CRITICAL VARIABLES IN EFFECTIVE COUNSELOR TRAINING

3 critical classes of variables emerge from research on 16 professional, subprofessional, and helpee programs involved in counselor training: (1) level of trainer functioning on facilitative and action-oriented dimensions, (2) level of trainee functioning, and (3) type of program. Trainer level of functioning appears most critical with trainees moving in their functioning in the direction of their trainers. Trainees tend to gain the most with high-level trainers and lose the most or terminate with low-level trainers when the discrepancies between trainer and trainee level are greatest. Those programs proving most effective were those concentrating systematically and behaviorally upon the facilitative and action-oriented dimensions. (24 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.