A Phenomenological Study on the Professional Development Experiences of Gerontological Counselors

This study aims to explore the professional development experiences of counselors specializing in older adults, to enhance the training of gerontological counselors. In-depth interviews were conducted with 11 counselors who had completed a master’s program and had more than two years of experience counseling older adults. The data were analyzed using Giorgi’s phenomenological research method, resulting in 87 meaning units, which were synthesized into 25 subthemes and six themes. These themes were: “Encounters with gerontological counseling in the flow of life,” “Inner confusion in professional identity,” “Practical efforts to master gerontological counseling,” “Respecting older adults as beings,” “Shifting perspectives on gerontological counseling,” and “Taking steps toward becoming a gerontological counselor.” The findings suggest that professional growth in gerontological counseling involves not only the acquisition of technical skills but also meaningful changes in counselors’ attitudes and perspectives. Implications for training programs and counselor education are discussed.