Measurable research in counseling provides aid in a number of ways. From helping counselors determine conditions that are more common than others to making sure that enough counselors are available to meet an area’s demand, statistical data is often used for improvement purposes. Five uses for statistics in the counseling profession include:
• Determining service utilization
• Confirming treatment effectiveness
• Figuring out the commonality of certain conditions
• Treatment development
• Quality improvement
Service Utilization
When it comes to using statistics in the counseling field, it is especially helpful in the area of service utilization. Statistics can ensure that counseling services will be used in a given area based on population. It’s best to know the particular characteristics of a market. This includes age, sex, income, disabilities and race. Before opening up a clinic or providing services in an area, counselors can use statistics to predict the type of help that residents will likely need. For instance, suburbs may require more couple and child counselors because families tend to gravitate to these locales while urban residents may have a greater use for financial, art and music counselors.
Determining the Effectiveness of Counseling
Research is the foundation of the counseling field, and when experts complete experimental research, counselors are able to improve their treatment methods. Counselors use statistics to assess whether particular treatments are effective. One of the toughest aspects of the profession is determining how psychological disorders, diseases and other mental issues should be categorized. Advanced statistical data can help researchers establish the symptoms that crop up the most when a person is suffering from certain disorders or experiencing particular emotional trials. With statistical data, counselors can modify their treatment tactics to better aid those who seek their services.
Condition Commonality
Statistics in counseling helps industry researchers narrow down condition commonality. As they begin working with patients, counselors need to know what conditions are most likely to occur. Rare mental conditions are bound to crop up from time to time. When they do, they can be tough to figure out, but if counselors are aware of common mental or emotional problems, then they can diagnose these conditions or rule them out more quickly. If a counselor is having trouble diagnosing a condition, statistical data may be able to help.
Treatment Development
Statistical data helps the counseling profession by allowing researchers to hone in on treatment innovations. With research, counselors are able to develop better treatment strategies. For instance, schools have determined that when counselors are involved in more areas of a student’s life, he or she will gain a clearer focus on his or her future. Because of this, counselors have changed their treatment strategies by expanding them. Instead of focusing solely on behavior problems, counselors are now helping students select a career, do well academically and manage their personal lives. Statistics show that counselors are a vital element when it comes to improving student achievement, so schools are hiring more of them.
Quality Improvement
Counselors are always searching for ways to improve the services that they offer. Statistics make it easier for them to do so. In the profession, counselors can compare their successes and failures against those of their colleagues. This will help them establish service standards and benchmarks to gauge future outcomes. To determine overall growth and viability of counseling, analysts use statistical data that they collect over time. Quality improvement in counseling can be used to create safer treatment techniques. It can also help counselors overcome their own weaknesses.
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The Benefits of Using Statistics in Counseling
There are many common uses for statistics in the counseling profession. When counselors use analytical data to treat people, they can become more effective in their field. Research makes it easier for counselors to diagnose common conditions. Statistics also helps counselors improve the quality of their treatment techniques and advance the methods used in the profession.