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The understanding and use of counselling by speech and language therapists at different levels of experience *
Author(s) -
PARKINSON KARIN,
RAE JOHN P.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
international journal of language and communication disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.101
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1460-6984
pISSN - 1368-2822
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-6984.1995.tb01757.x
Subject(s) - psychology , clinical psychology , exploratory research , psychotherapist , medical education , medicine , anthropology , sociology
There is little empirical research on speech and language therapists' use of counselling skills or their understanding of what counselling means. We report a survey examining both these issues and their relationship to work experience. Four groups (first and fourth‐year students, new and experienced therapists, total 151) completed a questionnaire measuring counselling and teaching work behaviours used by therapists, or anticipated by students. Significant differences were found. Scheffe's test showed: first‐year students indicated fewer counselling behaviours than experienced therapists; new therapists indicated fewer counselling behaviours than fourth‐year students and experienced therapists; fourth‐year students anticipated using less teaching behaviour than was reported by new and experienced therapists. This pattern may be partly due to new therapists adopting a defensive teaching role. No significant differences were found between the groups' understanding of counselling. Content analysis showed that while the therapist skills needed and the exploratory nature of counselling were identified by most participants, few mentioned enabling the client to take responsibility for change. This may relate to the perceived locus of control in the therapeutic situation. We discuss training implications and the role of personal therapy in developing a healthy therapeutic relationship.