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Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

Author ORCID Identifier

Alexandra Gantt-Howrey, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0889-2109

Gulsah Kemer, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6577-8636

Author Biographies

Alexandra Gantt-Howrey, PhD, is an assistant professor at Idaho State University. Her research interests include counselor cognitive development and the social determinants of health.

Erin Woods, PhD, LPC, is the Clinic Director at the College of William & Mary. Her research interests include diagnostic and counselor training issues.

Gulsah Kemer, PhD, is an associate professor at Old Dominion University. Her research interests include clinical supervision and counselor training issues.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7290/tsc06O6p7

Abstract

In their training efforts, counselor educators focus on a variety of characteristics, including cognitive complexity (CC). Cognitively complex counselors can identify and integrate the multiple characteristics and perspectives of their clients and have been found to be generally more empathic and accepting of ambiguity (Castillo 2018; Granello, 2010; Welfare & Borders, 2010b). Although CC is considered as an integral counselor attribute (Castillo, 2018), how CC may be related to within-program peer interactions has yet to be explored. Through this convergent mixed methods study (Creswell & Creswell, 2017), we sought to understand how n = 7 participants’ experiences with and assessments of their counseling peers may help explain the quantitative differences between participants’ levels of CC, using the Counselor Cognitions Questionnaire (Welfare & Borders, 2010b). Qualitative findings reveal that counselors in training assess their peers according to their professional abilities, developmental tasks, and perceived similarities and differences with them. Level of CC was found to be positively associated with perceptions related to peers’ developmental levels.

Public Significance Statement

Researchers have found that for counselors, cognitive complexity is related to greater empathy and various other important constructs (Castillo, 2018). Using a sample of seven counselors in training, we conducted a mixed methods study to better understand how participants’ experiences with and perceptions of their counseling peers may explain their levels of cognitive complexity. These findings have implications for improving counselor training and supervision for the benefit of diverse clients.

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