White counselor trainees' racial identity and working alliance perceptions

Racial identity has been theorized to significantly affect cross-racial cou nseling relationships (Helms, 1984, 1995). This study examined the direct i mpact of White racial identify of 124 counselor trainees on working allianc e formation in a same-racial and cross-racial vicarious counseling analogue . Regardless of the race of the client, disintegration and reintegration at titudes negatively affected working alliance ratings, and pseudoindependent and autonomy attitudes positively affected working alliance ratings. Impli cations for counseling, supervision, training, and research are discussed.