Similarity in Counseling

Abstract

Research on similarity between counselor and client was reviewed to determine the effect on counseling process and outcome. Little evidence was found that membership-group or personality similarity contributes significantly to counseling effectiveness, and too few studies on cognitive similarity have been conducted to date to draw conclusions. Experience similarity and attitude similarity both appear to be directly related to counseling process, but the effect on counseling outcome of the former has not been assessed and/or the latter is equivocal Differences between social and counseling psychology research and limitations of the counseling psychology research to date are discussed.