Counselor Intentionality and Effective Helping

The counseling profession has historically searched for characteristics, traits, behaviors, and other variables that contribute to successful helping relationships. One characteristic that emerges in contemporary literature and research relates to the notion that successful counselors select their helping behaviors and choose specific strategies with a clear purpose and direction. This characteristic is referred to as counselor’s level and degree of intentionality (Ivey, 1994; Purkey & Schmidt, 1987; Schmidt, 1984). Research indicates that effective counselors tend to exhibit positive perceptions of self and others, are personally motivated and fully functioning, accurately assess the world around them, and are capable of using this assessment to facilitate beneficial helping relationships (Schmidt, 1984).