Abstract:

The study aims to examine the characteristics and empowerment needs of effective psychological counselors with the opinions of school counselors. Explanatory sequential design which is one of the mixed methods was used in the study. In the quantitative part of the study, the data was collected from 194 females, 100 males, in total 294 school counselors with simple random sampling method; in the qualitative part from 9 school counselors through criterion sampling. As the quantitative data collection tools, Effective Counselor Characteristics Assessment Scale and Empowerment Scale; as qualitative data collection tool, semi-structured interview form were used. For data analysis, multiple regression analysis and content analysis were used. According to the results, self-awareness, good intentions, flexibility sub-scales of effective psychological counseling characteristics and therapy training variable from demographic form were determined as significant predictors (58.7%). In the qualitative part of the study, two main themes (Empowerment Needs and Psychological Counselor Characteristics) and four sub-categories for each theme (Non progressive to Develop, Differences in Job Description and Perception, Negative Personality Traits, Lack of Knowledge and Skill, Illusions in Psychological Counselor Perception, Non-professional Good Intentions, Low Self-awareness, Lack of Skill and Specialization) were determined. The obtained findings were discussed in the context of empowerment needs and supervision training of psychological counselors in Turkey, and suggestions were offered accordingly

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