This article describes the development of the Counseling Self-Estimate Inventory through 5 studies. A factor analysis (N = 213) yielded 5 factors that reflect counselor trainees' confidences in using microskills, attending to process, dealing with difficult client behaviors, behaving in a culturally competent way, and being aware of one's values. Reliability estimates indicate that the items are internally consistent (a = .93) and stable over time. Initial validity estimates show that the instrument is (a) positively related to counselor performance, self-concept, problem-solving appraisal, performance expectations, and class satisfaction; (b) negatively related to state and trait anxiety; (c) minimally related to aptitude, achievement, personality type, and defensiveness; and (d) sensitive to change over the course of master's practicum and across different levels of counselors. Also, trait anxiety and counseling self-efficacy were significant predictors of counselor trainee performance. The development of a reliable and valid counseling self-efficacy instrument has training and research implications.

This article provides an integrative review of the counseling self-efficacy (CSE) literature conducted from 1983 to the present. First, the content, structure, and psychometric properties of the four most common constructs across the 32 studies are reviewed. Second, the findings from the literature are integrated into the larger theory by relating CSE to the major components of social cognitive theory, namely, counselor characteristics, personal agency, counselor performance, and the supervision/counseling/work environment. Third, the intervention studies that have been targeted at increasing either CSE estimations or counselor performance are presented. Fourth, studies that have examined and identified significant predictors of CSE are discussed. Fifth, the practical implications for supervisors are discussed. Finally, conclusions and recommendations for future research are presented.

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The decision to seek psychological help may be hindered or facilitated by many factors. Two potential factors that might facilitate help seeking are having a relationship with someone (a) who recommends seeking help or (b) who themselves have sought help. In two studies (N = 780, N = 746), we explored the relationship between these factors and intentions to seek mental health services. In Study 1, being prompted to seek help and knowing someone who had sought help were both related to positive expectations about mental health services. In Study 2, being prompted to seek help and knowing someone who had sought help were related to more positive attitudes toward help seeking. Also, knowing someone who had sought help was related to the intention to seek help. Of those who sought psychological help, approximately 75% had someone recommend that they seek help and about 94% knew someone who had sought help.