Words of Wisdom: A Phenomenological Perspective on Counselor Longevity

Abstract

Counselor development is a career long process yet there is limited research focused on professional counselor development over a full career span. This study aimed to address the gap in the literature and explored the longevity experiences of counselors within the senior phase of professional development. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to explore mental health counselors' experiences with professional longevity. The primary research question guiding the study was: How do senior counselors experience their professional longevity? Purposeful and snowball sampling helped select five mental health counselors for participation in the study. Data were gathered through one-on-one semi-structured interviews. Participants shared the wisdom they have gained through experience and findings provided insight into understanding what influences longevity in the counseling profession. Four themes emerged from the data: (1) meaningful work, (2) commitment to learning with subthemes of choosing learning experiences intentionally and consultation and supervision, (3) boundaries maintain balance with a subtheme of self-care as burnout prevention, and (4) authentic presence. Results and recommendations for how to best prepare and support counselors throughout the career span are discussed.