Date of Conferral
2023
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Human Services
Advisor
Julia Champe
Abstract
Individuals with disabilities make up the largest minority population in the United States. Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) make up a significant portion of this population, yet there are limited studies addressing counseling with the I/DD population. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs has addressed the need for disability competence in their upcoming 2024 standards. The purpose of the phenomenological study was to describe lived experiences of established counselors working with adult clients diagnosed with an I/DD. A descriptive phenomenological approach was used along with the social model of disability. The study involved six participants. Although eight interviews were conducted, two participants were deemed ineligible for the study despite having successfully gone through the screening process. Giorgi’s data analysis method was used to code participant data. Thematic development resulted in five primary themes across participants: competence, joining, comparing, regard, and encouraging. Results of the study confirm the need for increased disability competence among mental health professionals which may help inform training and continuing education for established counselors. The study included concrete examples of lived experiences of counselors working with clients who had I/DD that can be used to enhance mental health counseling for this client population.
Recommended Citation
Denk, Margarete, "Experience of Established Mental Health Counselors Working with Adults who have Intellectual Disabilities" (2023). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 12321.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/12321
Included in
Counseling Psychology Commons, Disability Studies Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons
