Exploring the Counselor Identities of Latina Counselors Through the Lens of Their Familial, Cultural, and Religious Contexts: A Phenomenological Study

Developing a counselor identity is an essential component of becoming a counselor. There are several factors influencing the developmental process. Though there are several studies that explore the topic of counselor identity development, the research on what this process entails for Latina counselors is limited. Thus, this transcendental phenomenological qualitative study explores how family, culture, and religion influence the counselor identity development of Latina counselors. This study utilized Schlossberg’s transition theory (1981) to observe how these factors become evident in the first year of their Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP) and how they influenced their counselor identity over time. Data was collected from 7 Latina counselors who completed at least the first year of a CACREP program, were residents in training, had been licensed for several years, or had graduated from a CACREP doctoral program. The researcher utilized semi-structured interviews and focus groups to conduct this study with the Latina counselors. Data analysis was conducted using Moustaka’s epoché, and five key themes emerged from the study: Lack of Latina representation, mental health stigmas, influence of cultural factors, spiritual and religious influences, and boundaries. Based on the findings, counselor educators can gain insights into understanding their Latina students, which can aid in how they tailor their teaching, supervision, and consultation with future Latina counseling students.