Abstract
International counseling trainees (ICTs) can play a critical role in multicultural training and enrich the lives of domestic trainers and trainees. However, they face unique barriers. This inquiry examined 14 areas related to their training and stay in the US. Findings largely correspond with those already in the literature (e.g., Ng, International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 28:1–19 2006a). Results indicate significantly higher mean scores for ICTs (n = 56) in 10 areas (e.g., English proficiency problems, experiencing discrimination in their learning environment) compared to domestic trainees (DTs) (n = 82). ICTs further reported a high level of confidence in their contribution to their programs and a strong belief in their performance, although these levels did not differ significantly from DTs. Findings also revealed there were no program-level differences among the ICTs in all the study areas. Compared to the master’s trainees as a whole, however, the doctoral trainees combined reported higher degrees of experiencing cultural adjustment problems and conflicts with Western understanding and approaches to treating mental health. Implications and recommendations are outlined.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chen, C. P. (1999). Common stressors among international college students: Research and counseling implications. Journal of College Counseling, 2, 49–65.
Clawson, T. W., Henderson, D. A., Schweiger, W. K., & Collins, D. R. (2004). Counselor preparation: Programs, faculty, trends (11th ed.). New York: Brunner-Routledge.
Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Earlbaum Associates.
Collingridge, D. S. (1999). Suggestions on teaching international students: Advice for psychology instructors. Teaching of Psychology (Columbia, Mo.), 26, 126–128. doi:10.1207/s15328023top2602_11.
Dodd, J. M., Nelson, J. R., Ostwald, S. W., & Fischer, J. (1991). Rehabilitation counselor education programs’ response to cultural pluralism. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling, 22, 46–48.
Ebbin, A. J., & Blankenship, E. S. (1986). A longitudinal health care study: International versus domestic students. Journal of American College Health, 34, 177–182.
Fuertes, J. N., Potere, J. C., & Ramirez, K. Y. (2002). Effects of speech accents on interpersonal evaluations: Implications for counseling. Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology, 8, 346–356. doi:10.1037/1099-9809.8.4.347.
Giorgis, T. W., & Helms, J. E. (1978). Training international students from developing countries as psychologists: A challenge for American psychology. The American Psychologist, 33, 945–951. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.33.10.945.
Gutierrez, F. J. (1982). Working with minority counselor education students. Counselor Education and Supervision, 21, 218–226.
Helms, J. E., & Giorgis, T. W. (1982). Who trains applied psychologists from developing countries? Professional Psychology, 13, 736–743. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.13.5.736.
Henry, C. G., & Fouad, N. A. (2006). Counseling international students from the Middle East. In H. D. Hemla, & M. Pope (Eds.), A handbook for counseling international students in the United States (pp. 223–236). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
Kher, N., Juneau, G., & Molstad, S. (2003). From the southern hemisphere to the rural south: A Mauritian student’s version of “coming to America.” College Student Journal, 37, 564–568.
Killian, K. D. (2001). Differences making a difference: Cross-cultural interactions in supervisor relationships. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 12, 61–103. doi:10.1300/J086v12n02_03.
Leong, F. T. L., & Sedlacek, W. E. (1989). Academic and career needs of international and United States college students. Journal of College Student Development, 30, 106–111.
McNeill, B. W., Hom, K. L., & Perez, J. A. (1995). The training and supervisory needs of racial and ethnic minority students. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 23, 246–258.
Mittal, M., & Wieling, E. (2006). Training experiences of international doctoral students in marriage and family therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 32, 369–383. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2006.tb01613.x.
Mori, S. (2000). Addressing the mental health concerns of international students. Journal of Counseling and Development, 78, 137–143.
Morris, J., & Lee, Y.- T. (2004). Issues of language and culture in family therapy training. Contemporary Family Therapy, 26, 307–318. doi:10.1023/B:COFT.0000037917.67940.7c.
Ng, K. M. (2006a). Counselor educators’ perceptions of and experiences with international students. International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 28, 1–19. doi:10.1007/s10447-005-8492-1.
Ng, K. M. (2006b). International students in CACREP-accredited counseling programs. Journal of Professional Counseling, Practice, Theory, & Research, 34, 20–32.
Nilsson, J. E., & Anderson, M. Z. (2004). Supervising international students: The role of acculturation, role ambiguity, and multicultural discussions. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 35, 306–312. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.35.3.306.
Ninnes, P., Aitchison, C., & Kalos, S. (1999). Challenges to stereotypes of international students’ prior educational experience: Undergraduate education in India. Higher Education Research & Development, 18, 323–342. doi:10.1080/0729436990180304.
Paige, R. M. (1990). International students: Cross-cultural psychological perspectives. In R. W. Brislin (Ed.), Applied cross-cultural psychology (pp. 161–185). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Pattison, S. (2003). Cultural diversity: Mapping the experiences of students on an international counselor training programme. Counselling & Psychotherapy Research, 3, 107–113. doi:10.1080/14733140312331384472.
Pedersen, P. (1991). Counseling international students. The Counseling Psychologist, 19, 10–58. doi:10.1177/0011000091191002.
Peterson, D. M., Briggs, P., Dreasher, L., Horner, D. D., & Nelson, T. (1999). Contributions of international students and programs to campus diversity. New Directions for Student Services, 86, 67–77. doi:10.1002/ss.8609.
Ponterotto, J. G. (1996). Multicultural counseling in the twenty-first century. The Counseling Psychologist, 24, 259–268. doi:10.1177/0011000096242005.
Ponterotto, J. G., & Alexander, C. M. (1995). A multicultural competency checklist for counseling training programs. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 23, 11–20.
Ridley, D. (2004). Puzzling experiences in higher education: Critical moments for conversation. Studies in Higher Education, 29, 91–107. doi:10.1080/1234567032000164895.
Robertson, M., Line, R., Jones, S., & Thomas, S. (2000). International students, learning environments and perceptions: A case study using the Delphi technique. Higher Education & Development, 19, 89–102. doi:10.1080/07294360050020499.
Singaravelu, H. D., & Pope, M. (Eds.). (2006). A handbook for counseling international students in the United States. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
Wieling, E., & Rastogi, M. (2003). Voices of marriage and family therapists of color: An exploratory survey. Journal of Feminist Therapy, 15, 1–20. doi:10.1300/J086v15n01_01.
Yoon, E., & Portman, T. A. A. (2004). Critical issues of literature on counseling international students. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 32, 33–44.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Findings in this study were represented at the 2008 Eastern Educational Research Association Conference in Hilton Head, South Carolina, United States of America.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ng, KM., Smith, S.D. Perceptions and Experiences of International Trainees in Counseling and Related Programs. Int J Adv Counselling 31, 57–70 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-008-9068-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-008-9068-7