Checklist by Hackney and Cormier (1988)
PART 1: Counselor Reinforcing Behavior (Nonverbal)
1. The counselor maintained eye contact with the client.
Yes No N/A
2. The counselor displayed several different facial expressions during the interview.
Yes No N/A
3. The counselor’s facial expressions reflected the mood of the client.
Yes No N/A
4. The counselor often responded to the client with facial animation and alertness.
Yes No N/A
5. The counselor displayed intermittent head movements (up-down, side-to-side).
Yes No N/A
6. The counselor refrained from head-nodding when the client did not pursue goal-directed behavior.
Yes No N/A
7. The counselor demonstrated a relaxed body position.
Yes No N/A
8. The counselor leaned forward as a means of encouraging the client to engage in some goal-directed behavior.
Yes No N/A
9. The counselor demonstrated some variation in voice pitch when talking.
Yes No N/A
10. The counselor’s voice was easily heard by the client.
Yes No N/A
11. The counselor used intermittent one-word vocalizations (“mm-hmm”) to reinforce the client’s demonstration of goal-directed topics or behaviors.
Yes No N/A
Counselor Reinforcing Behavior (Verbal)
12. The counselor usually spoke slowly enough so that each word was easily understood.
Yes No N/A
13. A majority (60% or more) of the counselor’s responses could be categorized as complete sentences rather than monosyllabic phrases.
Yes No N/A
14. The counselor’s verbal statements were concise and to the point.
Yes No N/A
15. The counselor refrained from repetition in his verbal statements.
Yes No N/A
16. The counselor made verbal comments that pursued the topic introduced by the client.
Yes No N/A
17. The subject of the counselor’s verbal statements usually referred to the client, either by name or the second person pronoun, “you.”
Yes No N/A
18. A clear and sensible progression of topics was evident in the counselor’s verbal behavior; the counselor avoided rambling.
Yes No N/A
PART II: Opening the Interview
1. In the first part of the interview, the counselor used several different nonverbal gestures (smiling, head-nodding, hand movement, etc.) to help put the client at ease.
Yes No N/A
2. In starting the interview the counselor remained silent or invited the client to talk about whatever he wanted, thus leaving the selection of initial topic up to the client.
Yes No N/A
3. After the first 5 minutes of the interview, the counselor refrained from encouraging social conversation.
Yes No N/A
4. After the first topic of discussion was exhausted, the counselor remained silent until the client identified a new topic.
Yes No N/A
5. The counselor provided structure (information about nature, purposes of counseling, time limits, etc.) when the client indicated uncertainty about the interview.
Yes No N/A
6. In beginning the initial interview, the counselor used at least one of the following structuring procedures:
a. provided information about taping and/or observation
b. commented on confidentiality
c. made remarks about the counselor’s role and purpose of the interview
d. discussed with the client his expectations about counseling
Yes No N/A
PART III: Termination of the Interview
1. The counselor informed the client before terminating that the interview was almost over.
Yes No N/A
2. The counselor refrained from introducing new material (a different topic) at the termination phase of the interview.
Yes No N/A
3. The counselor discouraged the client from pursuing new topics within the last five minutes of the interview by avoiding asking for further information about it.
Yes No N/A
4. Only one attempt to terminate the interview was required before the termination was actually completed.
Yes No N/A
5. The counselor initiated the termination of the interview through use of some closing strategy such as acknowledgment of time limits and/or summarization (by self or client).
Yes No N/A
6. At the end of the interview, the counselor offered the client an opportunity to return for another interview.
Yes No N/A
PART IV: Goal Setting
1. The counselor asked the client to identify some of the conditions surrounding the occurrence of the client’s problem (When do you feel______________?).
Yes No N/A
2. The counselor asked the client to identify some of the consequences resulting from the client’s behavior (What happens when you _____________?).
Yes No N/A
3. The counselor asked the client to state how he would like to change his behavior (How would you like for things to be different?).
Yes No N/A
4. The counselor and client decided together upon counseling goals.
Yes No N/A
5. The goals set in the interview were specific and observable.
Yes No N/A
6. The counselor asked the client to verbally state his commitment to work for goal achievement.
Yes No N/A
7. If the client appeared resistant or unconcerned about achieving change, the counselor discussed this with him.
Yes No N/A
8. The counselor asked the client to specify at least one action step he might take toward his goal.
Yes No N/A
9. The counselor suggested alternatives available to the client.
Yes No N/A
10. The counselor helped the client to develop action steps for goal attainment.
Yes No N/A
11. Action steps designated by counselor and client were specific and realistic in scope.
Yes No N/A
12. The counselor provided an opportunity within the interview for the client to practice or rehearse the action step.
Yes No N/A
13. The counselor provided feedback to the client concerning the execution of the action step.
Yes No N/A
14. The counselor encouraged the client to observe and evaluate the progress and outcomes of action steps taken outside the interview.
Yes No N/A
PART V: Counselor Discrimination
1. The counselor’s responses were usually directed toward the most important component of each of the client’s communications.
Yes No N/A
2. The counselor followed client topic changes by responding to the primary cognitive or affective idea reflecting a common theme in each communication.
Yes No N/A
3. The counselor usually identified and responded to the feelings of the client.
Yes No N/A
4. The counselor usually identified and responded to the behaviors of the client.
Yes No N/A
5. The counselor verbally acknowledged several (at least two) client nonverbal affect cues.
Yes No N/A
6. The counselor encouraged the client to talk about his feelings.
Yes No N/A
7. The counselor encouraged the client to identify and evaluate his actions.
Yes No N/A
8. The counselor discouraged the client from making and accepting excuses (rationalization) for his behavior.
Yes No N/A
9. The counselor asked questions which the client couldn’t answer in a yes or no fashion (typically beginning with words such as how, what, when, where, who, etc.).
Yes No N/A
10. Several times (at least two) the counselor confronted the client with a discrepancy present in the client’s communication and/or behavior.
Yes No N/A
11. Several times (at least two) the counselor used responses that supported or reinforced something the client said or did.
Yes No N/A
12. The counselor used several (at least two) responses that suggested a course of action the client had the potential for completing in the future.
Yes No N/A
13. Sometimes the counselor restated or clarified the client’s previous communication.
Yes No N/A
14. The counselor used several (at least two) responses that summarized ambivalent and conflicting feelings of the client.
Yes No N/A
15. The counselor encouraged discussion of negative feelings (anger, fear) expressed by the client.
Yes No N/A
16. Several times (at least two) the counselor suggested how the client might feel
about a particular topic.
Yes No N/A
PART VI: The Process of Relating
1. The counselor made statements that reflected the client’s feelings.
Yes No N/A
2. The counselor responded to the core of a long and ambivalent client statement.
Yes No N/A
3. The counselor verbally stated his desire and/or intent to understand.
Yes No N/A
4. The counselor made verbal statements that the client reaffirmed without qualifying or changing the counselor’s previous response.
Yes No N/A
5. The counselor made attempts to verbally communicate his understanding of the client that elicited an affirmative client response. (“Yes, that’s exactly
right.” And so forth).
Yes No N/A
6. The counselor reflected the client’s feelings at the same or a greater level of intensity than originally expressed by the client.
Yes No N/A
7. In communicating understanding of the client’s feelings, the counselor verbalized the anticipation present in the client’s communication, i.e., what the client would like to do or how the client would like to be.
Yes No N/A
8. The counselor frowned when he didn’t understand what the client was saying.
Yes No N/A
9. The counselor verbalized his confusion or misunderstanding to the client.
Yes No N/A
10. The counselor nodded when agreeing with or encouraging the client.
Yes No N/A
11. When the counselor’s nonverbal behavior suggested that he was uncertain or disagreeing, the counselor verbally acknowledged this to the client.
Yes No N/A
12. The counselor answered directly when the client asked about his opinion or reaction.
Yes No N/A
13. The counselor encouraged discussion of statement made by the client that challenged the counselor’s knowledge and beliefs.
Yes No N/A
14. Several times (at least twice) the counselor shared his own feelings with the client.
Yes No N/A
15. At least one time during the interview the counselor provided specific feedback to the client.
Yes No N/A
16. The counselor encouraged the client to identify and discuss his feelings concerning the counselor and the interview.
Yes No N/A
17. The counselor voluntarily shared his feelings about the client and the counseling relationship.
Yes No N/A
18. The counselor expressed his reactions about the client’s strengths and/or potential.
Yes No N/A
19. The counselor made responses that reflected his liking and appreciation of the client.
Yes No N/A
