The Voice of Experience: Trauma Counselors’ Perceptions and Recommendations for Counselor Training Programs
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D)
Department
Counseling
Date of Award
Summer 8-18-2025
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the personal narratives of experienced trauma counselors and draw from their experience and recommendations for counselor training programs. The prevalence of trauma exposure in the general population is between 70% and 90% and the impact of that exposure contributes to even higher rates in clinical populations (Benjet et al., 2016; Feriante & Sharma, 2023; Magruder et al., 2017). Exposure to traumatic events can negatively impact mental health and physical health, and yet, there is a deficit in counselor training in trauma and its impact (York et al., 2024). Insufficient training increases the potential for clients to be misdiagnosed, receive less effective treatment, and increases the risk of re-traumatization and puts counselors at higher risk of vicarious trauma and burnout (Giodorno et al., 2016; Lanier & Carney, 2019; York et al., 2024). Developing trauma-informed counselors is vital to upholding ethical standards of the profession and helping protect future clients and counselors from harm (Benjet et al., 2016; Feriante & Sharma, 2023; Magruder et al., 2017; York et al., 2024). While counselor education programs have identified the limitations in trauma training, minimal research has investigated how to address the lack of training. In this qualitative phenomenological study, the researcher investigated the experiences and recommendations of trauma counselors regarding training for future counselors. The framework of the current qualitative study was guided by a phenomenological approach and a social constructivist paradigm. Moustakas’ descriptive phenomenological approach was used for data analysis to explore the research questions: What are the lived experiences of counselors providing trauma counseling? What potential contributions to counselor trauma training can be gained from their lived experiences? What are the recommendations of experienced trauma counselors for the counseling profession? The voice of experience of trauma counselors can make valuable contributions to the preparation and education of future counselors (Horesh & Brown, 2020).
Advisor
Zaidy MohdZain
Subject Categories
Counseling Psychology | Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Willhite, Monica, "The Voice of Experience: Trauma Counselors’ Perceptions and Recommendations for Counselor Training Programs" (2025). Electronic Theses & Dissertations. 1287.
https://lair.etamu.edu/etd/1287
