Counseling Emerging Adults: A Phenomenological Investigation of Professional Counselors’ Lived Experiences

Phenomenological Investigation of Professional Counselors' Lived ExperiencesEmerging adults (18-29 years) are at a vulnerable developmental stage for mental health issues.The counseling field has been slow to adapt to the evolving landscape of the specific needs of emerging adult clients.The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the experiences of professional counselors who primarily counsel emerging adult clients.Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, data was collected from 11 professional counselors to produce four major themes of their experiences working with emerging adult clients: parental pressures, self-discovery, transitions, and dating and attachment.The findings from this study provide insights regarding practices and preparation for professional counselors to work with emerging adult clients.