The Development of Counseling Psychology in Higher Educational Institutions in China

Abstract

To examine the recent development of counseling at universities in China, a survey questionnaire was administered to a group of counselors who participated in a national training workshop in counseling. Respondents were asked to provide information about a number of areas, including their training and counseling activities and their perceptions of several areas related to the development of counseling in China. The results suggested that most counselors had received little formal training in counseling, and counseling was often done in the context of political and thought education. Respondents perceived themselves as needing more training in practical counseling skills than in Western counseling theories. They perceived limited resources and a lack of professionally trained counselors as major barriers. The results are discussed in relation to the future development of counseling at universities in China.