Counselor Preferences of Clients Entering a Counselor-Training Clinic

Abstract

This research examined the expressed counselor preferences of individuals entering a community-based counselor-training clinic. Previous research examining the counselor preferences of individuals with and without disabilities has not used individuals who were actually entering counseling. Clients being screened for entry into a counselor-training clinic were asked whether they had a preference regarding counselor age, disability status, education, gender, and race. Of these characteristics, only for gender did even a moderate number of clients (30%) express a preference. The disability status of a counselor was a factor in client preferences for only 9.5% of all clients and only 15.4% of clients with disabilities. Research, education, and practice implications are discussed.

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