Exploring the lived experience of doctoral study in counseling psychology: A phenomenological approach.

摘要

The researcher investigated the lived experience of counseling psychology doctoral study through the perceptions of eight advanced students using a modified version of Seidman's (1998) phenomenological approach to interviewing and Colaizzi's (1978) phenomenological method of analysis. The findings of this study indicated that counseling psychology doctoral study is a complex phenomenon involving numerous instances of challenge and change. Among these challenges is the overwhelming, all-encompassing and personally intrusive nature of counseling psychology doctoral study. Changes discussed by the participants were both personal and professional in nature. Several changes, including personal and professional growth and the individualization of counseling psychology doctoral study, constituted primary sources of meaning. Impediments and facilitators of counseling psychology doctoral study success are discussed in detail, as are implications of the findings for prospective and current counseling psychology doctoral students and counseling psychology faculty.