The Meaning of Counsellors’ Gender in the Overall Therapeutic Relationship

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The purpose of this study is to explore both male and female professional counsellors beliefs based on their gender and if and how it influences the therapeutic relationship in regards to establishment, progress, and outcome. According to O’Neil (O’Neil, 1981a, 1981b, 1982) there are four empirically derived patterns of gender role conflict (GRC); Success, Power and Competition issues (SPC), Restrictive Emotionality (RE), Restrictive Affectionate Behavior Between Men (RABBM), and Conflict Between Work and Family Relations (CBWFR).
In a qualitative study about GRC male therapists were interviewed about their working experiences with male and female clients. It was mainly found that when working with male clients there could be a different power relationship shift and changes in control levels during the therapeutic process. Plus, the presence of RABBM had significant restrictions in male clients’ behaviour regarding sharing deep feelings and thoughts, which altered and threatened male identity and the masculinity ideology (Gillen, 2012). In regards to female clients, the therapeutic relationship and process appeared to be less challenging as therapists reported female clients to be more in touch with their feelings and male therapists said that this made them to feel more comfortable, it facilitated more congruence and trust, a better sense of connection, and better therapeutic progress.
In addition, therapists’ GRC and their clinical judgments of male clients have been studied in two studies (Hayes, 1985; Wisch & Mahalik, 1999). Therapists with high RABBM reported significantly less liking for male clients, less empathy with non-traditional male clients, and more maladjustment for non-traditional male clients (Hayes,...

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