Metacognition and Cognitive Complexity in Counselors-in-Training
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D)
Department
Counseling
Date of Award
Summer 8-18-2025
Abstract
Counseling is a complex specialty requiring rapid differentiation and integration of information to form a working conceptualization of a client’s concerns. These abilities, collectively referred to as cognitive complexity, develop over time and are an indicator of professional development. Advancements in the study of expertise development have shown that identifying and intentionally training the cognitive skills underlying domain-specific expertise is possible. The present quantitative, non-experimental study examined two known cognitive skills – cognitive complexity and metacognition – across three period in initial counselor training to identify relationships between the skills and to provide an emerging profile of how counselor thinking changes with education. This information will inform the growing body of work concerning counselor development and trainable cognitive skills.
Advisor
LaVelle Hendricks
Subject Categories
Counseling Psychology | Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Inbody, Ashley, "Metacognition and Cognitive Complexity in Counselors-in-Training" (2025). Electronic Theses & Dissertations. 1289.
https://lair.etamu.edu/etd/1289
