Counselor Competency to Work With Clients Following Reproductive Trauma: An Exploratory Study

Abstract Due to the high prevalence of reproductive trauma, counselors are likely to work with clients who have experienced it, even if it is not the primary clinical concern. To date, no studies have investigated counselors’ readiness to work with such clients. The purpose of this study was to explore counselors’ experiences, knowledge, and perceived competency in working with clients who have experienced perinatal loss, infertility, or birth trauma. Counselors (n = 287) at various stages of training were asked to complete a survey. The results indicated that counselors did not feel comfortable or competent to work with clients who experienced reproductive trauma and often lacked specialized training in this area. This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the need for counselor education at various training levels as well as the importance of processing counselors’ own reproductive narrative.