-----Original Message-----
From: jim clark [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2000 8:12 PM
To: TIPS
Subject: Re: Personality test for counselors
With regards to the question that prompted this thread, it would
seem that whatever measure is chosen, one should try not to have
too sensitive an instrument or you will be rejecting lots of
potential graduate students.
Best wishes
Jim
Since Jim has referred back to the original post, let me take this
opportunity to jump in and say that such a test is not going to be used to
screen applicants to the program, or to keep those with psychological
disorders from counseling, only to try to foresee meltdowns in counseling
placements. Now that Halloween is behind us, I certainly don't want to be
responsible for scaring anyone either. I hope most people realize that this
thread took a course far removed from the intention of the original poster.
Although many of these topics may be of general interest, I did want to
clarify the purpose for which I am seeking a test. Also, remember that the
fact that we did NOT want to screen for pathology using this test was one
reason that the MMPI was not found to be useful for the prediction in
question.
Also, although it is not responsive to my original question, I seem
compelled to address the question of whether screening graduate school
students for mental pathology is discriminatory and hypocritical for a
profession which helps people overcome such problems. Are we discriminating
unfairly against people who could make great counselor's despite a
psychological disorder? That depends on if the disorder impairs therapeutic
judgment and I would say that many of them would. Some say such experiences
could improve empathy and give unique knowledge about certain conditions.
Also experience in counseling is useful for a counselor. I think it is
important to distinguish between receiving counseling and having a mental
dysfunction that could impair therapeutic judgment. Counseling can be used
for many purposes, like clarifying issues and re-thinking challenges in your
life. If a person has overcome mental disorders to succeed in their job,
that is great but it won't show up as current pathology. If someone is
suffering from current pathology, how is it serving them or their potential
clients to allow them to practice (and practicum will be involved in a
competent graduate program)? Concerns about countertransference pale in
comparison to concerns about interpreting someone else's concerns through
the lens of my own paranoia or depression or other pathology.
Rick
Dr. Richard L. Froman
Psychology Department
John Brown University
Siloam Springs, AR 72761
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.jbu.edu/sbs/psych/froman.htm
