Hostname: page-component-6766d58669-rxg44 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-05-16T13:35:26.111Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

School counsellors’ resilience in Turkey: A phenomenological study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 October 2019

Deniz Guler  and
Esra Ceyhan
Deniz Guler*
Affiliation:
Department of Guidance and Counselling, Faculty of Education, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey
Esra Ceyhan
Affiliation:
Department of Guidance and Counselling, Faculty of Education, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey
*
*Corresponding author. Email: denizguler@anadolu.edu.tr
Get access

Abstract

Resilience is a crucial personal characteristic of school counsellors to protect and maintain their wellbeing against the effects of occupational stress factors in school settings. However, there has been a lack of research investigating school counsellors’ resilience in Turkey. Therefore, this study aims to explore the resilience of school counsellors working in schools with at-risk students in terms of stress and protective factors. The study was conducted using a qualitative research method with a phenomenological approach. The data were collected through semistructured interviews from 10 school counsellors working in schools with at-risk students. The data analysis was carried out with an inductive approach using an NVivo 11 software package program. The analysis revealed a variety of findings, both positive and negative, regarding the resilience of school counsellors. In this scope, three interrelated themes emerged as ‘Occupational Stressors’, ‘Personal Factors: Strength versus Vulnerability’, and ‘Positive and Negative Results: Happiness and Satisfaction versus Helplessness and Burnout’. The results show that school counsellors working in schools with at-risk students experience a variety of occupational stresses and that their experience of happiness and satisfaction, or helplessness and burnout, depends on a level of strengths or weaknesses with reference to personal factors.

Keywords

school counsellorresiliencejob stressprotective factors

Information

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools , Volume 30 , Issue 2 , December 2020 , pp. 185 - 201
Check for updates
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Akkök, F. (1999). Ailelerin eğitim sürecine katılımı [Families’ participation in the education process]. Kuzgun, Y., (Ed.), İlköğretimde rehberlik içinde [In Counselling in primary education] (249–255). Ankara: Nobel.Google Scholar
American Counselling Association. (2014). 2014 ACA code of ethics. Alexandria, VA: Author. Retrieved from http://www.counselling.org Google Scholar
Aras, Ş., Günay, T., Özan, S., & Orçın, E. (2007). Risky behaviours among high school students in İzmir. Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry, 8, 186–196.Google Scholar
Bardhoshi, G., Schweinle, A., & Duncan, K. (2014). Understanding the impact of school factors on school counsellor burnout: A mixed-methods study. The Professional Counsellor, 4, 426–443.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beltman, S., Mansfield, C.F., & Harris, A. (2016). Quietly sharing the load? The role of school psychologists in enabling teacher resilience. School Psychology International, 37, 172–188.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowman, P.J. (2013). A strengths-based social psychological approach to resiliency: Cultural diversity, ecological, and life span issues. In Prince-Embury, S. & Saklofske, D.H. (Eds.), Resilience in children, adolescents, and adults: Translating research into practice (pp. 299–324). New York, NY: Springer.10.1007/978-1-4614-4939-3_21CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Butler, S.K., & Constantine, M.G. (2005). Collective self-esteem and burnout in professional school counselors. Professional School Counseling, 9, 55–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Camadan, F., & Sezgin, F. (2012). A qualitative research on perceptions of primary school principals about school guidance services. Turkish Psychological Counselling and Guidance Journal, 4, 199–211.Google Scholar
Celbiş, O., Karaoğlu, L., Eğri, M., & Özdemir, B. (2012). Violence among high school students in Malatya: A prevalence study. Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences, 42, 343–350.Google Scholar
Corey, G. (2013). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (9th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.Google Scholar
Cormier, S., & Hackney, H. (2013). Psikolojik danışma stratejiler ve müdahaleler [Counselling strategies and interventions] (Doğan, S., Trans. Ed.). Ankara: Pegem Akademi.Google Scholar
Creswell, J.W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry & research design: Choosing among five approaches (3th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications.Google Scholar
Creswell, J.W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.Google Scholar
Culver, L.M. (2011). Counsellor perceptions of the efficacy of training and implementation of self-care strategies related to trauma work (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of New Orleans, LA.Google Scholar
Çoban, A.E., & Demir, A. (2004). Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesinde görev yapan psikolojik danışmanların tükenmişlik düzeyleri ve bazı demografik değişkenlerle tükenmişlik arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesi [Investigating the relationship between burnout levels of psychological counsellors and some demographic variables, and burnout]. Çukurova University Education Faculty Journal, 2, 20–28.Google Scholar
Dağ, H., Türel-Kırdök, A., Koçak-Delen, Ü., Özyürek, R., Göksu, İ., Taycı, S., & Üçel, H. (2009). İki okulda birden görevlendirilen rehber öğretmenlerin görev performansları hakkındaki görüş ve önerileri: Adana ili örneği [Views and recommendations school counsellors assigned to two schools at once state with respect to their performance in their assignments: The example of Adana province]. Adana, Turkey: Adana Branch of Turkish Psychological Counselling and Guidance Association.Google Scholar
David, D.P. (2012). Resilience as a protective factor against compassion fatigue in trauma therapists (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Walden University, MI.Google Scholar
Doğan, S. (2000). The historical development of counselling in Turkey. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 22, 57–67.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Folger, J.P., Poole, M.S., & Stutman, R.K. (2013). Working through conflict: Strategies for relationships, groups, and organizations (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.Google Scholar
Friedman, R.A., Tidd, S.T., Currall, S.C., & Tsai, J.C. (2000). What goes around comes around: The impact of personal conflict style on work conflict and stress. International Journal of Conflict Management, 11, 32–55.10.1108/eb022834CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Giorgi, A. (1997). The theory, practice, and evaluation of the phenomenological method as a qualitative research procedure. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 28, 235–260.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gizir, C.A. (2007). A literature review of studies on resilience, risk, and protective factors. Turkish Psychological Counselling and Guidance Journal, 3, 113–128.Google Scholar
Glesne, C. (2011). Becoming qualitative researchers (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.Google Scholar
Guba, E.G. (1981). Criteria for assessing the trustworthiness of naturalistic inquiries. Educational Communication and Technology, 29, 75–91.Google Scholar
Guler, D., & Turkum, A.S. (2018). Adapting the Counselor Burnout Inventory to Turkish: Validity and reliability studies. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 32, 1–14.Google Scholar
Güler, N., Güler, G., Ulusoy, H., & Bekar, M. (2009). Lise öğrencileri arasında sigara, alkol kullanımı ve intihar düşüncesi sıklığı [Prevalence of smoking, alcohol use, and suicidal ideation of high-school students]. Cumhuriyet Medical Journal, 31, 340–345.Google Scholar
Gündüz, B. (2012). Self-efficacy and burnout in professional school counsellor. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 12, 1761–1767.Google Scholar
Gündüz, B., Tunç, B., & İnandı, Y. (2013). The relationship between the school administrators’ anger control and stress coping methods and their conflict management style. International Journal of Human Sciences, 10, 641–660.Google Scholar
Hamamcı, Z., Murat, M., & Çoban, A.E. (2004). Gaziantep’teki okullarda çalışan psikolojik danışmanların mesleki sorunlarının incelenmesi [Investigating Occupational Problems of Psychological Counsellors Working in Schools in Gaziantep]. Paper presented at the 13th National Educational Sciences Conference, Malatya, Turkey.Google Scholar
Harrison, R.L. (2007). Preventing vicarious traumatization, of mental health therapists: Identifying protective practices (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). The University of British Columbia, Canada.Google Scholar
Heath, S. (1991). Dealing with the therapist’s vulnerability to depression. Lanham, MD: Jason Aronson.Google Scholar
Hjemdal, O., Friborg, O., Stiles, T.C., Rosenvinge, J.H., & Martinussen, M. (2006). Resilience predicting psychiatric symptoms: A prospective study of protective factors and their role in adjustment to stressful life events. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 13, 194–201.10.1002/cpp.488CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hou, J.-M. (2015). Characteristics of highly resilient therapists (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Minnesota, MN.Google Scholar
İkiz, F.E. (2010). Psikolojik danışmanların tükenmişlik düzeylerinin incelenmesi (The investigation of the burnout levels of counsellors). Ahi Evran University Education Faculty Journal, 11, 25–43.Google Scholar
Karaırmak, Ö. (2006). Resilience, risk and protective factors. Turkish Psychological Counselling and Guidance Journal, 3, 129–142.Google Scholar
Kendrick, R., Chandler, J., & Hatcher, W. (1994). Job demands, stressors, and the school counselor. The School Counselor, 41, 365–369.Google Scholar
Kepçeoğlu, M. (2004). Psikolojik danışma ve rehberlik [Counselling and guidance]. İstanbul, Turkey: Alkım.Google Scholar
Kilburg, R.R., Nathan, P.E., & Thoreson, R.W. (1986). Professionals in distress: Issues, syndromes, and solutions in psychology. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.10.1037/10056-000CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kirk-Brown, A., & Wallace, D. (2004). Predicting burnout and job satisfaction in workplace counselors: The influence of role stressors, job challenge, and organizational knowledge. Journal of Employment Counseling, 41, 29–37.10.1002/j.2161-1920.2004.tb00875.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Korkut-Owen, F., & Owen, D.W. (2008). School counsellor’s role and functions: School administrators’ and counsellors’ opinions. Ankara University, Journal of Faculty of Educational Sciences, 41, 207–221.Google Scholar
Kottler, J.A. (2012). The therapist’s workbook: Self-assessment, self-care, and self- improvement exercises for mental health professionals. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Kuşdil, M.E., & Kağıtçıbaşı, Ç. (2000). Türk öğretmenlerin değer yönelimleri ve Schwartz Değer Kuramı [Value orientation of Turkish teachers and Schwartz’s theory of values]. Türk Psikoloji Dergisi [Turkish Journal of Psychology], 15, 59–76.Google Scholar
Luthar, S.S., Cicchetti, D., & Becker, B. (2000). The construct of resilience: A critical evaluation and guidelines for future work. Child Development, 71, 543–562.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Masten, A.S. (2007). Resilience in developing systems: Progress and promise as the fourth wave rises. Development and Psychopathology, 19, 921–930.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Masten, A.S., & Reed, M.-G.J. (2002). Resilience in development. In Snyder, C.R. & Lopez, S.J., (Eds.), Handbook of positive psychology (pp. 74–88). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Merriam, S.B. (2009). Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.Google Scholar
Miles, M.B., & Huberman, A.M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook (2nd ed). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Google Scholar
Mullenbach, M.A. & Skovholt, T.M. (2016). Emotional wellness and professional resiliency of master therapists. In Skovholt, T.M. & Jennings, L., (Ed.), Master therapists: Exploring expertise in therapy and counselling (10th ed., pp. 77–104). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.10.1093/med:psych/9780190496586.003.0005CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Norcross, J.C., & Guy, J.D. (2007). Leaving it at the office: A guide to psychotherapist self-care. New York, NY: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (2019). OECD better life index. Retrieved from http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/turkey/ Google Scholar
Özer, R. (1998). Rehber öğretmenlerde tükenmişlik düzeyi, nedenleri ve çeşitli değişkenlere göre incelenmesi [The investigation of counsellors career burnout: Causes, sources and levels]. Unpublished Master Thesis, Karadeniz Teknik University, Turkey.Google Scholar
Paisley, P.O., & McMahon, G. (2001). School counselling for the 21st century: Challenges and opportunities. Professional School Counselling, 5, 106–115.Google Scholar
Patton, M.Q. (2002). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Rahim, M.A. (1983). A measure of styles of handling interpersonal conflict. Academy of Management Journal, 26, 368–376.Google ScholarPubMed
Salahi, F., Abdullah, H.S., Farhang, M., & Amini, S. (2014). Self-care strategies in novice Malaysian counsellors: A case study. The Social Sciences, 9, 14–19.Google Scholar
Seğmenli, S. (2001). Rehber öğretmenlerin tükenmişlik düzeylerinin incelenmesi [The Study of burnout levels of psychological counsellors] (Unpublished master’s thesis). Hacettepe University, Turkey.Google Scholar
Skovholt, T.M. (2012). The counsellor’s resilient self. Turkish Psychological Counselling and Guidance Journal, 4, 137–146.Google Scholar
Skovholt, T.M., & Ronnestad, M.H. (2003). Struggles of the novice counsellor and therapist. Journal of Career Development, 30, 45–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Turkish Ministry of National Education. (2017). Milli Eğitim Bakanlığı Rehberlik Hizmetleri Yönetmeliği [Ministry of National Education Guidance Services Regulation]. Retrieved from –http://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2017/11/20171110-2.htm Google Scholar
Uzbaş, A. (2009). Okul psikolojik danışmanlarının okulda saldırganlık ve şiddete yönelik görüşlerinin değerlendirilmesi [The evaluation of school counsellors’ opinions about school violence and aggression]. Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty, 9, 90–110.Google Scholar
Wallace, S.L., Lee, J., & Lee, S.M. (2010). Job stress, coping strategies, and burnout among abuse-specific counsellors. Journal of Employment Counselling, 47, 111–122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Windle, M. (1999). Critical conceptual and measurement issues in the study of resilience. In Glantz, M.D. & Johnson, J.L., (Ed.), Resilience and development: Positive life adaptations (pp. 161–176). New York, NY: Kluwer Academic Publishers.Google Scholar
Yıldırım, İ. (2008). Relationship between burnout, sources of social support and sociodemographic variables. Social Behavior and Personality, 36, 603–616.10.2224/sbp.2008.36.5.603CrossRefGoogle Scholar