Adolescent clients and perceived counselor characteristics: a study of background characteristics, therapeutic progress, psychological distress, and social desirability.

Counseling dyads were investigated through the use of client ratings of their counselor (modified version of the Counselor Rating Form-Short form) and related to client background characteristics, perceived therapeutic gain, psychological distress (Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale [RCMAS] and Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale), and social desirability (Lie Scale of RCMAS). With a sample of severely emotionally disturbed adolescents (N = 45), who had received extensive counseling, only limited support was found for a relationship between counselor ratings and client background characteristics, therapeutic gain, and psychological distress. However, an important finding was the notable influence of social desirability on counselor ratings. This finding must be viewed with an understanding of the special nature of the present sample.