A Pilot Study of Transformational Leadership and College Counseling Outcomes

ABSTRACT

This pilot study explores the relationship between perceived transformational leadership skills of college counselors and outcomes in counseling. College students receiving counseling (n = 46) were given a revised version of the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ), the Working Alliance Inventory, Short Form (WAI-S), and the Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms (CCAPS-34). Results yielded significant relationships between improvement in areas of client functioning and subscales measuring aspects of transformational leadership in counselors as perceived by clients. In addition to significant correlations between alliance and subscales of the MLQ, there were strong negative relationships between social anxiety and management by exception (active); academic distress and idealized influence (behavior); and alcohol use and management by exception (passive).

KEYWORDS:

• College counselor training
• counseling
• counselor education
• creativity in counseling
• leadership
• working alliance

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Charles J. Jacob

Charles J. Jacob is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at La Salle University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Jessica Stoler

Jessica Stoler is a graduate student in the Professional Clinical Counseling program at La Salle University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Gregory Roth

Gregory Roth is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at La Salle University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.