Inclusion of Religious Behaviors and Attitudes in Counseling: Expectations of Conservative Christians

✍ Scribed by Christine Belaire; J. Scott Young; Anastasia Elder

• Publisher: American Counseling Association
• Year: 2005
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 897 KB
• Volume: 49
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0160-7960
• DOI: 10.1002/j.2161-007x.2005.tb00255.x

✦ Synopsis

In this study of 1 18 religiously conservative Christians' expectations of counseling, participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment conditions: a Christian counselor or a counselor whose religious beliefs were unknown. Participants rated their expectations for the counselor's attitude toward their religious beliefs and use of religious behaviors in counseling using the Behavior and Attitude Expectancies scale (C. Belaire & J. S. Young. 2002). Participants also rated their general expectations for counseling using the Expectations About Counseling: Brief Form (H. E. A. Tinsley, 1985). Results showed that participants expected both a Christian counselor and a counselor whose religious beliefs were unknown to be respectful and accepting of conservative Christian religious beliefs and values and to include multiple religious behaviors in counseling sessions. Participants had overall positive expectations of the counseling process.