Conceptualizing the Counseling Training Environment Using Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory

• Published in: International journal for the advancement of counselling Vol. 36; no. 4; pp. 423 - 439
• Main Authors: Lau, Jared, Ng, Kok-Mun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.12.2014; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Behavioral Science and Psychology; Classroom Environment; Clinical Psychology; Counseling; Counseling Psychology; Counselor Educators; Counselor Training; Ecology; Educational Environment; Educational Research; Family Counseling; Graduate Students; Industrial and Organizational Psychology; Original Article; Psychological Methods/Evaluation; Psychology; Psychotherapy and Counseling; Secondary Education; Teaching Methods; Theories; Theory; Training; Counseling training; Internationalization; Multicultural; Counseling training environment; Ecological model
• ISSN: 0165-0653; 1573-3246
• DOI: 10.1007/s10447-014-9220-5

While learning environment research has been growing in popularity over the past few decades, little attention has been given towards the learning environment of graduate students, and virtually no attention has been given specifically towards graduate counseling and related programs such as professional counseling, clinical and counseling psychology, and marriage and family therapy. In this paper we propose using Bronfenbrenner’s ( 1979 , 1992 ) ecological theory as a model to conceptualize the training environment of such counselor preparation programs. Through the application of Bronfenbrenner’s theory, counselor educators and counseling trainees can better understand the systemic nature of the training environment that they create and where they train. Implications and recommendations for future research are provided to further advance the knowledge and awareness of the counseling training environment.