Volume_6_Issue_2_Digest

8 TPC Digest James Ikonomopoulos, Javier Cavazos Vela, Wayne D. Smith, Julia Dell’Aquila Examining the Practicum Experience to Increase Counseling Students’ Self-Efficacy 8 Over the course of a 14-week semester, participants received 12 hours of triadic supervision and approximately 25 hours of group supervision. During triadic supervision meetings with two practicum students, the instructor of record conducted wellness checks assessing students’ well-being and level of stress, listened to concerns about clients, observed recorded sessions, provided support and feedback, and encouraged supervisees to provide feedback. All students obtained a minimum of 40 direct hours while working at their university counseling and training clinic where services are provided to individuals with emotional, developmental and interpersonal issues. The results of this study found that in all 11 cases investigated, the practicum experience ranged from moderately effective to very effective for improving or maintaining counselor self-efficacy during practicum coursework. For most participants, counseling self-efficacy continued to improve throughout the practicum experience. Participants shared that the most helpful experiences during practicum to improve their counselor self-efficacy came from direct experiences with clients. Other helpful experiences included processing counseling sessions with a peer during triadic supervision, obtaining feedback during triadic supervision from peers and instructors after observing recorded counseling sessions, and case conceptualization and treatment planning during group supervision. James Ikonomopoulos, NCC, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Javier Cavazos Vela is an LPC-Intern at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Wayne D. Smith is an Assistant Professor at the University of Houston–Victoria. Julia Dell’Aquila is a graduate student at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Correspondence concerning this article can be addressed to James Ikonomopoulos, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Department of Counseling, Main 2.200F, One West Univ. Blvd., Brownsville, TX 78520, james.ikonomopoulos@utrgv.edu. M aster’s-level counseling programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) require students to complete practicum and internship courses that involve group and individual or triadic supervision. Although clinical supervision provides students with effective skill development, counseling students may begin practicum with low self-efficacy regarding their counseling abilities and skills. Given the importance of clinical supervision and counselor self-efficacy, the purpose of this study was to examine effectiveness of the practicum experience encompassing direct counseling services, group supervision and triadic supervision to increase counseling students’ self-efficacy. Counseling self-efficacy refers to one’s beliefs or judgments about their capabilities to effectively counsel a client. Counselor self-efficacy also can refer to students’ confidence regarding handling the therapist role, managing counseling sessions and delivering helping skills. Researchers identified relationships between practicum students’ counseling self-efficacy and various client outcomes in counseling. Self-efficacy is positively related to performance attainment, perseverance in counseling tasks, less anxiety, positive client outcomes and counseling skills development. The current study intended to evaluate the practicum experience by using a Single-Case Research Design (SCRD) to measure the impact on students’ self-efficacy. Researchers and practitioners can use SCRDs to make inferences about the impact of treatment or experiences. We addressed the following research question: To what extent does the practicum experience encompassing direct counseling services, group supervision and triadic supervision influence counseling graduate students’ self-efficacy? We conducted this study with a sample of 11 Mexican American counseling graduate students enrolled in a CACREP-accredited counseling program in the Southwestern United States. Participants (four men and seven women) ranged in age from 24 to 57. All participants were enrolled in practicum. The Counselor Activity Self- Efficacy Scale was used by participants as a self-report measure of counseling self-efficacy. Participants responded to items on exploration skills, session management and client distress, with higher scores reflective of higher levels of self-efficacy.