Perceived Early Childhood Family Influence and Counselor Effectiveness: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

This study found a significant correlation between counselor effectiveness and negative perceptions of early childhood family influence.

Model of Effects of Adult Attachment on Emotional Empathy of Counseling Students

“…Whereas this result is inconsistent with theorizing, it is consistent with some previous research (e.g., Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991;Searle & Meara, 1999), suggesting that preoccupation with relationships is related to higher levels of sociability and interpersonal warmth and to an intense focus on the emotions of others. Also, our results are consistent with more tangential research on counselor trainees (Watts et al, 1995;Wilcoxon et al, 1989) suggesting that negative perceptions of the family of origin are related to higher levels of counseling skill. Wolgien and Coady (1997), through interviews of effective counselors, found that the majority of those interviewed attributed some portion of their counseling effectiveness to their ability to deal with distress in their family of origin.…”

“…Their results suggested that the lower the perceived autonomy and intimacy in the early childhood family experiences of novice counselors, the higher their interpersonal-facilitation skill level. The findings of Watts, Trusty, Canada, and Harvill (1995) are similar. Watts et al investigated the relationship between perceived early family influence and counselor effectiveness in master's-level practicum students.…”

“…Wolgien and Coady (1997), through interviews of effective counselors, found that the majority of those interviewed attributed some portion of their counseling effectiveness to their ability to deal with distress in their family of origin. These three studies (Watts et al, 1995;Wilcoxon et al, 1989;Wolgien & Coady, 1997) provide support for the wounded healer concept. Although we did not directly test the viability of this concept in the present study, the wounded healer concept does offer a plausible explanation of our findings, and our findings, in turn, provide support for the concept.…”

Systemic–Developmental Supervision

“…Counseling students with more effective family-oforigin relationships correlates with increased counselor effectiveness (e.g., Trusty, Showron, Watts, & Parrillo, 2004;Watts, Trusty, Canada, & Harvill, 1995;Wilcoxon, Walker, & Hovestadt, 1989;Wolgien & Coady, 1997). Trusty, Showron, Watts, and Parrillo (2004) concluded that ''perhaps counselor-trainees who are more real with themselves are more real with others and therefore more attractive (i.e., friendly, likable, sociable, and warm) in counseling'' (p. 11).…”

Healers on the fault lines: trauma as a risky opportunity for growth, mental flexibility and the penchant for healing others

“…Thus, contrary to the concern that early trauma may compel individuals to become mental health professionals as a defense (repetition compulsion, acting out, reaction formation or another), several studies have suggested that early trauma may confer an added strength to the clinical skills of the practitioner. For example, in more than one survey of master's level clinical practicum students, the perceived quality of their early relationships with their parents had an inverse correlation with their effectiveness as therapists (Watts et al, 1995;Wilcoxon et al, 1989). Furthermore, several studies have found association between the therapist level of integration and meaning making of early family hardship and the likelihood that they will be perceived by their supervisors and patients as more skillful and effective (Cushway, 1996;Miller & Baldwin, 2000;Wolgien & Coady, 1997).…”