The Experience of Being the First Client of Novice Counselors in Turkiye From the Client’s Perspective

Abstract

In this study, we aim to understand the clients’ experiences with counselor candidates in Turkiye by examining the meanings that clients attribute to their counseling experiences. Using a qualitative survey, we asked 13 participating clients (2 males, 11 females) questions about meaning attributed to counseling before, during, and after the counseling and their thoughts about the counselor as a candidate and the effects of supervision. A thorough thematic analysis identified four key themes: “the counselor being a counselor candidate,”“before counseling,”“counseling process,” and “counseling outcomes.” The study showed that the clients were unaffected by the fact that their counselor was being supervised. In addition, we also observed that receiving service from a counselor candidate was seen as an advantage rather than a disadvantage, the counselor candidate was perceived as a competent expert, and the outcome of the counseling process was found satisfactory.