Professional Identity Development: A Grounded Theory of Transformational Tasks of Counselors |
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| Authors: | Julie M. Moss Donna M. Gibson Colette T. Dollarhide |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Hand Middle School, Columbia, South Carolina.;2. Department of Educational Studies, University of South Carolina.;3. Now at Department of Counselor Education, Virginia Commonwealth University.;4. Department of Counselor Education and School Psychology, Ohio State University. |
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| Abstract: | The purpose of this qualitative grounded theory study was to investigate practicing counselors' professional identity development at nodal points during their career. Through the use of 6 focus groups of beginning, experienced, and expert counselors, 26 participants shared their experiences, and 6 themes emerged to form a theory of transformational tasks of professional identity development. Through these tasks, counselors encountered issues of idealism toward realism, burnout toward rejuvenation, and compartmentalization toward congruency. |
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| Keywords: | professional identity development practicing counselors |
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