An Exploration of Turkish Counselor Trainees' Development in Experiential Training Groups: An Uncontrolled Case Study.

Abstract

The purpose of this case study was to (1) examine the effect of experiential training groups on empathy and professional disposition levels of counselor trainees and (2) to understand their experiences and perceptions regarding experiential groups. Participants were 62 Turkish undergraduate counselor trainees enrolled in a group counseling course. Trainees participated in both a didactic group counseling course and an experiential group. The quantitative results of the study indicated that trainees experienced an increase in empathy and professional disposition levels pre-post. The qualitative analysis yielded three major categories: (a) member roles, (b) emotional experiences, and (c) contributions. The findings of this study highlight the importance of experiential training groups in counselor education.