Managing hindering self-focused attention in counseling sessions.
This study examined the moderation effects of management strategies on the association between hindering self-focused attention and counseling self-efficacy.



Participants were 160 counselor trainees. A hierarchical regression was used to analyze the data, and a simple effect analysis was used to explore the nature of the interaction.



Results indicated that, for trainees who used more basic counseling techniques, counseling self-efficacy remained the same no matter their hindering self-focused attention experiences. However, for those who used less basic counseling techniques, their counseling self-efficacy dropped when they had more experiences of hindering self-focused attention. Similarly, for trainees who used more self-awareness to understand clients, these trainees reported a similar level of counseling self-efficacy no matter their hindering self-focused attention experiences. Conversely, for those who used less self-awareness as a tool to understand their clients during their sessions, their counseling self-efficacy decreased when they had more experiences of hindering self-focused attention.



This is the first study that extends the literature on direct, linear relationships between hindering self-focused attention and counseling self-efficacy. Results suggested two strategies (i.e., use of basic counseling techniques and use of self-awareness to understand clients) significantly moderate the above association.
a Department of Psychology , Iowa State University , Ames , IA , USA.
Meifen
M
Wei
a Department of Psychology , Iowa State University , Ames , IA , USA.
Fei
F
Yi
a Department of Psychology , Iowa State University , Ames , IA , USA.
Stephanie G
SG
Carrera
a Department of Psychology , Iowa State University , Ames , IA , USA.
Raquel
R
Botello
b Counseling Center , Michigan State University , MI , USA.
Duk-Hae
DH
Sung
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D001364:Awareness; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D055815:Young Adult
counseling self-efficacy; hindering self-focused attention; management strategy; use of basic counseling techniques; use of self as a tool