The Experiences of Male Counselors of Children Who Have Experienced Trauma
Abstract
Men are increasingly underrepresented in counselor education and in the counseling
profession, with only 27% of members of the American Counseling Association reporting
as men. Men in counseling often feel marginalized and isolated. Additionally, they are
socialized to be independent, emotionally and physically strong, and to focus on success,
while being discouraged from seeking help. Continual exposure to the trauma material of
others can cause secondary trauma, with cumulative deleterious effects identified in this
study using the Heidegger’s hermeneutic phenomenology. The purpose of this
qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of male
counselors who primarily work with children who have experienced trauma. Using
purposive sampling 6 licensed male counselor participants were identified, and
semistructured interviews were conducted. A hermeneutic interpretation made through
the lens of constructivist self-development theory was used to further elucidate
participants’ experiences. The 13 themes generated from this data included: (a)
counselors’ use of an eclectic theoretical approach, (b) majority of the clients had
experienced trauma, (c) experiences of vicarious trauma, (d) increased empathy and
growth; (e) negative impact of vicarious trauma, (f) help-seeking behavior, (g) denial of
help-seeking behavior, (h) additional training, (i) coping skills, (j) supportive supervisors,
(k) peer consultation, (l) supervisor role, (m) world is unsafe/people are bad, and (o)
increasing knowledge. Implications for social change include empowering current and
future male counselors to effectively understand and mitigate negative consequences of
vicarious trauma from working with children who have experienced trauma.
Description
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Article
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Keywords
phenomenological study, qualitative research, counselors, secondary traumatic stress
Citation
Wallace, K. M. (2018). The Experiences of Male Counselors of Children Who Have Experienced Trauma. (Doctoral dissertation). Walden University.