The DOI matches its Crossref record.
Professional Identity Development: A Grounded Theory of Transformational Tasks of Counselors
Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative grounded theory study was to investigate practicing counselors' professional identity development at nodal points during their career. Through the use of 6 focus groups of beginning, experienced, and expert counselors, 26 participants shared their experiences, and 6 themes emerged to form a theory of transformational tasks of professional identity development. Through these tasks, counselors encountered issues of idealism toward realism, burnout toward rejuvenation, and compartmentalization toward congruency.
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The ethical obligations and prescriptions established by various stakeholders formulate a key aspect of being a counselor.
“The ethical obligations and prescriptions established by the various stakeholders do not exist within a vacuum; rather, they formulate a key aspect of being a counselor (Moss et al., 2014).”
From Examining Counselor Trainees’ Clinical Impressions of Pornography Use: Implications for Couple and Family Counselors (2026) · cites this paper as Moss et al., 2014
The theoretical models and subsequent measurement scales of counseling identity development were conceptual in nature rather than practical.
“The theoretical models (Auxier et al., 2003;Moss et al., 2014) and subsequent measurement scales (Woo & Henfield, 2015) were conceptual in nature rather than practical.”
From Examining Counselor Trainees’ Clinical Impressions of Pornography Use: Implications for Couple and Family Counselors (2026) · cites this paper as Moss et al., 2014
Previous research indicated that as students moved through their training programs, they expressed more alignment and congruency with the professional values of counseling.
“Generally, previous research indicated that as students moved through their training programs, they expressed more alignment and congruency with the professional values of counseling (Moss et al., 2014).”
From Examining Counselor Trainees’ Clinical Impressions of Pornography Use: Implications for Couple and Family Counselors (2026) · cites this paper as Moss et al., 2014
By focusing on the practical application of professional counseling identity through case conceptualization, the current study moved beyond self-report measures such as the PISC or the LGB-KASH.
“By focusing on the practical application of professional counseling identity (Gibson et al., 2010;Moss et al., 2014) through case conceptualization, the current study moved beyond selfreport measures such as the PISC (Woo & Henfield, 2015) or the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Knowledge and Attitudes Scale for Heterosexuals (Worthington et al., 2005).”
From Examining Counselor Trainees’ Clinical Impressions of Pornography Use: Implications for Couple and Family Counselors (2026) · cites this paper as Moss et al., 2014
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Flinchum, M. R., Bradley, L. J., Noble, N., & Jung, K. (2026) · The Family Journal · doi:10.1177/10664807261505019
Metadata
- Authors
- Moss, J. M., Gibson, D. M., & Dollarhide, C. T.
- Affiliations
- South Carolina Department of Transportation (US)
- University of South Carolina (US)
- The Ohio State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Gibson, Donna M.
- Venue
- Journal of Counseling & Development
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2014-01
- Volume
- 92
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 3-12
- ISSN
- 0748-9633 (ISSN-L)
- 1556-6676
- OpenAlex
- W2033494123
- Cited by
- 236
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 17 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 5
- FWCI
- 20.03
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Counseling & Development (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Counseling Practices and Supervision
- Social Sciences › Education › Teacher Education and Leadership Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Stress and Burnout Research
- Keywords
- professional identity formation, counselors, career development, idealism and realism, burnout, rejuvenation, compartmentalization, congruency
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