TPC Journal-Vol 9- Issue 2-Full-Issue

148 The Professional Counselor | Volume 9, Issue 2 Table 3 IPA Coding Scheme of the Meaning of Defining Moment Experiences of Professional Counselors Theme Description 1. Acceptance of reality Coming to terms with the realistic, sometimes limiting, aspects of the counselor role 2. Finding a balance Perceptions of clinical boundaries and the balance between strengths and limitations and external and internal forces 3. Enhanced self-reflection and awareness Facilitated reflection and questioning of intrapersonal and interpersonal processes 4. Reciprocal transformation Mutual change agent for both counselor and client 5. Assimilation and integration How meanings attached to defining moment experiences changed and were incorporated over time Theme 1: Acceptance of Reality Experienced counselors made meaning of their defining moment experiences in the theme of acceptance of reality . This theme was derived to reflect participants’ thoughts about how their defining moment experience helped them come to terms with the realistic, sometimes limiting, aspects of the counselor role. Specifically, defining moment experiences were understood by counselors to help dispel the myth that counselors are a good match for any client and can “fix” and fully resolve any clinical problem that comes their way. According to Ellen, “some situations are beyond repair. If people wait too long to come to see us, we can’t help, and they can’t even make any changes for themselves.” For Jackie, the defining moment experience meant being comfortable with accepting the reality of the limiting aspects of the counselor role when a client didn’t want to change and wanted Jackie to do all the work. She reflected: “In that moment, I just remembered saying . . . you can’t help everybody. It just means I’m not a good fit (for everybody) and that’s okay.” Similarly, the defining moment experience of Alaina meant accepting the reality that “a client I cannot love is not right for me . . . I don’t agree celebrating [the fact of] working with someone you don’t have a connection with.” It also would appear from these defining moment reflections that the acceptance of reality was associated with deeper knowledge of counselor–client boundary conditions. Indeed, counselor–client boundary issues were a significant factor in the defining moments theme of finding a balance . Theme 2: Finding a Balance The theme of finding a balance was identified in participants’ understanding of their defining moment experiences as highlighting different therapeutic boundary conditions and balancing the fine line between internal or external limitations while gaining a sense of finesse and agility between opposing forces. Here, participants identified a dual connection between strengths and limitations, while expressing accountability for establishing a balance between the two factors for client benefit. By taking ownership of a specific personality trait as part of the defining moment experience, Lee came to understand the importance of balance and the potential for possible pitfalls if such a balance is not obtained: “It was my personal disposition to speak with conviction, which is both a strength and limitation. I am still this way of course, but I know when to scale it back—to strike that balance.”