Perceived Counselor Credibility by Persons with Physical Disability: Influence of Counselor Disability Status, Professional Status, and the Counseling Content

Nosek MA, Fuhrer MJ, Hughes SO. Perceived counselor credibility by persons with physical disability: Influence of counselor disability status, professional status, and the counseling content. Rehabilitation Psychology 1991;36(3):153-61.

ABSTRACT

Tested the perceptions, by persons with physical disability, of the influence of counselor disability status, counselor professional reputation, and counseling content on counselor credibility. Three independent living centers recruited 71 volunteers with mobility impairments as participants. They viewed four photographs that included each counselor's professional credentials, and listened to an audiotape containing a counseling problem, one that was disability related and one that was not. The subjects then rated each counselor's experience, expertness, interest, understanding, and ability. Counselors with disabilities were rated more favorably overall than counselors without disabilities, particularly when the counseling content was disability related and when counselors were depicted as nonprofessional.

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