The impact of counsellor training on emotional intelligence

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the impact of counsellor training on emotional intelligence (EI) in 45 undergraduates and 58 postgraduates. Significant improvements were recorded by students on completion of both programmes, suggesting that these were attributable to training which enhanced intra- and interpersonal aspects of emotional functioning. As a group, postgraduates were older than undergraduates, and at the outset of the study, EISAQ scores were comparable; however, at follow-up, undergraduates recorded significantly higher EISAQ scores. Students’ EI was not significantly related to their age, and these findings indicate the potential for effective EI-skills training which is unrelated to quantity of life experiences. It is hoped that this study contributes to a growing quantitative evidence base from which the counselling profession can evaluate its training profile.

KEYWORDS:

• Emotional intelligence
• personal development
• counsellor training
• counselling psychology
• professional development

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Peter Jenkins for his support for this study as well as counselling colleagues at the University of Salford for their assistance in the data collection stage.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Anne Pearson MSc. is currently Lecturer in Psychology and programme leader for the BSc (Hons) Psychology and Counselling within the Directorate of Psychology and Public Health at The University of Salford. She is dissertation module leader for all undergraduate programmes and tutor on the MSc. Applied Psychology (Therapies).

Ashley Weinberg Ph.D. is a Chartered Psychologist, Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He is currently Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Salford.