Client perception of counselor characteristics

Two decades of research on client preferences for counselor characteristics have produced mixed findings, particularly given multiple study designs. The current project examined client perception of therapy dyad similarity in personality and demographic variables and their relation to client ratings of working alliance and counselor competence.; Data were collected from 103 therapy clients seen by 20 therapists over a 1-semester period in a university counseling center. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to analyze the nested data. Results revealed a significant and negative relationship between perceived gender and sexual orientation similarity and working alliance, but insignificant relationships were seen between other demographic similarity (age, education, and race/ethnicity) and personality similarity. In contrast, perceived personality similarity, not demographic similarity, was significantly and negatively related to ratings of counselor competence. Findings suggested that no clear relationship pattern exists between personality and demographic similarities in therapy dyads and measures of counseling process, thereby disputing the long-held particularist approach to studying client preference for counselor characteristics. Implications for counseling psychology and ideas for future research are discussed.