Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Counselor Education and Supervision

Advisor

Walter L. Frazier

Abstract

Counselor educators and regulatory boards continue to develop criteria to prepare counselors in training (CITs) for clinical practice. Despite the significant support they receive within the counseling course curriculum, some students lack the necessary counseling competency to succeed in the field experience component of their training. Emotional intelligence (EI) may be relevant in the ability of CITs to manage their emotions and relationships in personal, professional, and academic settings, but there is a lack of empirical evidence regarding the relationship between EI and counseling competence. The purpose of this quantitative study was to assess the relationship between EI and self-perception of counseling competency while controlling for CIT counseling status. A cross-sectional, correlational, nonexperimental quantitative study design was used. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to recruit 78 CITs in the United States. Participants completed an online survey containing items from the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test and the Counseling Competency Skills-Revised. Results of hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that CIT status was positively correlated with counseling skills and therapeutic conditions. Results further showed that CITs with higher EI had a higher self-perception of all components of counseling competency, including counseling skills, therapeutic conditions, counseling dispositions, and behaviors. Counseling educators can implement EI labs for students who need additional support. Enhancing students’ ability to be aware of their own emotions and those of their clients may allow these emerging professionals to better facilitate therapeutic conditions and serve the public.

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