Measuring Changes in Counselor Self-Efficacy: Further Validation and Implications for Training and Supervision

Abstract

This study examines the changes in counselor self-efficacy beliefs during training. For this purpose, the Counseling Self-Estimate Inventory (COSE), based on Bandura's self-efficacy theory (1986 Bandura , A. ( 1986 ). Social foundations of thought and action . Englewood Cliffs , NJ : Prentice-Hall . [Google Scholar]), was employed (Larson et al.,1992 Larson , L. M. , Suzuki , L. A. , Gillespie , K. N. , Potenza , M. T. , Bechtel , M. A. , & Toulouse , A. L. ( 1992 ). Development and validation of the Counseling Self-Estimate Inventory . Journal of Counseling Psychology , 39 , 105 – 120 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). Both global counselor self-efficacy measures as well as specific measures related to five areas of counseling (i.e., micro skills, process, handling difficult client behaviors, cultural competence, and awareness of values) were analyzed. A total of 20 first-year MA students in counseling psychology completed the COSE at two time intervals 8 weeks apart. Results show a significant increase in the overall measure of self-efficacy skills. We also found a significant increase in one of the factors, micro skills. Implications for training and supervision are discussed.