Exploring Counselor Self-Efficacy Through a Service-Learning Project among Youth with Unique Abilities

Authors

Abstract

A service-learning project was conducted with counselors-in-training to increase self-efficacy for interacting with individuals with unique abilities/intellectual disabilities. Counselors-in-training (N=27) completed a semester-long service-learning project and took a pre and post assessment. The results indicated that self-efficacy improved for all counselors-in-training. The paired samples t-test identified that the mean increase in self rated self-efficacy was statistically significant with a medium to large effect size, t (26) = -4.052, p < .001, d = .742. However, the increase of self-efficacy was greater among the counselors-in-training who had no prior experience with individuals with unique abilities/intellectual disabilities.

Author Biographies

Caitlin Frawley, University of Central Florida

Caitlin is a doctoral candidate in counselor education at the University of Central Florida. Her experiences include clinical counseling with children in the foster care system and youth victims-survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation. Her research interests include trauma-informed play therapy, evidence-based child counseling, and examining the psychophysiological impacts of humanistic play therapy.

Laurie O. Campbell, University of Central Florida

Laurie O. Campbell, Ed.D., is an Asst. Professor at the University of Central Florida. She pursues research related to improving all aspects of education to support positive identity among underserved and underrepresented populations.  Concurrent research interests include perrsonalized and active learning, and cyberbullying.



Viki P. Kelchner, University of Central Florida

Viki P. Kelchner is an Associate Professor at the University of Central Florida in the College of Community Innovation and Education in the Counselor Education and School Psychology department and Director of the Community Counseling and Research Center. Dr. Kelchner is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Licensed Professional Supervisor, a National Board-Certified Counselor and a Certified School Counselor. Dr. Kelchner’s research interest and publications focus on families, individuals/families with neurodivergence and supporting high needs youth and families through school-based family services and intervention programs.

Kathryn Babb, University of Central Florida

Kathryn Babb is a doctoral candidate in counselor education at the University of Central Florida. Her research focuses on school counseling and child and adolescent mental health.

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Published

2023-07-17

Issue

Vol. 17 (2023): Journal of Service-Learning in Higher Education

Section

Articles

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