Psychological Experience of Counseling Psychologists who Provide Service to Adolescents in School Context

Abstract

Objective: To study and understand the work experiences as well as the internal cognitive processes that occur in the work of counseling psychologists who provide service to adolescents in school context. Materials and methods: This research involved six participants, all of whom were counseling psychologists providing service to adolescents within school context. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and analyzed using qualitative research methods based on interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Results: The research found highlight four key aspects of the essence of the experience: 1) The role of counseling psychologists, encompassing reactive roles, proactive roles, and their role as educators, 2) the challenges faced by counseling psychologists, including both work challenges and emotional challenges inherent in their work environment, 3) the internal psychological processes and support mechanisms for counseling psychologists, which included reconnecting with oneself, acceptance and adaptation to external situations, and receiving encouragement from peers, and 4)personal and professional transformation, particularly regarding the development of positive self-perceptions. Conclusion: The findings from this study contribute to a better understanding of the role of school counselors, the challenges they face as counseling psychologists, the internal psychological processes involved, and the factors that support their work. Additionally, it highlights the positive changes that impact the counseling profession, offering ways to cope with challenges and identifying factors that facilitate their work. These insights can serve as a guideline for supporting counseling psychologists who provide services to adolescents within the school context.