Therapist variables are considered an important research topic, because studies suggest that as clients improve in therapy their values shift towards that of their therapist. This study examined the relationship of professional counseling affiliation and counselor values.Five hundred surveys were sent nationally to counselors based on their membership in the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA), and the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD). Counselors completed a questionnaire which was comprised of a subset of the Jensen and Bergin Mental Health Value Instrument, the Religious Commitment Inventory10, and the Multicultural Counseling Inventory. Based on their primary affiliation as either a Christian, Multicultural, or General Mental Health counselor a final sample of 129 respondents was obtained. Group scores were analyzed through MANOVA and ANOVA techniques.The results of this survey found no differences among the various counseling groups for the mental health value of Autonomy or Self-growth. Christian counselors were found to report higher levels of the mental health value of Religiosity and Religious Commitment. Multicultural counselors were found to report higher levels of multicultural counseling competencies, especially in the areas of Multicultural Counseling Awareness and Multicultural Counseling Knowledge.These findings support the notion that there are differences in values among counselors based on their professional affiliation. Accordingly, it is suggested that future research efforts continue to examine the effect of professional counselor affiliation on counselor values. Special consideration should also be given to researching the process by which counselor values affect change in the part of their clients. Finally, counselors are encouraged in their therapeutic practiceto be aware of their operative value systems and share them with their clients as part of an informed consent. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/175955 |
| Date | January 2002 |
| Creators | Dugan, Kevin P. |
| Contributors | Gordon, Phyllis A. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | viii, 143 leaves ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
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