TPC-Digest-Vol-2-Iss-3

10 Meaningful Experiences in the Counseling Process–DIGEST Corrine Sackett Gerald Lawson Penny L. Burge The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the experiences of counselors-in- training (CITs) and clients in the counseling process, and to answer the following two research questions: (a) What do CITs and clients experience as most meaningful in counseling? (b) What are the similarities and differences of what CITs and clients experience as meaningful in counseling? The use of CITs, rather than experienced counselors, in this study has provided important discussion and implications for counselor educators and supervisors. Participants in this study consisted of CITs and clients from a counselor education training clinic at a satellite center for a large mid-Atlantic public university. The CITs were master’s students in a counselor education program at this university and were completing their practicum experience in the clinic at the time of the study. The clients in the study were students enrolled in a Human Services Associates Degree Program at a local community college. The sample consisted of 12 CIT-client dyads, totaling 24 participants. Phenomenological interviews were conducted following each dyad’s second counseling session to elicit participants’ experiences of meaningful occurrences in that particular session. The Professional Counselor Volume 2, Issue 3 http://tpcjournal.nbcc.org © 2012 NBCC and Affiliates, Inc. www.nbcc.org Corrine Sackett is an Assistant Professor at Western Kentucky University. Gerald Lawson is an Associate Professor and Penny L. Burge is a Professor, both at Virginia Polytechnic and State University. Correspondence can be addressed to: Corrine.sackett@wku.edu , GRH 2019, 1906 College Heights Blvd., #11030, Bowling Green, KY A b s t r a c t Researchers examine the experiences of a counseling session from the perspectives of counselor- in-training (CITs) and clients. Post-session phenomenological interviews were conducted to eleicit participants’meaningful experiences, and the analysis revealed both similarities and differences. Researchers found the following themes most meaningful for CITs: Counseling Relationship, Insight, Immediacy, Goals, Emotion, Nonverbals, Transference, and Countertransference, and CITS negotiating the counseling process and their role. Themes of meaningful experience that emerged for clients include: Counseling Relationship, Insight, Immediacy, Goals, Emotion, and Reflections on Counseling. Implications for counselor education and supervision are discussed. TPC Digest