Exploration of Support Behavior in Counseling Groups With Counseling Trainees

Abstract

The study explores the types of support expressed in counseling groups attended by trainee counselors. Support is a crucial factor in human life in general, and in groups in particular, yet little is known about the type of support presented in counseling groups. Type of support was categorized by means of the Social Support Behavior Code (SSBC; Cutrona & Suhr, 1992, 1994; Suhr, 1990). The study included 216 counseling trainees in 14 groups led by 6 therapists. Results indicated a high level of support provided by both group members and therapists, with an increase in positive support and a reduction of negative behavior over time. The most frequent types of support were Esteem Support and Emotional Support by group members, and Attentiveness and Esteem support by therapists. Reciprocity in support was found; especially troubling is reciprocity in Negative Behavior, found among group members.

Keywords:

• counseling trainees
• group counseling
• support behavior

Notes

Note: p < .05, means with same subscripts were not statistically different at alpha = .05. Results are based on Mixed Models.

Significant differences: Group members—Informational, F(2, 270.18) = 4.63, p < .05, η² = .06; Esteem, F(2, 263.86) = 4.04, p < .05, η² = .06; Negative Behavior/Total Positive Support, F(2, 320.35) = 4.05, p < .05, η² = .07. Therapist—Social Network, F(2, 307.73) = 4.02, p < .05, η² = .06.

Note: Results are based on mixed models.

**p < .01, ***p < .001.

Manuscript submitted November 28, 2010; final revision accepted October 18, 2011.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Yoni Harel

Yoni Harel, Ph.D., is a research fellow and Zipora Shechtman, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Counseling and Human Development at the University of Haifa.

Zipora Shechtman

Carolyn Cutrona, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Iowa State University.