Experiences of novice therapists in prepracticum: Trainees', clients', and supervisors' perceptions of therapists' personal reactions and management strategies

The experiences of prepracticum trainees were explored with a combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Specifically, changes in trainees' anxiety, self-efficacy, counter-transference management, and therapeutic skills were investigated over the course of a semester. Trainees', clients', and supervisors' perceptions of trainees' reactions during counseling were also examined as well as the strategies that trainees used to manage their reactions. Quantitative analyses indicated that trainees became less anxious and developed greater skills over the semester. Qualitative results suggested that trainees experienced a range of reactions during sessions, some of which interfered with their ability to provide maximally effective counseling, and that trainees most often managed their reactions by focusing on the client, using self-awareness, and suppressing their feelings.