The purpose of this study was to examine whether scores of attitudes based on labels as measured by the Attitudes Toward Prostitutes and Prostitutions Scale (APPS) and the Attitudes Toward Trafficked Women and Sex Trafficking Scale (ATTS) and counselor attributes predicted scores of empathy on the Empathy Assessment Index (EAI) and scores of rape myth acceptance on the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale Short Form (IRMA-SF) in counselors. The participants in this study (N = 396) included licensed professional counselors (LPCs) and licensed professional clinical counselors (LPCCs) in Ohio.

The results of this study found a difference on attitudes depending on whether "prostitute" or "sex trafficking" labels were used. The study also confirmed how attitudes based on labels and counselor demographics predicted empathy scores on the EAI and scores of rape myth acceptance on the IRMA. Within both APPS and ATTS groups, male counselors were more likely to accept rape myths compared to female counselors. The significance of this study's results illuminate the importance of avoiding stigmatizing labels within counseling, counselor education, and counselor supervision settings.