TPC Journal-Vol 11-Issue-1

The Professional Counselor | Volume 11, Issue 1 93 Counselor Experience Counselor experience (textural) included the reasons why participants chose to become LPCs. These included the motivations that sustained their work and advice for new counselors. Assumptions about diversity, a sense of purpose, listening, and connections to resources encapsulated this theme. Layla became a counselor because she wanted “to give back to my Native people.” Nancy believed that the work with rural women helped her build a rural counselor identity. Woods’ early experience with rural women felt profound because of the chaos she observed in the lives of her clients, many of them impoverished single mothers struggling to survive. She was given a sense of purpose in her work saying, “These women are burned into my head.” When asked about advice for new counselors who anticipate working with rural women, participants offered the following brief statements: • “Don’t make assumptions.” (Courtney) • “Ask to be taught.” (Marie) • “Hear their story without filtering through your own personal lens.” (Nancy) • “There is a difference in working in rural areas—a conservative mind-set, practicality—and you need to meet people where they are.” (Kay) • “Listen more than you talk.” (Suzie) • “Have respect for their culture.” (Layla) LPCs’ Perceptions of Rural Women and Issues Related to Mental Health Three structural themes represented what Moustakas (1994) termed imaginative variation , the acknowledgment of the context of multiple perspectives. The themes were derived from nine codes that provided a vital aspect of further describing the phenomenon. The theme descriptions included participants’ quotes and artifacts. Perceptions of Rural Heritage This theme represented LPCs’ view of rural life, including traditional values, heritage, and expectations/perfectionism. According to participants, many of the rural women embraced the traditional values of their rural heritage, and the roles of rural life; this theme honors that perspective. Fave talked about the expectations that rural women often have of themselves: “It’s a perfectionist perspective, meaning they can do it all.” Even in light of the increased demands on rural women’s time and energy, Marie found that rural women were often hesitant to seek outside professional mental health counseling, choosing instead to rely on family and community. Barriers to Mental Health Services The barriers included codes of lack of resources, stigma, and invisibility. All LPCs felt concerned about the lack of resources for rural women. Suzie talked about the dearth of women’s shelters on the reservation and resources for women who are victims of domestic violence. Suzie said, “They often stay because there are no resources for them to leave, and they can’t afford it.” Woods noted the lack of daycare providers and the fact that many rural women cannot afford these services and depend on family members for childcare. According to several LPCs, rural women do not prioritize their mental health needs, possibly because of the many demands on them.