Exploring Clinical Mental Health Counselors-in-Training Experiences Preparing to Counsel Clients with Intellectual Disability

Abstract

This phenomenological study explores the perceptions and experiences of counselors-in-training as it relates to their preparation to provide counseling services to individuals with intellectual disability. Semi-structured interviews were completed with participants who are currently enrolled in a masters-level, CACREP-accredited clinical mental health counseling program within the United States. Using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach, this research seeks to better understand how counselors feel about providing counseling services to individuals with intellectual disability, as well as what their preparation to provide these services has been like in their training thus far. The goal of this study was to have ten counselors-in-training complete the interview process, then utilize inductive coding to identify themes from the data. Implications for counselors and counselor educators, as well as the relevance of the research findings are discussed.