An analysis of client life experiences and relationships with counseling outcome.

Abstract

In research conducted with ninety clinical outpatient clients, significant variance in counseling outcome as assessed by clients and counselors was attributed to life experience (20% to 30%), religious constructs (9.8% to 13.2%) including spiritual well-being and religious orientation, and social support (4.1%). The life experiences construct included normative weightings scaled by the client's perspective and measured over time. This conceptualization of life experience allows monitoring related targets of therapeutic intervention, changing life circumstances, and the client's perception of these that may be related to counseling outcome. This study provides empirical support and offers suggestions recognizing the salience of religion and spirituality in the lives of many clients.