A Qualitative Examination of School Counselors’ Intention to Leave the Profession

ABSTRACT Considering the increasing mental health crisis among youth in school settings, there is a significant need for school counselors to enter and remain in the field to ensure that students have equitable access to qualified services and support. In recent years, qualified and passionate school counselors are considering leaving or have already left the profession due to many factors. Despite increased turnover rates, few scholars have explored school counselors’ attrition and turnover. Understanding the reasons for increased turnover in school counseling can benefit school counselors, school counselor trainees, and the children and families school counselors serve. We reported the findings of a phenomenological qualitative examination of school counselors’ motivations for turnover. Our findings revealed three themes: (a) “This is not sustainable,” (b) Negative personal and professional impacts of the job, and (c) “It's not the kids.” We discuss the implications of the findings and suggestions for future research.