Required counseling for mental health professional trainees: Its perceived effect on self-awareness and other potential benefits

Abstract

Background: Professional literature, mental health training program accreditation standards, and mental health professionals support the idea that high levels of self-awareness are necessary for mental health professionals to deliver effective services to a diverse client population.

Aims: The authors examined the experience of 164 students in a counselor preparation program that required 10 sessions of individual counseling for perceived effect on self-awareness and recommendation for requirement of counseling for trainees.

Method: The researchers developed a survey including a Counselor Self-Awareness Scale to examine students' perceptions regarding the value of the required counseling experience.

Results: Students perceived a significant increase in awareness of interactions with clients, as well as other benefits, and 92% of participants supported required counseling for mental health professional trainees.

Conclusions: This study provided support for the effectiveness of required counseling in increasing perceived self-awareness for trainees.

Keywords:

• Required counseling
• self-awareness
• counseling trainees
• counselor preparation
• Counselor Self-Awareness Scale