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The authors examined the hypothesized relationship among counselor androgyny, counselor flexibility, and the establishment of client-rated working alliances. In Study 1, 41 counseling students completed the Bern Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI; Bern, 1981a) and the Counselor Behavior Analysis Inventory (Gabbard, Howard, & Dunfee, 1986). Contrary to the hypothesis, there was no relationship between androgyny and counseling flexibility. In Study 2, 42 counseling students completed the BSRI and videotaped counseling sessions with a recruited client. Analyses revealed a significant relationship between counselor flexibility and client ratings of working alliance, but no relationship between counselor androgyny and counselor flexibility. Research and clinical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although psychological androgyny is a useful and attractive concept for many counselors, a review of the literature suggests that androgyny cannot now serve as a concrete goal for sex-role counseling. It may also pose its own problems for individuals.
In my view, androgyny's popularity has outstripped its actual usefulness to counselors as a goal of sex-role counseling. The concept may provide a useful shorthand for what many clients are moving away from, in their exploration of sex-role issues. A review of recent androgyny literature, however, will show that understanding of androgyny's characteristics is too uncertain to provide a concrete picture of what clients may become as a result of counseling. Conclusions drawn from the literature will also suggest that androgyny best represents another sex-role alternative rather than an ideal, and thus may pose its own problems for individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the author discusses her relationship with a middle aged woman named Annette. Annette was a very attractive, middle aged woman, who had been selected for the advanced training program. There were three advanced trainees. They spend at least 10 hours together each week with various staff members, in addition to a heavy case load. The meetings were intensive, requiring group participation enhanced by personal disclosure. The author and Annette also attended a voluntary therapy group led by outside professional. Annette and the author started hating each other. How could a person who could not get along with the other person train to be a psychotherapist. Finally one of the author's clinical supervisor announced that he was fed up with the behavior of both the ladies. He advised not to take every thing personally. This is what is called therapy training. The author tried not to take things personally. She learned to distance herself and let go, became more task oriented rather than personal and became more androgynous. This opened more opportunities. She gained confidence in doing group work.