An Initial Investigation of Factors That Influenced Student Experiences throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic

In response to the critical gap in the literature, the research team conducted a phenomenological study of first-semester counseling master’s students’ experiences amid the COVID-19 global pandemic. The following themes emerged: academic supports, external supports, meaning-making, academic stressors, and external stressors. Implications for counselor education programs are explored, along with limitations and areas for future research.