Measuring Counselor’s Attitudes toward Crying in Session: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the validity and reliability of the Tears-Inventory (TI) to measure the attitudes of counselors and counselors-in-training (CIT) toward crying. This pilot study was based on the paucity of research concerning counselors crying in session and to determine whether a research approach is feasible to be used in a larger study. The data were obtained from a convenient sample of 97 graduate level counselors and counseling students attending an accredited program by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP). A principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted with a Varimax orthogonal and Promax oblique rotation to validate the TI and determine the dimensionality for the purpose of constructing summated scales. The data supported four factors: Therapeutic Effectiveness of Counselors’ Crying in a Session, Subjective Perception of Crying, Ethics of Crying and the Social Acceptance of Crying. The data from the current study could be used to further research in the area of crying as an effective form of self-disclosure for counselors, as well as aid counselors, supervisors and counselors in training to become more aware of their emotional expression and potential for reaction during intense emotional experiences with clients.