International Students’ Perspectives of Helpful and Hindering Factors in the Initial Stages of a Therapeutic Relationship

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  • Sariné Willis-O'Connor University of New Brunswick
  • Jeff Landine University of New Brunswick
  • José F. Domene University of New Brunswick

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Counsellor Education##common.commaListSeparator## International Students##common.commaListSeparator## Applied Practice

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Using interpersonal process recall, 8 international student participants (6 men, 2 women) described what they thought was helpful or hindering to the therapeutic relationship during an analogue initial counselling session. A thematic qualitative analysis revealed that the participants found 5 counsellor qualities and techniques to be helpful to the therapeutic relationship: (a) active listening, (b) casualness, (c) direction, (d) enthusiasm, and (e) connection with client’s culture. Three factors were identified as hindering to the therapeutic relationship: (a) language barriers, (b) fast pace, and (c) counsellor disengagement. Limitations and future directions are discussed.

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  • ##submission.authorWithAffiliation##

    Sariné Willis-O'Connor is a Canadian Certified Counsellor and is currently working as a CONNECT counsellor for the Canadian Hearing Society. This article is based on research conducted in partial fulfillment of her M.Ed Counselling degree at the University of New Brunswick. 

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    Dr. Jeff Landine is an Associate Professor at the University of New Brunswick where he teaches in the counselling program area.
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    Dr. José F Domene is a Professor and Canada Research Chair in School to Work Transition in the Faculty of Education at the University of New Brunswick, where he teaches in the counselling program area. His research interests include social and relational aspects of career development, particularly during emerging adulthood, and professional issues in counselling and counselling psychology.

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2016-09-14

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##issue.vol## 50 ##issue.no## 3s (2016): Special Issue - Divorce

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Articles/ Articles

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Copyright is retained by the Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy.

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International Students’ Perspectives of Helpful and Hindering Factors in the Initial Stages of a Therapeutic Relationship. (2016). Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 50(3s). https://dev.journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/rcc/article/view/61059