Date of Conferral

9-24-2026

Date of Award

September 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Counselor Education and Supervision

Advisor

Katarzyna Holloway

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore counselors’ experiences with family involvement in the treatment of individuals with severe mental illness (SMI). Although family involvement has been associated with improved treatment outcomes, limited research has explored counselors’ experiences facilitating family involvement in SMI treatment, leaving a gap in understanding the challenges counselors face in clinical practice. Guided by Heidegger’s hermeneutic phenomenology, this Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study included six licensed professional counselors experienced in counseling individuals with SMI. The research question asked: How do counselors experience family involvement facilitation in the treatment of individuals with severe mental illness? Data were collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed using IPA. Six themes emerged: the dual nature of family involvement, counselors’ expanding roles, family burnout and limited understanding of mental illness, systemic barriers, the importance of psychoeducation, and ethical and legal tensions surrounding client autonomy and family involvement. Counselors viewed family involvement as essential despite ethical, organizational, and systemic challenges. Recommendations include increasing training in family-inclusive practices, strengthening organizational support, and including individuals with SMI and family members in future research. Positive social change implications include promoting collaborative, family-centered mental health services that strengthen partnerships among counselors, individuals with SMI, and families.

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