Evaluating Fieldwork and a Targeted Curriculum on Urban Counselor Trainees' Self-Efficacy

• Published in: Counseling outcome research and evaluation Vol. 6; no. 1; pp. 33 - 46
• Main Authors: Hayden, Laura, Cook, Amy, Gracia, Robert, Silva, Meghan Ray, Cadet, Melanie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA Routledge 01.06.2015; SAGE Publications
• Subjects: counselor education speciality; multicultural counseling speciality; pedagogy teaching education speciality; social justice speciality; supervision speciality; multicultural counseling speciality; social justice speciality; supervision speciality; counselor education speciality; pedagogy teaching education speciality
• ISSN: 2150-1378; 2150-1386
• DOI: 10.1177/2150137815573789

This study explored counseling trainees' development of self-efficacy within an urban high school practicum experience. The following two research questions were addressed: (a) Did a field placement experience in an urban school increase counseling trainees' self-efficacy? and (b) What fieldwork factors affected counseling trainees' development of self-efficacy as urban counselors? Quantitative analysis indicated that participants self-reported overall improvement in counseling skills and greater confidence in executing school counseling activities in an urban environment, while qualitative analysis suggested the positive impact of using a targeted supervisory curriculum to develop counseling students' self-efficacy in working with urban youth. Implications for counselor educators are provided.