A Grounded Theory of Counselors’ Post-Graduation Development of Disability Counseling Effectiveness

Authors

Michele Rivas, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Nicole R. Hill, Shippensburg UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Keywords

counselor development, multicultural counseling, disability, grounded theory, disability counseling effectiveness

Subject Area

Counseling, Counselor Education, Mental Health Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling

Abstract

Many persons with disabilities engage in counseling services in a variety of settings. However, the development trajectories of counselors who seek to compensate for the lack of training and advance their post-graduation skillset to work effectively with clients with disabilities has not been explored. This grounded theory study illuminated several dimensions involved in twenty-one Licensed Professional Counselors’ post-graduation development of disability counseling effectiveness. In this study, counseling effectiveness refers to self-perceived improved skillset rather than a benchmark (i.e., competence). The core category, Evolving Commitments, was common to all participants’ trajectories when developing disability counseling effectiveness. The other categories (causal conditions, contextual factors, actions, and intervening conditions) accounted for multiple dimensions in their developmental process. We discuss several implications for counselor training and future research, as well as the limitations of the study.

Recommended Citation

Rivas, M., & Hill, N. R. (2023). A Grounded Theory of Counselors’ Post-Graduation Development of Disability Counseling Effectiveness. Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision, 17(1). Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.sacredheart.edu/jcps/vol17/iss1/7