STUDY OF THE MEANING OF SELF-AWARENESS IN CORRECTIONAL COUNSELOR TRAINING

• NCJ Number: 15855
• Journal: Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1974) Pages: 99-122
• Author(s): A E GRZEGOREK; N KAGAN
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 24 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

AN EVALUATION OF THE COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF COUNSELOR TRAINING FOR CORRECTIONS STAFF WHICH SHOWED EMPHASIS ON THE COUNSELOR'S FEELINGS IN INTERACTION WITH THE CLIENT TO BE THE MOST HELPFUL.

Abstract

THE EMPHASIS IN TRAINING ONE GROUP WAS ON CLIENT DYNAMICS AND COUNSELING TECHNIQUES. THE PRINCIPAL FOCUS IN A SECOND GROUP WAS ON TRAINEE SELF-AWARENESS AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF SELF-DYNAMICS IN INTERPERSONAL INTERACTIONS. THE RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE TRAINING APPROACHES WAS MEASURED BY PRE-TRAINING AND POST-TRAINING TESTING OF THE TRAINEES. THE TESTS MEASURED EMPATHIC PERCEPTUAL SKILL AND FACETS OF COUNSELOR BEHAVIOR IN AN ACTUAL INTERVIEW. ALTHOUGH THE TWO MODELS OF TRAINING DID NOT APPEAR TO DIFFER WHEN THE ABILITY TO PERCEIVE CLIENT FEELINGS AND REACTIONS WAS MEASURED, COUNSELOR PERFORMANCE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE EFFECTIVE IN THE GROUP EMPHASIZING COUNSELOR SELF-AWARENESS.