9 TPC Digest Read full article and references: Nice, M. L., Arsh, Dingfelder, R. A., Faris, N. D., Albert, J. K., & Sickels, M. B. (2024). Counseling emerging adults: A phenomenological investigation of professional counselors’ lived experiences. The Professional Counselor, 14(3), 288–303. doi: 10.15241/mln.14.3.288 9 TPC Digest Experiencing these normative developmental features often results in challenges to emerging adults’ mental health. Although emerging adults are one of the most vulnerable age groups for developing mental health issues and are particularly vulnerable to experiencing anxiety and depression, the counseling field has been slow to adapt to the evolving landscape of individuals in their emerging adult development. Many counselors are challenged with using outdated developmental models to conceptualize their work with emerging adult clients that do not adequately address the nuances in this age group. During high school years school counselors are often tasked with prioritizing students for college and career readiness and not for their upcoming transition into emerging adults. Given these circumstances, counselors who work with emerging adult clients are uniquely positioned to foster resilience, wellness, and navigation of various challenges during this often-tumultuous stage of human development. Thus, the authors of this study aimed to understand the experience of counselors in order to discover the unique needs of this population in the counseling setting. After interviewing 11 counselors who primarily counsel emerging adult clients, four themes emerged: parental pressures, selfdiscovery, transitions, and dating and attachment. Counselors reported their clients experiencing stress and anxiety from age-normative experiences. Our findings provide valuable insights regarding counselors’ clinical experiences with emerging adult clients, including several practice implications, and demonstrating that counselors encounter unique developmental issues when counseling emerging adult clients. Counselors can benefit from understanding and paying attention to the themes of this study in order to better attend to the needs of emerging adult clients. Matthew L. Nice, PhD, is an assistant professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Arsh, MA, is a doctoral student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Rachel A. Dingfelder, MA, is a professional counselor and a graduate of the clinical mental health counseling program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Nathan D. Faris, MA, is a professional counselor and a graduate of the clinical mental health counseling program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Jean K. Albert, MA, is a doctoral student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Michael B. Sickels, PhD, is a clinical assistant professor at Duquesne University. Correspondence may be addressed to Matthew L. Nice, 400 Penn Center Boulevard, Building 4, Suite 900, Indiana University of Pennsylvania Pittsburgh East, Pittsburgh, PA 15235, Mnice@iup.edu.
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