Date of Award

5-2010

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Program

Counselor Education

Department

Educational Leadership, Counseling, and Foundations

Major Professor

Paradise, Louis V.

Second Advisor

Levitov, Justin E.

Third Advisor

Watson, Zarus E.

Fourth Advisor

Herlihy, Barbara

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that influence the relationship between counselors' sexual comfort and their willingness to discuss sexual issues with the couples they counsel. I surveyed 2000 members of the American Counseling Association (ACA). This study examined the relationships between counselors' sexual comfort and their willingness to discuss sexual issues with couples with a variety of variables. The results revealed that counselors' sexual education and training experience, supervision experience discussing sexuality, sexual attitudes, and age were all associated with both counselors' sexual comfort and willingness to discuss sexual issues with couples. Counselors' years of practice was found to be associated with their sexual comfort. Types of graduate specialization were found to be associated with counselors' willingness to discuss sexual issues with couples. The results of this study have implications for counselors, counselor educators, and supervisors. My hope is that counselor educators will utilize this knowledge to address counselors' in training sexual comfort level and willingness to discuss sexual issues with the couples.

Rights

The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.

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