Cognitive Bias in the Assessment Phase of the Counseling Process

Abstract

Assessment is described from the perspective of counselor inferential judgment. Types of cognitive bias and ways to avoid inferential error are discussed.Clients typically identify a particular concern as their reason for seeking counseling, but they are often confused about what is contributing to that concern or what resources they already have that can help resolve the problem. The counselor's role includes helping the client gain clarity regarding their problem, and assessment is part of this process. Assessment is that phase of the counseling process that enables counselor and client to create a map of the current situation, including client strengths and weaknesses, and to identify a direction in which to proceed. Cormier and Hackney (1993) described the following: Assessment refers to anything counselors do to gather information and draw conclusions about client concerns. Although most of the major components of assessment occur early in the counseling process, to some degree assessment goes on continuously during counseling, in that counselors are always seeking missing parts of the puzzle and attempting to place them where they fit. (p. 80)The focus of this article is on the process of assessment, rather than its content, and on some of the ways that process can go awry. For many counselors, the term assessment calls to mind an imaginary list of information appropriate to gather, perhaps through the use of structured intake interviews or standardized tests. Many counselors do use a standard intake model or rely on several psychological tests, and they are familiar with the advantages of this approach. The problem with the conceptualization of assessment as a list of questions or measures, however, is the possibility of getting stuck in the content of assessment, as though there were one finite or correct list of questions or areas to assess. Whatever test or intake model is used, it has the potential to limit the scope of inquiry. One counselor's intake model may include questions on health or early life experience, Beth E. Haverkump is an assistant professor in

Grief Counseling and Crisis Intervention in Hospital Trauma Units

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“…Significant differences between involved (active) and uninvolved (passive) perceivers with respect to attributions, evaluation bias, and cognitive processing have been described in the research literature (Manusov, 1993). Assessment bias, as described by Haverkamp (1994). reflects the different levels of field orientation that can be assumed when undertaking career assessment.…”

Decision-making bias in psychotherapy: Effects of hypothesis source and accountability.

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