Volume_4_Issue_1_Digest

6 TPC D igest Full article and references: Guth, L. J., McAuliffe, G., & Michalak, M. (2014). Counselors abroad: Outcomes of an international counseling institute in Ireland. The Professional Counselor , 4 , 28–34. doi:10.15241/ljg.4.1.28 This study was designed to examine the impact of the Diversity and Counseling Institute in Ireland on participants’ multicultural counseling competencies. Participants in this institute included graduate counseling students and professional counselors. Twenty-three participants completed a pretest survey that contained a demographic information form, the Cross Cultural Counseling Inventory-Revised (CCCI-R), and the Ireland Multicultural Counseling Competencies Scale (IMCCS). At the end of the institute, participants completed a posttest survey that included the CCCI-R and IMCCS. There were significant differences in participants’ overall scores on the CCCI-R and the IMCCS after attending the institute. Thus, participants perceived themselves to be more culturally competent by the end of the study abroad experience. In addition, participants thought they were more knowledgeable about the culture of Ireland, possessed more skills in working with clients from Ireland, had an increased awareness of differences between the Irish culture and their own, and had an increased awareness of similarities between the Irish culture and their own. The results provide significant outcome data regarding the benefits of this type of study abroad on diversity training. The Professional Counselor DIGEST Volume 4, Issue 1 http://tpcjournal.nbcc.org © 2014 NBCC, Inc. and Affiliates