Phenomenological Study on Counselors' Experience of Courtroom Testimony: Focusing on the Process of Psychological Burnout

Objectives This study aims to elucidate the phenomenological experience of psychological burnout among counselors who testify in court. It describes their experiences as they are and interprets the meanings they attribute to these experiences. Methods In-depth interviews were conducted with eight counselors who had experience testifying in court. The qualitative data obtained from these interviews were analyzed using Giorgi's phenomenological research method to extract the participants' experiences. Through a cyclical analytical process, meaning units, subcategories, and higher-order categories were derived. Based on this, the research phenomenon was described. Results As a result of this study, the experiential meaning of counselors who have testified in court was identified as follows. First, counselors experienced internal burdens and conflicts in preparation for court testimony, along with feelings of confusion regarding their clients. Second, counselors who participated in court testimony endured significant stress and pressure due to the unfamiliar and intimidating legal environment, as well as the risks associated with their testimony, often facing these challenges alone. Third, throughout this process, they became immersed in considerable negative emotions and thoughts, experiencing the limitations of their role as counselors. At the same time, they made efforts to overcome these challenges through personal resilience and support from their surroundings. From this analysis, a total of 75 meaning units, 25 subcategories, 9 higher-order categories, and 3 main themes were derived. Conclusions Based on these results, the study discusses the implications for counseling, focusing on psychological burnout related to the counselors' court testimony experiences.