The Relationship Between Counselor Experience and Case Conceptualization Ability: The Mediating Effects of Mindfulness and Cognitive Flexibility

Objectives This study examined the process by which counselor experience influences case conceptualization ability through the mediating effects of mindfulness and cognitive flexibility. Methods A total of 261 counselors with counseling experience participated in an online survey for data collection. The relationship between counselor experience and case conceptualization ability, mediated by mindfulness and cognitive flexibility, was examined using the SPSS Process Macro. Bootstrapping was conducted to test the significance of the mediating effects. Results First, the results revealed significant correlations among counselor experience, case conceptualization ability, mindfulness, and cognitive flexibility. Second, counselor experience was found to influence case conceptualization ability through the mediating effect of mindfulness. Third, counselor experience was found to affect case conceptualization ability through the mediating effect of cognitive flexibility. Fourth, it was also confirmed that counselor experience influences case conceptualization ability sequentially meidated by mindfulness and cognitive flexibility. Conclusions The findings highlight the importance of mindfulness and cognitive flexibility in the improvement of case conceptualization ability resulting from increased counselor experience. Consequently, counselor education aimed at enhancing these factors is deemed necessary.