COUNSELOR SEX-ROLE ORIENTATION, FLEXIBILITY, AND WORKING ALLIANCE FORMATION

The authors examined the hypothesized relationship among counselor and rogyny, counselor flexibility, and the establishment of client-rated w orking alliances. In Study 1, 41 counseling students completed the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI; Bem, 1981a) and the Counselor Behavior Anal ysis Inventory (Gabbard, Howard, & Dunfee, 1986). Contrary to the hypo thesis, there was no relationship between androgyny and counseling fle xibility. In Study 2, 42 counseling students completed the BSRI and vi deotaped counseling sessions with a recruited client. Analyses reveale d a significant relationship between counselor flexibility and client ratings of working alliance, but no relationship between counselor and rogyny and counselor flexibility. Research and clinical implications a re discussed.