The development and content validation of the Counselor's Theoretical Orientation Inventory

Abstract

This research describes the development and the content validation of the Counselor's Theoretical Orientation Inventory (CTOI). The purpose for developing the CTOI is to: (1) stimulate the critical thinking skills that drive academia and counseling therapy, (2) help rehabilitation counseling students to assess their theoretical orientation, (3) use as an educational instrument for teaching counseling theories, (4) use as an appropriate instrument for practica and internship placement, and (5) use as an ongoing self-evaluation to enhance continuing education. Ten hypothetical case scenarios about individuals with differing disabilities were written by the researcher. Seven expert professional counselors, each representing seven different counseling theoretical orientations, provided rejoinders for each case scenario. The counseling theories represented in the CTOI are: Adlerian, behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, existential, gestalt, person-centered, and reality. Seven rehabilitation counselor educators assessed the CTOI for content validity. Of the theories, the rehabilitation counselor educators identified the person-centered rejoinders at the rate of 97%. The rehabilitation counselor educators identified the remaining theories above the acceptable 70% criterion except for existential theory which received only 69% correct identification. The CTOI was found to have content validity as the overall theory recognition score was 79%. Recognition of counseling theoretical orientations can help rehabilitation counselors to recognize incongruencies between personal and theory-driven beliefs and values and enable them to articulate a personal theoretical approach.