Research
Exploring Counselor Experiences of Training in Relational Depth: An Interpretative Phenomenological Inquiry
Dee C. Ray,
Cody T. Lankford,
Audrey B. Malacara,
Elliott Woehler,
Rachel McCullough,
Corresponding Author
Dee C. Ray
Department of Counseling and Higher Education, University of North Texas
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Dee C. Ray, Department of Counseling and Higher Education, University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle, Box 310829, Denton, TX 76203 (email: dee.ray@unt.edu).Search for more papers by this authorCody T. Lankford
Department of Counseling and Higher Education, University of North Texas
Search for more papers by this authorAudrey B. Malacara
Department of Counseling and Higher Education, University of North Texas
Search for more papers by this authorElliott Woehler
Department of Counseling and Higher Education, University of North Texas
Now at Human Development and Organizational Studies in Education, University of Florida
Search for more papers by this authorRachel McCullough
Department of Counseling and Higher Education, University of North Texas
Search for more papers by this authorDee C. Ray,
Cody T. Lankford,
Audrey B. Malacara,
Elliott Woehler,
Rachel McCullough,
Corresponding Author
Dee C. Ray
Department of Counseling and Higher Education, University of North Texas
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Dee C. Ray, Department of Counseling and Higher Education, University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle, Box 310829, Denton, TX 76203 (email: dee.ray@unt.edu).Search for more papers by this authorCody T. Lankford
Department of Counseling and Higher Education, University of North Texas
Search for more papers by this authorAudrey B. Malacara
Department of Counseling and Higher Education, University of North Texas
Search for more papers by this authorElliott Woehler
Department of Counseling and Higher Education, University of North Texas
Now at Human Development and Organizational Studies in Education, University of Florida
Search for more papers by this authorRachel McCullough
Department of Counseling and Higher Education, University of North Texas
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Relational depth is an emergent counseling construct that captures the profound connection felt by client and counselor in moments of therapeutic encounter. We used interpretative phenomenological analysis to understand how 10 doctoral counseling students perceived curricular experiences designed to facilitate their ability to engage in relational depth. We identified the following themes: mutuality, counselor growth, externalized to internalized expectations, authenticity, impact of relational depth educational experiences, and relational depth reflection and articulation.
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