Client and counselor verbal category systems for the analysis of trainees' counseling.

Abstract

We operationally defined verbal behavior categories for clients, the Client Verbal Behavior System (CL-VBS), and for counselors, the Counselor Verbal Behavior System (CO-VBS), to match the categories in the Carkhuff (Carkhuff & Anthony, 1979) and Ivey (Ivey & Authier, 1978) training models, in order to study the acquisition of the skills and their impact on client responses and outcomes. Experts established the content validity. We tested for reliability in two ways: judge agreement with a criterion set by experts, and interjudge consistency. Both reliabilities were highly significant. The criterion analysis revealed sources of errors, which showed how to improve the systems' designs and the training. As a result of this study, the CL-VBS and the CO-VBS are ready for the study of the efficacy of the Carkhuff and Ivey training models, the impact of counselor skills on clients, reciprocal interaction effects, and the impact of these factors on client outcomes.