Date of Award
2017
Document Type
Dissertation
Publication Status
Version of Record
Submission Date
October 2026
Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]
Frain, Michael
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of motivational interviewing (MI) counselor training in a public vocational rehabilitation (VR) setting. Data were collected from a total of 347 participants (67 counselors and 280 clients) in the experimental and comparison groups, during the pre-and-posttests. The counselors in the experimental group received a 4-hour standardized MI training and a 4-week follow up coaching sessions. Results of this study indicated that counselors in the experimental group demonstrated significant gains in their MI competence scores compared to the comparison group. The clients of the experimental group’s counselors significantly improved their engagement in VR services and working alliance with their counselors. Also, counselors’ education level and CRC status showed strong correlation with the posttest MI competence total scores. Finally, working alliance was found to be a significant predictor of client engagement. This study established the preparatory knowledge for the relationship between MI counselor training, client engagement, and counselor-client working alliance in a public rehabilitation setting. The results of this study contribute to the rehabilitation literature by providing evidence-based knowledge and tools designed to improve the quality of VR service outcomes, such as employment, for people with disabilities. With the findings of this research, there is evidence available to provide rehabilitation administrators to justify investing time and other resources into training rehabilitation counselors on the use of MI intervention.
Extent
139 p.
Recommended Citation
Torres, Ayse, "The Impact of Motivational Interviewing Training on Rehabilitation Counselors: Assessing Working Alliance and Client Engagement. A Randomized Controlled Trial" (2017). Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019. 1816.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_general_6/1816
Identifier
FA00004950
Comments
Includes bibliography.|Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Includes bibliography.