Date
5-2020
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision (PhD)
Chair
John Thomas
Keywords
Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities, IDD, Attitudes, Contact Theory, Counselor
Disciplines
Counseling | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Blagg, Alysha Dawn, "Mental Health Counseling for Individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities: Attitudes and Experiences of Licensed Counselors" (2020). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 2509.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/2509
Abstract
The following study examined the attitudes and beliefs of licensed mental health counselors toward individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) and those providing services to the population. This study examined if professional and/or personal contact with individuals with IDD impacts counselors’ attitudes. A quantitative research design was utilized to examine the relationships among counselors’ attitudes toward individuals with IDD, contact with the population, perception of treatment effectiveness, and confidence in working with individuals with IDD. The responses from 74 participants were used in data analysis for this study. Findings in this study suggested that counselors may hold neutral to low positive attitudes toward the IDD population. Overall findings of this study suggested that counselors’ attitudes impact expectations of counseling effectiveness and counselors’ confidence in providing services to individuals with IDD. Results also suggested that counselors’ contact with individuals with IDD impact counselors’ attitudes, counselors’ confidence, counselors’ expectations of counseling effectiveness, and the relationship between counselors’ attitudes and counselors’ confidence.
