Counselor-Trainees' Use of Microcounseling Skills and Raters' and Client's Perceived Expressed Empathy : An Investigation of Cross-Cultural Counseling Process / Robbie J. Steward and Others.

While empathy has been defined as the single most important dimension in establishing a counseling relationship, no studies have clearly defined what counselor responses are perceived as empathic by African American clients. For clients in general, the use of Ivey and Authier's microcounseling attending and influencing skills has been found to increase levels of perceived empathy. This study was conducted to examine the relationship between the level of perceived empathy by an African-American male client and the use of Ivey and Authier's microcounseling skills by 14 counselor trainees. In addition to the African-American client, one white male and one white female graduate student rated perceived empathy as expressed by the counselor trainees. A comparison of ratings between the client and the raters revealed no significant relationship between the white male rater and the African-American male client. There was a significant and positive relationship between the ratings of the white female rater and the client. The findings, in part, supported earlier studies suggesting that the presence of Ivey and Authier's microcounseling skills alone insures higher levels of perceived expressed empathy by judges. None of Ivey and Authier's microcounseling skills, however, were found to significantly contribute to the counselor ratings of the client. Several recommendations are made to employ in replication of the study. There are 30 references and 7 tables. (NB)

Microfiche. [Washington D.C.]: ERIC Clearinghouse microfiches : positive.