This study aimed to analyze the experiences of counseling graduate students in the process of acquiring counseling credentials using the method of grounded theory, which is one of the qualitative research methodologies. The study sought to explore wha...
This study aimed to analyze the experiences of counseling graduate students in the process of acquiring counseling credentials using the method of grounded theory, which is one of the qualitative research methodologies. The study sought to explore what these students experience and the process of change they undergo, as well as identify the factors influencing their experiences, with the intention of developing a substantive theory and providing foundational materials for obtaining counseling credentials. Fourteen participants who had completed the process of acquiring counseling credentials and were currently enrolled or graduated from the master's degree program in counseling were selected, and in-depth interviews were conducted to collect data. Through open coding, the analysis of the data resulted in the emergence of 144 main concept, 55 subcategories, and 24 categories. The central phenomenon that emerged in the experience of graduate students in the process of acquiring counseling credentials was identified as "struggling as master's trainees and novice counselors." The core category was identified as "Struggling amidst ambiguity but overcoming and maturing".
The causal and contextual conditions that contributed to the central phenomenon of "struggling as master's trainees and novice counselors" in the experience of graduate students in the process of acquiring counseling credentials were identified as "emergence of motivation for credential acquisition," "limitations due to being students," and "variations in individual backgrounds." The contextual conditions underlying the manifestation of the phenomenon were "confusion caused by the credentialing system," "realities of the counseling psychology field," and "changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic." The intervening conditions that regulated and acted upon the central phenomenon included "support from authorities," "attitudes of others," "presence of family," and "personal characteristics." The strategies of action/interaction that emerged as responses to the central phenomenon were "perseverance," "recognizing helplessness," "motivation and reinforcement," "creating a supportive environment," "creating synergy academically," "obtaining necessary core information," "seeking help from others," "finding joy in togetherness," and "self-care." Through these processes, the outcomes were "ambivalent emotions toward the counseling field," "finding my own pace," "personal growth," and "loving myself as a counselor." The process of acquiring counseling credentials among graduate students in the School of Counseling was summarized into four stages: "challenging stage," "effort stage," "performing stage," and "awareness stage."
Keywords : School of Counseling, Graduate Students, Counseling Credentials, Grounded Theory, Qualitative Study