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Challenges Experienced by Novice Counsellors

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Counselling in India

Abstract

Existing literature emphasizes the initial years in the profession as crucial to counsellor growth and development. A mixed methods study was conceptualized to explore the challenges experienced by novice counsellors in India. Thirty novice counsellors filled the Development of Psychotherapists Common Core Questionnaire (DPCCQ) and in-depth interviews were conducted with six of the counsellors. The data from both methods was triangulated in the interpretation phase of the research. Results revealed that novice counsellors experienced challenges in the following areas—in the session, challenges related to the organization, and to counselling as a profession. The participants employed multiple coping strategies with the most important being seeking supervision. Implications for professional training, supervision, and licensing are discussed. Further research on therapist growth and development is recommended.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge all the participant counsellors for making time and sharing their experiences for the project.

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Correspondence to Chetna Duggal .

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© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore

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Chetna Duggal, Mithila Rao (2016). Challenges Experienced by Novice Counsellors. In: Sriram, S. (eds) Counselling in India. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0584-8_3

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