether training in these skills via the microcounseling model will generalize to the actual counseling setting and be maintained over time; and, 4) to determine whether microcounseling is a practical method of teaching therapy skills to practicum students.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of the microcounseling training model for the improvement of marital communication. The purposes of this study were (a) to assess the effects of microcounseling on the communication between married couples; (b) to determine whether the teaching of skills using microcounseling can have specific behavioral effects on the actions of individuals in training; (c) to assess whether this change has effects on sharing behavior of couples; (d) to determine whether skill training has any effect on marital adjustment of couples; and (e) to examine changes in meaning that training may cause. Based on statistical results it was concluded the microcounseling does not result in significant changes in marital communication. Neither does microcounseling bring about significant changes in marital adjustment or primary communication. Eleven of the semantic differential items did change significantly. It was nevertheless concluded that these changes were not enough to support the conclusion that great changes in meaning had occurred. It was concluded that from a time-cost standpoint, microcounseling is not an efficient way to train married couples' communication.