A GROUNDED THEORY OF COUNSELORS CONSTRUAL OF SUCCESS IN THE INITIAL SESSION

Counselors (N = 69) in 5 mental health fields provided written descriptions of their experience of success in an initial counseling session. Grounded theory analysis of these descriptions suggested that counselors tend to construe success in initial sessions through collaboration (i.e., adherence to desired interactional norms, establishment of rapport, and progress in problem solving) and positive awareness (client display of strengths and counselor self-evaluation of performance). Findings are discussed as they relate to counseling theory and practice.