Emotional intelligence and counseling self-efficacy among clinical pastoral education students in a multicenter sample: a baseline analysis

Understanding the characteristics of students entering Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), including their baseline emotional intelligence (EI) and counseling self-efficacy (CSE), is essential for facilitating their development. This cross-sectional study examines demographic characteristics, EI, and CSE among 274 CPE students across 29 CPE centers nationwide. It also investigates professional and demographic factors that may predict baseline EI and CSE. We found that CSE was most strongly predicted by EI, EI was predicted by related prior work experience, and race was a predictor of both EI and CSE. These findings offer valuable insights for spiritual care education and CPE programs, highlighting the importance of curricula designed to foster emotional intelligence and promote reflective practice. Future research should explore the efficacy of specific instructional strategies and clinical experiences to enhance EI and CSE among spiritual care students, as well as the potential impact on care recipients.