A Sequence of Developmental Stages Designed to Classify Client Responses in Counseling Interviews in a Way Which Will Reveal Significant Changes in Client Feelings and Perceptions as He Seeks and Gains Independence and Self-Autonomy in Dealing with His Adjustment Difficulties.

This paper describes a system of classifying client responses in counseling interviews. The author begins his classification at Stage 1, where the client's self-evaluation and levels of independence and self-autonomy are so low he cannot admit he needs help, and delineates each stage of the client's reaction through Stage 12, the final step, where the client's self-evaluation and levels of independence and self-autonomy have increased so that he can now accept the fact that while he will still have to face problems as they arise, he now feels adequate to cope with them. Each stage level is described, complete with characteristic perceptions and feelings with psychological explanations, a description of definitive overt behavior, and illustrative client comments. (Author/HMV)