TPC-DIGEST-Vol3Issue3

TPC D igest 33 The Professional Counselor –DIGEST Volume 3, Issue 3 http:/ /tpcjournal.nbcc.or g © 2013 NBCC Inc., & Affiliates Full article: Iarussi, M. H., Tyler, J. M., Littlebear, S., & Hinkle, M. S. (2013). Integrating motivational interviewing into a basic counseling skills course to enhance counseling self- efficacy. The Professional Counselor , 3 , 161–174. when used to help people change a wide range of problem behaviors. This study investigated self-efficacy measures in 19 counseling students and reported their experiences of participating in a basic counseling skills course that integrated MI. Posttest results indicated that students’ self-efficacy increased at rates comparable to alternative skills courses. Further, students reported positive overall experiences of learning MI in the course, including themes highlighting their skill development and self-assuredness in working with challenging clients. Students also reported some challenges in implementing MI; however, this may be moderated by their early stages of counselor development. Overall, the inclusion of MI in the basic counseling skills course appeared useful to enhance students’ self-efficacy, emphasize basic humanistic counseling skills, and provide students with strategies to work with clients who are not yet ready to change. Although more research on this topic is warranted, this study provides preliminary support for the integration of MI into a counseling skills course.