International Counseling Students’ Practicum Experience in a Counseling Program in the United States

Abstract

Limited attention has been given to international counseling students (ICSs) enrolled in U.S. counseling programs. This phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of six ICSs in a U.S. counseling program regarding factors that impacted their practicum experience. The study identified three themes: learning and growth process, positive impacting factors, and negative impacting factors. It also provided stakeholder recommendations

Professional identity development of international counseling doctoral students: A hybrid approach of deductive and inductive thematic analysis

“…For almost two decades, the counseling and counselor education literature has featured an increased attention to international counselors-in-training (CITs) as a group. For instance, the literature captures international CITs' outcomes spanning from academic and social needs (Behl et al, 2017), counseling self-efficacy (C. , practicum experience (Xiong et al, 2022), to supervision (e.g., Fan & Haskins, 2020;Jang et al, 2014;Lau et al, 2019;D. Li et al, 2018).…”

“…For almost two decades, the counseling and counselor education literature has featured an increased attention to international counselors‐in‐training (CITs) as a group. For instance, the literature captures international CITs’ outcomes spanning from academic and social needs (Behl et al., 2017), counseling self‐efficacy (C. Li et al., 2018), practicum experience (Xiong et al., 2022), to supervision (e.g., Fan & Haskins, 2020; Jang et al., 2014; Lau et al., 2019; D. Li et al., 2018). In illustrating international CITs’ development, researchers noted language barriers, acculturation‐related difficulties, and unsupportive environment as significant challenges (e.g., Behl et al., 2017; Jang et al., 2014; Pérez‐Rojas & Gelso, 2018).…”