Chinese College Students’ Perceptions of Counseling in China

Abstract

Due to drastic societal changes in the last few decades, there has been an increasing need for counseling services in China.. Specifically, Chinese college students are confronted with many developmental challenges due to changes in expectations following college. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore Chinese college students’ perceptions of counseling services in China. The authors identified six essential themes which made up the essence of this study. They were roles of counselors, issues that brought students to counseling, students’ expectations in counseling, training and requirements for counselors, credentials and characteristics of counselor supervisors, and future development of counseling in China. The authors discussed the themes, implications, and offered recommendations for further research.