Effect of postural congruence on client's perception of counselor empathy.

This study investigated the effects of counselor postural congruence on client perception of the counselor's level of empathy. Specifically, it sought to determine whether a counselor who was mirror imaging a congruent arm and leg position of a client would significantly increase the client's perception of the counselor's level of empathy over the level of the client's perception when the counselor did not mirror image congruent arm and leg position. Eighty adolescents met individually with a counselor for 15 minutes to discuss career plans. Three variables were controlled for in this investigation: counselor's direct body orientation, position of counselor's head, and the empathy level of the counselor's verbal responses. The dependent variable was the Empathy subscale of the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory. In a 2 X 2 X 2 analysis of variance the results were, as predicted, that the clients would rate the counselor as having a significantly greater level of empathy in the congruent condition than in the noncongruent condition. Application to counselor training and suggestions for further research are discussed.