Report of an internship conducted at the Memorial University Counselling Centre including a research project : a study of the relationship between initial client and counsellor perceptions

• Main Author: Short, B. Michelle, 1969-
• Other Authors: Memorial University of Newfoundland. Faculty of Education, Memorial University of Newfoundland. Counselling Centre
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 1991
• Subjects: Educational counseling; Student counselors > In-service training > Newfoundland and Labrador; Newfoundland; Canada; Newfoundland studies; University of Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/theses2/id/235141

Thesis (M.Ed.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1991. Education Bibliography: leaves 95-102 The undertaking of the internship placement at the University Counselling Centre, Memorial University of Newfoundland, was a valuable learning experience for the intern. During the placement, the intern engaged in individual counselling with 26 clients on a variety of personal, academic, and career concerns. As well, she participated in case conferencing with counselling staff and disseminated academic and career information in the Career Planning Centre. The intern greatly benefitted from the professional supervision provided at the Centre, including participation in Interpersonal Recall Training aimed at enhancing basic counselling skills. The internship experience enabled the intern to build upon and refine her skills as a counsellor. -- Conducting an accompanying internship study permitted the intern to pursue her interests in counselling research. This study was conducted with 21 of the intern's clients at the Counselling Centre, upon informed consent of these clients. The intern investigated whether a relationship existed between the intern's and client's perceptions of the initial session. As well, the intern attempted to determine the effect of her counselling on clients in terms of their initial perceptions and reactions, and reciprocally, the intern's initial perceptions of and reactions to her clients. The study was also designed to measure the relationship between initial client perceptions and client satisfaction. However, insufficient data was collected regarding client satisfaction and thus, this final analysis could not be performed. -- The results of the study indicated a significant positive relationship between initial counsellor and client perceptions, as measured by the Counsellor/Client Post-Counselling Form. Also, favorable initial reactions to the intern by her clients, and to clients by the intern, were found. The results of the study suggested counsellor-client agreement regarding perceptions of and reactions to the initial session.