The relationship between client-counselor race and counselor use of reflective listening skills

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Jonnie Seay (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Advisor

Shari Corinne Sias

Abstract: Abstract Research shows that minority populations underutilize counseling services and have high dropout rates (Hser Evans Huang & Anglin 2004; King & Canada 2004). Additionally counselor behavior is directly related to treatment outcomes (Okiishi et al. 2006; Okiishi Lambert Nielson & Ogles 2003). That is counselors with good rapport building skills have better client outcomes. This study explored the relationship between client race and counselor behavior. The study participants were 5 student case managers/counselors and 10 clients at a substance abuse intensive outpatient program. In an attempt to control extraneous variables all counselors selected were Caucasian. Three counselors were males and two were females. All clients selected were males two Caucasian and two African American. Data was collected by accessing archived counseling sessions recorded as part of the program's clinical service. Counselor use of reflective listening skills was coded by two independent raters using the Motivational Interviewing Skills Code (MISC) 2.0 (Miller Moyers Ernst & Amrhein 2003). A paired-sample t test was used to analyze the differences in group means. The results showed that counselors used more reflective listening behaviors with Caucasian clients versus African American clients. 

Additional Information

Publication

Thesis

Date: 2011

Keywords

Health sciences, Counseling psychology, Social Work, Counseling, Counseling Relationship, Race, Reflective Listening, Substance abuse, Substance Abuse Counseling

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