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Counselor Trainees’ Views on Their Forthcoming Experiences in Practicum Course

Year 2015, Issue: 61, 0 - 0, 01.04.2016

Abstract

Statement: The counseling profession requires specific education and training to equip counselor trainees with necessary knowledge and skills. Therefore, they are required not only to acquire theoretical knowledge but also to integrate it into practice. Especially, the integration of theoretical knowledge into practice is optimally possible with practicum. Although practicum provides a context such integration, it also leads to some negative thoughts and feelings among trainees. Experiencing anxiety and other feelings of incompetence impedes their professional development. Therefore, the critical task is to enable them to cope with negative feelings and experiences such as anxiety during their training process. In this context, taking account trainees’ experiences and feelings as counselors during the formal education process makes important contributions to their personal and professional development.

Purpose of Study: To support the development of counselor trainees and make their educational and training processes fully functional, understanding the nature and antecedents of these negative experiences and feelings becomes critical. This study was conducted to understand the counselor trainees’ predictions about their experiences as counselors during practicum course and to reveal the sources of feelings related to these predictions.

Methods: This research was a qualitative study based on focus group interviews. The researcher and two research assistants conducted interviews with two groups consisting of a total of 13 trainees taking an Individual Counseling Practicum Course. Open-ended questions were asked during interviews. Data was analyzed by means of inductive analysis. 

Findings and Results: As a result of the inductive analysis, four main themes of Counselor Trainees’ Feelings, Professional Practice Issues in the Counseling Process, Evaluation Anxiety, and Supervision emerged. When counselor trainees’ feelings about practices were examined, feelings of confusion, anxiety, excitement, curiosity, and fear were reported. Most of their fear and anxiety was explained in terms of professional practice issues such as being professional, managing the counseling process, etc. Evaluation anxiety was revealed as another source of the trainees’ negative feelings, as they were preoccupied with being good counselors. The supervision process was evaluated more positively.

Conclusions and Recommendations: Findings revealed counselor trainees’ views on what they believed they would experience and feel with regard to practicum before this course. It was found that trainees were anxious and worried due to the ambiguities of practicum experience. Based on these findings, in order to provide better counselor trainee education and more effective psychological counseling services, carefully dealing with incompetence feelings and their sources is proposed. Although this study reveals important findings about trainees, it has some limitations. This study was carried out as a qualitative study with a limited number of participants. Therefore, similar studies should be conducted with larger groups. In later studies, diary use and observations can be employed for data triangulation. Longitudinal studies can be conducted to understand deeply trainees’ feelings throughout the professional developmental process.

Keywords: Counselor training, counselor’s professional development, counselor trainees’ anxiety, counselor trainees’ feelings of incompetence

References

  • Aladag, M., & Bektas, D. Y. (2009). Examining individual-counseling practicum in a Turkish undergraduate counseling program. Egitim Arastirmalari-Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, 37, 53-70.
  • Aladag, M., Yaka, B., & Koc, I. (2014). Opinions of counselor candidates regarding counseling skills training. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 14(2), 879-886.
  • Barrett-Lennard, G. T. (1998). Clinical and counseling: Carl Rogers' helping system: Journey and substance. London, GBR: Sage Publications. Retrieved from http://www.ebrary.com
  • Brown, D., & Srebalus, D. J. (1996). Introduction to the counseling profession. USA: Allyn & Bacon.
  • Buyukgoze-Kavas, A. (2011). Bireysel ve grupla psikolojik danisma uygulamalarina yonelik bir degerlendirme. [An evaluation of individual and group counseling practices]. Turk Egitim Bilimleri Dergisi, 9(2), 411-432.
  • Cormier, S., & Hackney, H. (1999). Counseling strategies and interventions. USA: Allyn & Bacon.
  • Cormier, S., & Hackney, H. (2014). Psikolojik danisma: Stratejiler ve mudahaleler [Counseling strategies and interventions] (S. Dogan, & B. Yaka, Trans). Ankara: Pegem Akademi.
  • Creswell, J. W. (2012). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. USA: Pearson Education.
  • Egan, G. (2002). The skilled helper: A problem-management and opportunity-development approach to helping. USA: Brooks/Cole.
  • Fulton, C. L., & Cashwell, C. S. (2015). Mindfulness‐based awareness and compassion: Predictors of counselor empathy and anxiety. Counselor Education and Supervision, 54(2), 122-133.
  • Granello, D. H. (2002). Assessing the cognitive development of counseling students: Changes in epistemological assumptions. Counselor Education and Supervision, 41(4), 279-293.
  • Hill, C. E., Sullivan, C., Knox, S., & Schlosser, L. Z. (2007). Becoming psychotherapists: Experiences of novice trainees in a beginning graduate class. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 44(4), 434-460.
  • Jennings, L., Goh, M., Skovholt, T. M., Hanson, M., & Banerjee-Stevens, D. (2003). Multiple factors in the development of the expert counselor and therapist. Journal of Career Development, 30(1), 59-72.
  • Jordan, K., & Kelly, W. E. (2004). Beginning practicum students' worries: A qualitative investigation. Counseling & Clinical Psychology Journal, 1(2), 100-105.
  • Jordan, K., & Kelly, W. E. (2011). A preliminary factor analytic investigation of beginning counseling students worries. Psychology Journal, 8(1), 2-10.
  • Knight, B. K. (2013). The lived experiences of master's level counseling students in beginning skills classes: A qualitative study(Order No. 3573940). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (1438055948). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1438055948?accountid=7181
  • Kottler, J. A., & Brown, R. W. (2000). Introduction to therapeutic counseling: Voices from the field. USA: Brooks/Cole.
  • Levitt, D. H., & Jacques, J. D. (2005). Promoting tolerance for ambiguity in counselor training programs. The Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Education and Development, 44(1), 46-54.
  • MacMillan, M., & Clark, D. (1998). Learning and writing in counselling. London, GBR: SAGE Publications Ltd. (UK). Retrieved from http://www.ebrary.com
  • Ronnestad, M. H., & Skovholt, T. M. (2003). The journey of the counselor and therapist: Research findings and perspectives on professional development. Journal of Career Development, 30(1), 5-44.
  • Skovholt, T. M., & Ronnestad, M. H. (1992). Themes in therapist and counselor development. Journal of Counseling & Development, 70(4), 505-515.
  • Skovholt, T. M., & Ronnestad, M. H. (2003). Struggles of the novice counselor and therapist. Journal of Career Development, 30(1), 45-58.
  • Skovholt, T. M., Ronnestad, M. H., & Jennings, L. (2003). Searching for expertise in counseling, psychotherapy and professional psychology. Educational Psychology Review, 9(4), 362-369.
  • Theriault, A. (2003).Therapists' feelings of incompetence: A grounded theory analysis of experienced clinicians (Order No. NQ88590). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (305265710). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/305265710?accountid=7181
  • Thériault, A., & Gazzola, N. (2005). Feelings of inadequacy, insecurity, and incompetence among experienced therapists. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research: Linking research with practice, 5(1), 11-18.
  • Thériault, A., & Gazzola, N. (2006) What are the sources of feelings of incompetence in experienced therapists?. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 19(4), 313-330.
  • Thériault, A., Gazzola, N., & Richardson, B. (2009). Feelings of incompetence in novice therapists: Consequences, coping, and correctives. Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy/Revue canadienne de counseling et de psychothérapie, 43(2), 105-119.
  • Thomas L., MacMillan J., McColl E., Hale, C., & Bond S. (1995). Comparison of focus group and individual interview methodology in examining patient satisfaction with nursing care. Social Sciences in Health,1, 206–219.
  • Welfel, E. R., & Patterson, L. E. (2005). The counseling process: A multitheoretical integrative approach. USA: Brooks/Cole.
  • Woodside, M., Oberman, A. H., Cole, K. G., & Carruth, E. K. (2007). Learning to be a counselor: A prepracticum point of view. Counselor Education & Supervision, 47(1), 14–28.
Year 2015, Issue: 61, 0 - 0, 01.04.2016

Abstract

References

  • Aladag, M., & Bektas, D. Y. (2009). Examining individual-counseling practicum in a Turkish undergraduate counseling program. Egitim Arastirmalari-Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, 37, 53-70.
  • Aladag, M., Yaka, B., & Koc, I. (2014). Opinions of counselor candidates regarding counseling skills training. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 14(2), 879-886.
  • Barrett-Lennard, G. T. (1998). Clinical and counseling: Carl Rogers' helping system: Journey and substance. London, GBR: Sage Publications. Retrieved from http://www.ebrary.com
  • Brown, D., & Srebalus, D. J. (1996). Introduction to the counseling profession. USA: Allyn & Bacon.
  • Buyukgoze-Kavas, A. (2011). Bireysel ve grupla psikolojik danisma uygulamalarina yonelik bir degerlendirme. [An evaluation of individual and group counseling practices]. Turk Egitim Bilimleri Dergisi, 9(2), 411-432.
  • Cormier, S., & Hackney, H. (1999). Counseling strategies and interventions. USA: Allyn & Bacon.
  • Cormier, S., & Hackney, H. (2014). Psikolojik danisma: Stratejiler ve mudahaleler [Counseling strategies and interventions] (S. Dogan, & B. Yaka, Trans). Ankara: Pegem Akademi.
  • Creswell, J. W. (2012). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. USA: Pearson Education.
  • Egan, G. (2002). The skilled helper: A problem-management and opportunity-development approach to helping. USA: Brooks/Cole.
  • Fulton, C. L., & Cashwell, C. S. (2015). Mindfulness‐based awareness and compassion: Predictors of counselor empathy and anxiety. Counselor Education and Supervision, 54(2), 122-133.
  • Granello, D. H. (2002). Assessing the cognitive development of counseling students: Changes in epistemological assumptions. Counselor Education and Supervision, 41(4), 279-293.
  • Hill, C. E., Sullivan, C., Knox, S., & Schlosser, L. Z. (2007). Becoming psychotherapists: Experiences of novice trainees in a beginning graduate class. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 44(4), 434-460.
  • Jennings, L., Goh, M., Skovholt, T. M., Hanson, M., & Banerjee-Stevens, D. (2003). Multiple factors in the development of the expert counselor and therapist. Journal of Career Development, 30(1), 59-72.
  • Jordan, K., & Kelly, W. E. (2004). Beginning practicum students' worries: A qualitative investigation. Counseling & Clinical Psychology Journal, 1(2), 100-105.
  • Jordan, K., & Kelly, W. E. (2011). A preliminary factor analytic investigation of beginning counseling students worries. Psychology Journal, 8(1), 2-10.
  • Knight, B. K. (2013). The lived experiences of master's level counseling students in beginning skills classes: A qualitative study(Order No. 3573940). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (1438055948). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1438055948?accountid=7181
  • Kottler, J. A., & Brown, R. W. (2000). Introduction to therapeutic counseling: Voices from the field. USA: Brooks/Cole.
  • Levitt, D. H., & Jacques, J. D. (2005). Promoting tolerance for ambiguity in counselor training programs. The Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Education and Development, 44(1), 46-54.
  • MacMillan, M., & Clark, D. (1998). Learning and writing in counselling. London, GBR: SAGE Publications Ltd. (UK). Retrieved from http://www.ebrary.com
  • Ronnestad, M. H., & Skovholt, T. M. (2003). The journey of the counselor and therapist: Research findings and perspectives on professional development. Journal of Career Development, 30(1), 5-44.
  • Skovholt, T. M., & Ronnestad, M. H. (1992). Themes in therapist and counselor development. Journal of Counseling & Development, 70(4), 505-515.
  • Skovholt, T. M., & Ronnestad, M. H. (2003). Struggles of the novice counselor and therapist. Journal of Career Development, 30(1), 45-58.
  • Skovholt, T. M., Ronnestad, M. H., & Jennings, L. (2003). Searching for expertise in counseling, psychotherapy and professional psychology. Educational Psychology Review, 9(4), 362-369.
  • Theriault, A. (2003).Therapists' feelings of incompetence: A grounded theory analysis of experienced clinicians (Order No. NQ88590). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (305265710). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/305265710?accountid=7181
  • Thériault, A., & Gazzola, N. (2005). Feelings of inadequacy, insecurity, and incompetence among experienced therapists. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research: Linking research with practice, 5(1), 11-18.
  • Thériault, A., & Gazzola, N. (2006) What are the sources of feelings of incompetence in experienced therapists?. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 19(4), 313-330.
  • Thériault, A., Gazzola, N., & Richardson, B. (2009). Feelings of incompetence in novice therapists: Consequences, coping, and correctives. Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy/Revue canadienne de counseling et de psychothérapie, 43(2), 105-119.
  • Thomas L., MacMillan J., McColl E., Hale, C., & Bond S. (1995). Comparison of focus group and individual interview methodology in examining patient satisfaction with nursing care. Social Sciences in Health,1, 206–219.
  • Welfel, E. R., & Patterson, L. E. (2005). The counseling process: A multitheoretical integrative approach. USA: Brooks/Cole.
  • Woodside, M., Oberman, A. H., Cole, K. G., & Carruth, E. K. (2007). Learning to be a counselor: A prepracticum point of view. Counselor Education & Supervision, 47(1), 14–28.
There are 30 citations in total.

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Journal Section Articles
Authors

Yıldız Kurtyılmaz

Publication Date April 1, 2016
Published in Issue Year 2015 Issue: 61

Cite

APA Kurtyılmaz, Y. (2016). Counselor Trainees’ Views on Their Forthcoming Experiences in Practicum Course. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research(61).
AMA Kurtyılmaz Y. Counselor Trainees’ Views on Their Forthcoming Experiences in Practicum Course. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research. April 2016;(61).
Chicago Kurtyılmaz, Yıldız. “Counselor Trainees’ Views on Their Forthcoming Experiences in Practicum Course”. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, no. 61 (April 2016).
EndNote Kurtyılmaz Y (April 1, 2016) Counselor Trainees’ Views on Their Forthcoming Experiences in Practicum Course. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research 61
IEEE Y. Kurtyılmaz, “Counselor Trainees’ Views on Their Forthcoming Experiences in Practicum Course”, Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, no. 61, April 2016.
ISNAD Kurtyılmaz, Yıldız. “Counselor Trainees’ Views on Their Forthcoming Experiences in Practicum Course”. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research 61 (April 2016).
JAMA Kurtyılmaz Y. Counselor Trainees’ Views on Their Forthcoming Experiences in Practicum Course. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research. 2016.
MLA Kurtyılmaz, Yıldız. “Counselor Trainees’ Views on Their Forthcoming Experiences in Practicum Course”. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, no. 61, 2016.
Vancouver Kurtyılmaz Y. Counselor Trainees’ Views on Their Forthcoming Experiences in Practicum Course. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research. 2016(61).