Experiences of Adolescent Mental Health Counselors: A Qualitative Exploration

This qualitative study examines the lived experience of clinical mental health counselors in the United States who work with adolescents. Participants included pre-licensed (associate) or licensed counselors who predominately work with and have a strong preference for working with adolescents. Data was collected through individual in-depth interviews and analyzed with a descriptive-interpretative approach. Ten domains were identified as part of data analysis: (a) Understanding Adolescent Culture and Building a Therapeutic Alliance, (b) The Intersection of Counselor and Adolescent Emotions, (c) Transference and Countertransference, (d) Clinical Challenges and Barriers, (e) The Multifaceted Role of Parents, (f) Nuances of Confidentiality, (g) Adolescent Development and Strengths, (h) Reasons Why Counselors Work with Adolescents, (i) Counseling Recommendations and Techniques Utilized with Adolescents, and (j) Counselor Sustainability. Implications for the counseling profession are included.