NODE-LINK MAPPING AND THE EVALUATION OF DRUG-ABUSE COUNSELING SESSIONS

Node-link mapping is a visual representation system that can be used i n group and individual counseling sessions to illustrate clients' prob lems, issues, and plans. One hundred sixty-nine methadone treatment cl ients and their 10 counselors evaluated each of their individual and g roup sessions during a 2.5-month period by using the Session Evaluatio n Questionnaire (W. B. Stiles, 1980) and map rating items. A series of multivariate analyses of variance and correlational analyses indicate d that the use of mapping-including the quantity and quality of mappin g-was positively related to higher ratings of session depth by both cl ients and counselors. In addition, mapped group sessions were rated hi gher on several evaluative dimensions than were mapped individual sess ions.