Effects of counselor-client similarity on the outcome of counseling.

Abstract

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, a test yielding scores on four dimensions, Judgment-Perception, Thinking-Feeling, Sensation-Intuition and Extraversion-Introversion, was administered to clients and their counselors. An absolute difference score was obtained for each pair and correlated with number of counseling sessions. The results indicate that the greater over-all similarity, the greater the length of counseling; similar, but less striking, results are found for individual dimensions. Client scOTes are uncorrelated with the criterion. The results are interpreted as indicating greater client commitment to counseling when the counselor is similar to the client in cognitive-perceptual orientation.

Psychotherapy Outcome as a Function of Therapist–Patient Matching on Selected Variables

“…Perception). Although a curvilinear relationship was found between therapeutic outcome and client-therapist similarity on the MBTI in an initial study (Mendelsohn & Geller, 1963), this finding was not replicated in subsequent attempts (Mendelsohn, 1966;Mendelsohn & Geller, 1967).…”

Why Do Eating Disorder Patients Drop Out?

“…Skill and experience of the therapist may also be important for continuation in therapy [ 18,27,28], as well as whether the therapist feels he likes the patient [29], A few studies have focused on the interaction of thera pist and patient factors. Similarity of demographic char acteristics between clients and therapists have been found to have a positive effect on therapeutic expectations and outcome [30][31][32], although other studies suggest this may not be the case [33][34][35], Similarity of cognitive character istics between therapists and clients has been associated with favourable outcome [36][37][38], while still other re search has failed to confirm this [39][40][41], More recently, similar locus of control orientations between therapist and client has been associated with more favourable client expectations [42], Knowledge of the role of the patient-therapist relation ship in dropout also remains elusive. This may seem odd given that psychotherapeutic process and outcome can be viewed as largely mediated by the patient-therapist rela tionship [43], Mutuality of goals and agreement regarding tasks and responsibilities are important elements of this relationship [44], Yet patients and therapists may dis agree about the most effective ways of realising such goals [45,46] and researchers may need to become more aware of the ways in which events occurring in therapy are per ceived differently by therapists and patients.…”

Does level of professional training make a difference in crisis intervention counseling?

“…The work of Mendelsohn and Geller has confirmed the efficacy of at least a moderate degree of matching between mental health workers and clients. 4 Another explanation may be that the more economically disadvantaged target population they serve presents problems that require less psy-. chodynamic insight and counselor sophistication.…”