Developing a Counseling Model Based on the Lived Experiences of International Students Studying in Iran

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a counseling model based on the lived experiences of international students studying in Iran. Methods and Materials: The research method was qualitative in nature. The study population included international students of Allameh Tabataba’i University during the 2023–2024 academic year. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Findings derived from interview analyses were extracted in the form of four main categories and 16 subcategories. Findings: The results of qualitative data analysis revealed that the counseling model based on the lived experiences of international students studying in Iran consists of four stages: (1) raising awareness and promoting cultural-social adaptation, (2) providing psychological support and addressing basic psychological needs, (3) strengthening social networks and receiving social support, and (4) offering academic-educational guidance and accessing organizational support. The content validity of the counseling model based on the lived experiences of international students was determined using two indices: content validity index (CVI = 0.93) and content validity ratio (CVR = 0.87). Conclusion: It is recommended that universities organize specialized training courses for counselors to familiarize them with the challenges and issues faced by international students and to enhance the provision of effective counseling.