Impact of Brief Counseling on Nonurgent Prior- versus Never-counseled Samples

ABSTRACT

The purposes of this study were to distinguish prior- versus never-counseled nonurgent University Counseling Center (UCC) clients and to test if brief counseling had a differential impact on these two samples. The prior-counseled sample (n = 100) was more prepared for counseling, had a lower stigma for seeking help, as well as lower social connectedness and life satisfaction versus the never-counseled sample (n = 109). After brief counseling (median of four sessions after triage), the prior-counseled group (n = 33) had significantly higher social connectedness, self-esteem, and life satisfaction, while only social connectedness of the never-counseled group (n = 31) increased.

KEYWORDS:

• Life satisfaction
• nonurgent clients
• prepared for counseling
• prior counseling
• self-esteem
• social connectedness
• stigma for help seeking