A New Computer Application for Innovation and Evaluation in Counseling

Abstract

To measure the effect of counselling, outcome measures are obtained after completion of a counseling session because measuring outcomes and changes that occur during and within the counseling session itself is problematic. This problem was addressed by a new method demonstrated with medical students.1 Rarely has a counseling session been documented by clients.2 Using the UfaceME® method, Clients or people acting as clients responded to a series of statements which were repeated every four minutes as they watched video-audio replay of their session. They then observed by viewing and rating a comparison of their responses with those of their counselor. This study shows the benefits of the UfaceME method as an application to measure change that occurs within a counseling session. Significant positive changes were demonstrated in clients’ perception and feelings towards the end of the session compared to the beginning. Implications and results to date include further counseling engagement, healthy behavioral and relational change, improved mental health, and improved self-awareness.