Professional identity among counselling psychology doctoral students: A qualitative investigation

• Published in: Counselling psychology quarterly Vol. 24; no. 4; pp. 257 - 275
• Main Authors: Gazzola, Nicola, De Stefano, Jack, Audet, Cristelle, Theriault, Anne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 01.12.2011; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Counseling psychology; Counselling psychologists; Counselling psychology; counsellor training; Doctoral postgraduates; Graduate students; Health staff related problems. Vocational training; Identity; Medical sciences; Mental health services; Perceptions; Postgraduate students; Professional identity; professional issues; Professions; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Qualitative research; Social psychiatry. Ethnopsychiatry; Human; Personal experience; Treatment; Social group; Psychological counseling; Counseling psychologist; Qualitative analysis; Professional status; Social belonging; Student; Occupational training; Social identity
• ISSN: 0951-5070; 1469-3674
• DOI: 10.1080/09515070.2011.630572

Counselling psychology has always had an interest in exploring its professional identity. This may be due to diverse multidisciplinary influences on counselling psychology. While diversity and multiplicity can be considered a hallmark feature of the profession, it can also be a source of stress for doctoral students. This study explores counselling psychology doctoral students' perceptions of their professional identities. It is guided by two research questions: (a) What experiences and conditions do counselling psychology doctoral students perceive as contributing to their professional identities? (b) What experiences and conditions do counselling psychology doctoral students perceive as hindering their professional identity? We developed a semi-structured interview protocol and interviewed 10 graduate students who had completed their first year of doctoral study. A variation of the consensual qualitative research method was used for data analysis. Seven categories of experiences that fostered professional identity and four categories of experiences that hindered professional identity were identified. These findings have implications for the practice of counselling psychology within the larger mental health delivery system as well as for the training of counselling psychologists, including counselling curriculum and counselling supervision.