2010

As mental health counseling interns advance through their last semester of counselor education, they are confronted with the task of establishing themselves as new professionals. Counselor education literature contends that becoming a professional counselor is a complex, developmental process, not yet fully understood (Auxier, Hughes & Kline, 2003; Borders, 1989; Ronnestad & Skovholt, 2003; Skovholt & Ronnestad, 1992). The developmental process has been described as beginning upon acceptance into a counselor education program, continuing through graduation, and achieving licensure (Hazler & Kottler, 2003; Skovholt & Ronnestad, 1992). Factors that contribute to counselor development have rarely been explored. Counselor educators have speculated at length about deeper developmental changes occurring within the person of the counselor; however, notably absent in the literature are descriptions of trainees‟ experiences during this developmental process.