What We Don't Know CAN Hurt Us: Mental Health Counselors' Implicit Assumptions About Human Nature

Abstract

All people have implicit assumptions, often existing outside conscious awareness, about a range of human attributes. Mental health counselors may have unique sets of implicit assumptions about human nature which affect their view of client problems and influence their professional behavior. This article describes possible sets of counseling-relevant assumptions about human nature and discusses the importance of mental health counselors gaining greater awareness of their assumptions. Strategies for increasing this awareness are presented, and implications for mental health counseling educators and supervisors are discussed.