Active listening and counselor Self-Efficacy: Emphasis on one microskill in beginning counselor training

By emphasizing active listening over the other microskills, it is hypothesized that beginning counselors will feel more efficacious and better able to hear clients, thus performing better in skill areas. In this pilot study with five Master's-level counselor trainees in their first counseling practicum, an emphasis on active listening in instruction and individual supervision resulted in increases in active listening and self-efficacy ratings, as well as performance in three skill areas (reflection of feelings, challenging, and immediacy). These results suggest the importance of attending to counselors' strengths and reducing anxiety in the first counseling experience.