Training counseling psychologists in career development: Are we our own worst enemies?

Although the diminishing role of career counseling in the future plans of counseling psychology trainees has been well documented no empirical data have explained why this phenomenon is occurring. A sample of 290 counseling psychology graduate students was surveyed from 12 American Psychological Association (APA)-approved counseling psychology training programs. Results indicate that trainees' most negative experiences were disparaging remarks about career counseling from faculty and supervisors and their formal course work in career development. Conversely, trainees reported that the most positive influences on their attitudes were experiences obtained by working with career clients. Further; initial regression equations indicate that 45% to 59% of the variance in trainees' interest and their positive experiences practicing career counseling could be explained by their self-efficacy in career counseling, their training experiences and their participation in vocational research. Implications for the training of counseling psychologists are provided.