Adaptation Problems at Regional Boarding Schools from the Perspective of the School Counselors

The aim of this qualitative study is to explore students’ adaptation problems at regional boarding schools from the perspective of the school’s psychological counselors. Focus group discussions were carried out with eight psychological counselors working at different regional boarding schools in Türkiye. The results showed that the reasons for adaptation problems of regional boarding school students can be grouped under three main themes. These themes encompass students' separation from their families, the change in living conditions, and the emotions they feel about other students' lives. Furthermore the results showed how these problems can be identified under five main themes; and it was noteworthy that these themes encompass both students' deliberate actions and actions they unconsciously carry out. The study also offers insights into addressing these problems through four main themes. These themes have demonstrated the importance of counseling services, students' sense of belonging and unity, and the significance of having similar experiences. Based on the research findings, recommendations were made to develop school orientation psychoeducation programs, integrate the peer counseling system into school adjustment studies, and design studies that examine the risky behaviors of regional boarding school students in depth.