Toward a Meta-Theory of Consultation

Abstract

The practice of consultation has proliferated wildly over the past two decades. With this growth have come steady advances in consultation methods, but conceptual and empirical foundations remain at a rudimentary level. This article critiques existing conceptions of consultation and identifies factors inhibiting construction of cogent theory. To break the current impasse, a new paradigm, a meta-theory of consultation, is proposed. Counseling psychologists are challenged to use their unique strengths to assist in the evolution of theory, research, and practice of this important social service.