| ObjectiveThis study was designed to initially explore the existing and the ideal competency model of psychological counseling practitioners serving universities in Chengdu. This will provide evidence to assessment, education and training of psychological counseling practitioners serving universities based on the competency model, and to promote the professionalism of college counseling in China.Methods1. Behavior event interview (BEI) was operated to study 10 psychological counseling practitioners serving universities in Chengdu who were divided into the outstanding and the average according to the prevalent and rigid criterion (Chinese Psychological Society Clinical and Consulting Psychology Professional Organizations and Professionals Registration System 2007-registered psychologist). After that BEI transcripts were coded blindly according to Spencer Competence Dictionary and Competence Supplement. By comparison of the quality and quantity of the differences of the outstanding and the average group, we try to explore the existing competency model of psychological counseling practitioners.2. Qualitative analysis was carried out. Semi-structured-self-report questionnaire was mailed to aforementioned practitioners. Grounded theory was used to code the competence items provided by those practitioners. Finally the ideal competency model of psychological counseling practitioners serving universities in Chengdu came out.Results1. There is no significant differences on length (words) of BEI transcripts between the outstanding and the average group (17980±4799.3 words, 15749±8845.8 words, t =.496, p = 0.633), and also no significant differences on length of time of BEI between the outstanding and the average group (54.0±10.931 minutes, 49.4±27.691 Minutes, t =.346, p = 0.739). 2. Overall Category Agreement (CA) was 0.388 with a maximum of 0.51 and overall coding reliability coefficient (R) was 0.437 with a maximum of 0.50 which indicated two coders show barely acceptable consistency.3. Four competencies using coding standard of competency frequencies show significant correlation with the length of BEI (p <0. 05 or p <0. 01). One competency using coding standard of competency maximal level of score shows significant correlation with the length of BEI (p <0. 05). One competency using coding standard of competency average level of score shows significant correlation with the length of BEI (p <0. 05).4. Base on the consistent results between two coders, it was found that the outstanding was higher than the average on the total competency frequencies with significant differences (t = 2.354, p <0. 05).5. There was significant difference in 6 competencies between mean level of competence shown by outstanding versus average practitioners(P<0.05): Self Awareness (SA), Professional Expertise Practice (EXPP), Initiative(INT), Developing Others(DEV), Analytical Thinking(AT), Interpersonal Understanding(IU). Another 3 competencies exist only in the outstanding group: Directiveness: Assertiveness and Use of Positional Power (DIR), Self-Control (SCT) and Professional Development (PD).6. We compared the competencies in the existing competency model and those in Spencer Competence Dictionary, and then found 7 competencies are almost the same: Interpersonal Understanding (IU), Professional Expertise Practice (EXPP), Developing Others (DEV), Analytical Thinking (AT), Initiative (INT), Assertiveness and Use of Positional Power (DIR), Self-Control (SCT); and 2 competencies are different: Self Awareness (SA) and Professional Development (PD) which were added into Competence Supplement.7. The result of classified coding of the competencies from Semi-structured-self-report questionnaire includes 11 competencies: Professional Attitude(PA), Interpersonal Skills(IS), Self Awareness (SA), Developing Others(DEV), Professional Expertise Practice (EXPP), Openness(OP), Flexibility(FLX), Responsibility(RP), Professional Development(PD), Code of Ethics(CE) and Affinity(AF). Those competencies make up the ideal competency model of psychological counseling practitioners serving universities in Chengdu.8. We compared the competencies in the ideal competency model and those in Spencer Competence Dictionary, and then found 4 competencies are almost the same: Flexibility(FLX), Professional Expertise Practice (EXPP), Interpersonal Skills(IS), Developing Others(DEV); and 5 competencies are different: Professional Attitude(PA), Responsibility(RP), Openness(OP), Professional Development(PD), Self Awareness (SA) and Code of Ethics(CE). 9. In the ideal competency model, some competencies were mentioned only by the outstanding practitioners: Self Awareness (SA), Developing Others (DEV), Flexibility (FLX), Responsibility (RP) and Professional Development (PD). That is possibly the gap between the outstanding and the average in their ideal competency models.10. In the ideal competency model, some competencies were mentioned by both the outstanding and the average practitioners: Professional Attitude (PA), Interpersonal Skills (IS), Professional Expertise Practice (EXPP), Openness (OP), Code of Ethics (CE) and Affinity (AF). That is the common between the outstanding and the average in their ideal competency models.11. There are 5 common competencies between the existing and ideal competency model, which are Interpersonal Skills (IS), Self Awareness (SA), Expertise Practice (EXPP), Developing Others (DEV), and Professional Development (PD). They occupy separately 55.6 percent in the existing model and 45.4 percent in the ideal model.Conclusions1. The existing competency model of psychological counseling practitioners serving universities in Chengdu is made up of Interpersonal Understanding (IU), Professional Expertise Practice (EXPP), Developing Others (DEV), Analytical Thinking (AT), Initiative (INT), Assertiveness and Use of Positional Power (DIR), Self-Control (SCT), Self Awareness (SA) and Professional Development (PD).2. The ideal competency model of psychological counseling practitioners serving universities in Chengdu is made up of Interpersonal Understanding (IU), Professional Expertise Practice (EXPP), Developing Others (DEV), Professional Development (PD), Interpersonal Skills (IS), Professional Attitude (PA), Openness (OP), Flexibility (FLX), Responsibility (RP), Code of Ethics (CE), and Affinity (AF).3. In the sample of our study the differences between the outstanding and the average in their ideal competency models are Self Awareness (SA), Developing Others (DEV), Flexibility (FLX), Responsibility (RP) and Professional Development (PD).4. In the sample of our study the common between the outstanding and the average in their ideal competency models are Professional Attitude (PA), Interpersonal Skills(IS), Professional Expertise Practice (EXPP), Openness(OP), Code of Ethics(CE) and Affinity(AF). |
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