Consensual Qualitative Research Research Articles

Professional wisdom in counselor education: A consensual qualitative research

AbstractEmerging evidence has suggested that practitioners who demonstrate professional wisdom, a multifaceted disposition, show superior judgment and clinical efficacy. In this consensual qualitative research study, we examined 16 peer‐nominated wise counselor educators’ perspectives on professional wisdom in the context of counselor education. We identified seven domains pertaining to the characteristics and interpersonal effects of professional wisdom, as well as perceptual factors. Our findings present an initial framework of professional wisdom specific to the field of counselor education and provide implications for counselor education, counseling practice, and future research.

Major Depression as a Disorder of the Narrative Self: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Abnormal self-experiences are a common feature of major depression despite their absence from current diagnostic manuals. Current diagnostic criteria leave us with an impoverished conception of depressive disorders, and they fail to exploit the diverse experiential alterations that might be useful for understanding and diagnosing patients, and last but not least for explaining the aetiology of these disorders. Although some phenomenological descriptions of abnormal self-experiences in major depression are available, further research is needed to validate these through detailed clinical interviews. Methods: To characterize these phenomena in more detail and to verify and consolidate previous accounts, we conducted a qualitative study using the Consensual Qualitative Research method. Results: Our findings identified three categories of abnormal self-experiences: (1) impossibility to project oneself forward, (2) not recognizing one’s self, and (3) losing control on one’s self. Conclusion: Before delving into these results, we briefly described how the self is conceptualized in phenomenological psychopathology and explored in the literature on the self-experience in major depression. After discussing our results in the light of recent and contemporary phenomenological literature, we suggest that the inability to recognize otherness as part of oneself – which is the core of depressive experiences – ends in specific symptoms of depersonalization that differ from schizophrenic ones. We conclude that the self-experience, and in particular narrative identity, is central to the development and maintenance of depression.

A Qualitative Exploration of Chinese Rural College Students’ Career Development: A Psychology of Working Perspective

Rural college youth encounter numerous challenges in securing decent education and work. However, there has been scant research on their career development from a vocational psychology perspective. Drawing from the Psychology of Working Theory (PWT), we examined the contextual and personal factors that shape their work volition and perceptions of future decent work. We conducted semistructural interviews with 12 Chinese rural college students and employed Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) method to analyze the data. Our findings revealed that their vocational barriers included economic constraints, inadequate educational resources, limited access to decent internship opportunities, and lack of study-related electronics. However, their coping stratgies to overcome these constraints included social support, notably from teachers, as well as positive attributes such as critical consciousness and proactive personality. Regarding future employment, participants valued job stability, a balance between work and life, the ability to provide for their families, and displayed prosocial and growth orientations. These findings provided support for the applicability of PWT in understanding the vocational trajectories of rural college students in a non-Western context. The implications of these findings for future research and vocational interventions are discussed.

Workplace Climate for Sexual and Gender Minorities in Athletic Training.

Sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) are individuals with sexual orientations, gender identities, or expressions (or a combination of these) that differ from cultural norms. Sexual and gender minorities often face workplace discrimination and report decreased physical and emotional well-being from discrimination. To explore the workplace climate of SGM athletic trainers (ATs). Sequential mixed-methods study. Web-based survey and interviews. Criterion sampling of SGM ATs (117 survey participants and 12 interview participants). We modified the LGBTQ Inclusion Assessment and the Organizational Self-Assessment for the survey and developed a semistructured interview script (scale-level content validity index = 0.94). We used means ± SDs, frequencies (%), and the consensual qualitative research tradition to characterize participant responses. Trustworthiness was established through reflexivity (researchers checking bias throughout the research process), member-checking, multianalyst triangulation, and internal and external auditing. Participants indicated their workplace was inclusive (24 [20.5%]), somewhat inclusive (29 [24.8%]), or not inclusive (14 [12.0%]) or did not indicate at all (50 [42.7%]). Respondents most often noted they were unsure of which stage of change their organizations and organizational units were in addressing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, pansexual, intersex, asexual, 2-spirit, and all within the community of queer and transspectrum identities (LGBTQPIA+) concerns in the workplace as well as specific actions taken for inclusion. Two domains emerged from the interview data: safety and inclusion. The safety domain represented aspects of the workplace climate that made participants feel safe and includes organizational initiatives (12/12), patient-centered policies (7/12), local and federal regulations (7/12), and signaling (12/12). The inclusion domain represented how participants felt a sense of belonging to the organization through their own experience (12/12), through the experiences of their patients (9/12), and through an infrastructure designed for inclusion (12/12). Participants expressed both affirmative and negative feelings of safety and inclusion throughout their responses. Organizations must take both structural and cultural actions to address the concerns of exclusion and lack of safety.

Athletic Trainers' Beliefs Regarding Professionalism.

Limited research exists regarding athletic trainers' (ATs') perceptions of professionalism. To explore the lived experiences of ATs and their perceptions of professionalism. Qualitative study. Participants were ATs who completed a semistructured interview protocol via audio-only recording conferencing. Seventeen participants (age = 33 ± 8 years; range = 25-56 years) who were certified ATs with an average of 10 years of experience (SD = ±8; range = 1-33 years) were interviewed. Individuals self-identified their interest in participating in a follow-up interview recruitment located within a survey. Interviews occurred until saturation was met and included a variety of participants. Demographic information was gathered from the survey for each person. All transcripts were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded using a 3-person coding team following the consensual qualitative research protocol. Member checking, auditing, and triangulation established trustworthiness and credibility in the data-analysis process. A total of 4 domains with supporting categories were identified. Athletic trainers spoke of the employee environment that affected perceptions of what was determined to be professional, specifically in various settings or situations. They shared their personal determination of outward appearance and expression when differentiating what was deemed professional, including references to cleanliness, judgment of self-expression, and implicit bias. Whether intentional or unintentional, participants made comments that demonstrated a bias toward sex or race and ethnicity when determining outward appearance appropriateness. They noted various cultural awareness situations, including progression of perceptions over time, external pressure, and internal dialog. Respondents shared discourse regarding an internal struggle of what was right and wrong in their responses. They discussed professionalism based on the provider's conduct, mainly in terms of communication and patient care. Participants shared that communication occurring through both verbal and nonverbal means is vital to the perceptions of professionalism for ATs. Current views of professionalism in athletic training were shaped by various lived experiences. With the movement toward athletic training becoming more diverse, equitable, and inclusive, antiquated professionalism ideals need to shift to provide a better work environment for all.

초심상담자들의 자해 및 자살 위기 상담 수퍼비전 경험 분석 : 합의적 질적 연구법(CQR)을 중심으로

This study explores novice counselors’ experiences in receiving supervision for self-harm and suicide crisis counseling and identifies critical components of supervision to enhance crisis competency. Ten novice counselors who underwent crisis counseling supervision were interviewed about their expectations, positive outcomes, and disappointments. Using Consensual Qualitative Research(CQR), the study identified 20 categories across three areas. The counselors’ primary expectation was to receive a clear, specific crisis intervention plan and verify the appropriateness of their crisis response. Positive outcomes included support for crisis intervention challenges, validation of their efforts, medical/practical knowledge provision, and deeper client understanding. Disappointments centered on the lack of a concrete plan to apply supervision guidelines, which often did not align with clients’ unique needs and increased tension from assessment critiques. The findings inform the essential elements that crisis counseling guidance for novice practitioners should encompass.

상담자의 노인 상담에 관한 인식 연구

Although the number of older adults in need of psychological help is increasing due to the increase in their population in Korea, there is a shortage of counselors qualified to provide the appropriate services for them. In order to activate gerontological counseling, there is a great need to explore the counselors’ perception of counseling for the older adults. Accordingly, 75 counselors with at least two years of counseling experience after graduating from a master’s program were asked through an open-ended questionnaire about their perceptions of the characteristics, counseling process, and counseling outcomes for the older clients. The counselors responded to the questionnaire online and the response data were analyzed using Consensual Qualitative Research Analysis. There were a total of 647 statements collected, they were classified into 61 subcategories, and the subcategories were integrated into 4 themes and 17 categories. The first theme was named ‘the characteristics of the older clients,’ and the counselors generally perceived them negatively such as stubborn people. The second theme was named ‘their need for counseling,’ and the counselors thought that the older clients would consider the counselor as a sympathizer to their problem but not a counseling expert. The third theme was named ‘the gerontological counseling process’, and the counselors recognized that the personality traits of older adults such as resistance to change and the age difference with the clients would make the counseling process difficult. The fourth theme was named ‘the gerontological counseling outcome,’ and the counselors recognized that the mental health problems of the older clients would be resolved to some extent even if the counseling outcomes for them were not great. The findings of this study confirmed that general counselors have negative stereotypes about older clients or aging. The authors raised the need for training to correct this negative perception of counselors and strengthen counseling competencies for the older adults in a super-aged society where gerontological counseling becomes more and more important in the last part of this paper.

How adult children of incarcerated parents experience ambiguous loss.

Families can experience grief when they lose a loved one to incarceration. Although there has not been a death, the removal of a family member from day-to-day life and the uncertainty and stigma surrounding incarceration pose major challenges. We applied consensual qualitative research methods to understand the unique grief experience that adult children have when a parent is incarcerated. Our findings elaborate on the impacts of the loss, the complicating factors of stigma and disenfranchisement, as well as how individuals have made meaning and pursued healing from this experience over time. Impacts included changes to member roles within the new family structure and difficulty forming secure bonds with peers. Participants characterized stigma toward their parent as extending to themselves and complicating their ability to openly miss their parent or process complicated reactions to the incarceration. Despite systemic challenges, participants set their personal life goals and used a combination of problem-focused coping and distancing themselves from the incarceration to successfully manage the loss. Consistent with these findings, mental health professionals serving this population can validate incarceration as a loss, repair ambiguity in family roles, develop an accepting therapeutic relationship that reduces perceived stigma, and identify possibilities for activism.

한국인 미국 유학생의 진로스트레스 경험에 관한 탐색

Objectives The aim of this study was to understand the career stress experienced by Korean international students living in the United States. The present study aimed to see their experiences relating career and what efforts they are making to resolve such career stress.
 Methods Six Korean international students studying undergraduate program at a U.S. university were interviewed about their career experience and career stress in U.S. The data were analyzed by using Consensual Qualitative Research(CQR). According to the CQR method, analysis was conducted in the following order; domain development, core idea development, examination, cross-analysis, and validity check.
 Results As results, the career experiences and career stress of Korean international students in the United States were divided into two factors which are career stressor and coping strategies. Career stressor included language barriers, cultural differences, visa problems, financial situation, and lack of career information. Coping strategies contained career preparation behaviors, social support, and avoidance.
 Conclusions At the end, we suggested how colleges professionals and career counselors can help these Korean international students living in the United States to decrease their career stress.

고교학점제 도입에 따른 중등 일반교사의 진로연수 참여 경험에 대한 합의적 질적 연구

This study aims to prepare basic data to secure career education expertise for general school teachers by confirming the experience of secondary school general teachers participating in career training following the introduction of the high school credit system. To this end, first, what is the motivation for secondary school general teachers to participate in career training following the introduction of the high school credit system? Second, what is the process of secondary school general teachers participating in career training following the introduction of the high school credit system? Third, what are the results of secondary school general teachers’ participation in career training following the introduction of the high school credit system? This study was analyzed through Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR). This method is useful for structurally identifying and explaining the themes, structure, and correlation of general teachers’ career training participation experience following the introduction of the high school credit system (Hill, Thompson, Williams, 1997). The results of this study are as follows. First, the motivation for secondary school general teachers to participate in career training following the introduction of the high school credit system was derived into two categories and six subcategories: ‘difficulty in career education’ and ‘interest in career subject classes’. Second, the process of participating in career training for secondary school general teachers following the introduction of the high school credit system is divided into three categories and nine subcategories: ‘acquisition of career education-related information’, ‘recognition of career education as a teacher’s role’ and ‘application of career education to practice’. Third, the results of secondary school general teachers’ participation in career training following the introduction of the high school credit system were divided into three categories and nine subcategories: ‘Improvement of career subject teaching capabilities’, ‘Formation of beliefs about career education’, and ‘Leap forward as career teachers’. The results of this study will confirm the career education-related responsibilities and tasks of secondary school general teachers and provide practical implications for the detailed curriculum composition of career training ahead of the full introduction of the high school credit system in 2025.

Implementation of an Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) in Naturalistic Psychotherapy Settings: Qualitative Insights from Patients, Therapists, and Supervisors Perspectives.

Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) allows measuring intra-individual processes moment by moment, identifying and modeling, in a naturalistic way, individual levels and changes in different psychological processes. However, active EMA requires a high degree of adherence, as it implies a significant burden for patients. Moreover, there is still no consensus on standardized procedures for implementation. There have been few results in detecting desirable characteristics for the design and implementation of an EMA device. Studies that address these issues from the perspectives of participants in psychotherapeutic processes are needed. To analyze the perspectives of patients, therapists and supervisors on the implementation of an EMA device in a psychotherapeutic treatment for depression. The sample will include eight patients, eleven therapists and five supervisors, taken from a research project that implemented an EMA system for monitoring the dynamics of affectivity at the beginning of psychotherapies for depression. Semi-structured interviews specific to each group are being conducted and analyzed from a qualitative approach based on consensual qualitative research (CQR). Participants reported having a positive evaluation of the study's informational resources and implementation. Difficulties were expressed in responding in the morning hours and the importance of having a customized EMA that is tailored to the needs of the patients was expressed. Furthermore, patients and therapists agreed that the impact of the use of the monitoring system on treatment was neutral or positive. In contrast, patients considered the EMA to be positive for their daily life.

A Therapeutic Team’s Interventions and Their Perception of Parental Reactions Towards Them: A Child’s Psychiatric Inpatient Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa

This article explores the family consultations during the inpatient treatment of children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa. There were three study goals: to explore the therapeutic team’s interventions, to study the team’s perception of parental reactions toward the interventions, and to compare two groups of parents. Medical records of 32 were analyzed using Consensual Qualitative Research. There were eight categories of interventions discussed. Parents with better cooperation were more concentrated on their personal experiences (p = 0.005), whereas parents with poorer cooperation had more work on marital conflict (p = 0.004). Bereavement also appeared to be a particularly important theme.

Coming out as Transgender: The Cisgender Heterosexual Spouse’s Perspective

When a partner comes out as transgender within the context of an established heterosexual marriage, the impact to the cisgender-heterosexual spouse is often overlooked. The researchers utilized a Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) approach to explore the experiences of cisgender-heterosexual spouses who have had a partner disclose a transgender identity, and what played a role in maintaining their marriage. We interviewed twelve participants whose partners came out as transgender after marriage. Data analysis revealed nine domains: marriage; learning about my partner and transition; learning about myself; family; reactions; mental health; support; social influence; and cultural influence. Findings indicate that participants underwent a vast array of both positive and negative experiences and shared a variety of factors that contributed to their decisions to remain married or not. We discuss implications for clinical practice, limitations, and directions for future research.

게임기반학습이 신앙성숙에 미치는 영향에 대한 합의적 질적 연구

Objectives The purpose of this study is to explore and analyze the factors determining the impact of game-based learning on the spiritual maturity of Christian university students.
 Methods To achieve this, Christian university students in Daegu Metropolitan City were selected. From December 2022 to February 2023, a Minecraft-based educational program on the life of Jesus was conducted, followed by interviews. The collected data were analyzed using the Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) method.
 Results The analysis yielded three domains, 14 categories, and 35 core concepts. The main findings are as follows. Firstly, game-based learning impacted the cognitive aspects of faith maturity, including understanding of Jesus's life and ministry, geographical, historical, and sociocultural knowledge of the time of Jesus, and integrated comprehension of the Bible. Secondly, game-based learning influenced the emotional aspects of faith maturity, including feelings of gratitude towards Jesus, remorse, love, reflection on faith, and shame. Thirdly, game-based learning was found to be effective in the volitional aspects of faith maturity, such as following the life and teachings of Jesus, examining and improving one's faith life, reading the Bible, loving one's neighbor, and exploring places of faith.
 Conclusions This study confirmed that game-based learning, still in its initial stages in the field of Christian education, can become an asset to Christian education by exploring the impact it has on learners' spiritual maturity through university students who have experienced game-based learning. It is also expected to serve as basic material for expanding and developing the realm of Christian education research. Finally, the study offers suggestions and directions for follow-up research.

“She Has a Village”: The Intergenerational Benefits of Social Support Networks for Black Mothers and Daughters

In the current qualitative study, we explored the perceived benefits of Black mothers’ villages as cultural resource systems of social support. We used consensual qualitative research methods to analyze semi-structured interview data from 28 Black mothers (25–60 years, Mage = 46) in the United States. We identified seven main themes. For Black daughters, village support offered: (a) models of positive relationships, (b) access to social and enriching activities, (c) natural mentorship, and (d) gendered racial identity affirmation. For Black mothers, village support offered the necessary time and space to: (e) engage in personal restorative practices, (f) find joy in Black mama sister circles, and (g) experience support for educational and occupational opportunities. In addition to appreciation for the various ways village members showed up, mothers valued village members’ contributions to daughters’ self-esteem and gendered racial pride. Narratives highlighted Black mothers’ intentional village-making, underscoring fictive and extended kin networks’ enduring importance in Black girls’ identity development and well-being. Our findings hold implications for culturally relevant socialization frameworks for Black girls and stimulate new discussions on supporting Black mothers and daughters more effectively.

Black Students’ Mental Help-Seeking Processes During College Matriculation

The present study examined how Black students’ pre-college beliefs and perceptions of mental health services influenced their help-seeking behaviors, both within and beyond college counseling services. Using semi-structured interview data and consensual qualitative research methods (CQR), we examined the experiences of 48 Black college women and men (ages 18–22) sampled from two universities. We identified the following four themes: (1) pre-college experiences shape mental health knowledge (MHK); (2) college adjustment challenges as a precursor to seeking treatment; (3) negative perceptions of college counseling services; and (4) campus community mental health support. Upon seeking counseling services, many students encountered a lack of diversity in counseling staff and cultural mistrust. Thus, they opted to seek mental health support in campus community spaces curated by Black student organizations and administrators. Overall, our findings suggest Black students engage in various alternative campus community spaces to support their mental health. We conclude by discussing the need for deliberate and specialized mental health support for Black students.

Fantasy Worlds, Real-Life Impact: The Benefits of RPGs for Transgender Identity Exploration

ABSTRACT The current research explored the influences of role-playing video games (RPGs) on the development of gender identity among transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) individuals. In Study 1 (N = 10), we used a Consensual Qualitative Research approach to interview TGNC individuals and identify common themes regarding the perceived impact of RPGs on gender identity development. TGNC individuals highlighted the influence of character customization, exploration, and the function of RPGs as safe spaces. In Study 2 (N = 100), we quantitatively explored the influence of RPG avatar customization on TGNC gender identity development. Although avatar customization was not associated with gender identity commitment, those playing RPGs with highly customizable avatars were more likely to report an impact of RPGs on their gender identity development. Content analyses reinforced Study 1 findings, indicating that RPGs, especially those with customizable avatars, can shape the gender identity journey for TGNC individuals.

Barriers and enablers for sufficient moderate-to-vigorous physical activity: The perspective of adolescents.

Interventions to improve physical activity (PA) among adolescents continue to be a public health priority. To promote PA more effectively, we need to identify the main factors contributing to (not) engagement in PA in the perspective of adolescents themselves. Thus, we explored the barriers and enablers for sufficient moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in adolescents from their point of view. We used qualitative data collected as part of the international Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children study. We obtained data from 14-17 years old adolescents from the first year of Slovak high school. We conducted 11 online, semi-structured individual and group interviews with 24 participants in total (7 boys; mean age = 15.17, SD = 0.87) in Slovakia. We analysed the data using consensual qualitative research and thematic analysis. In the statements of adolescents, four main themes were identified regarding factors contributing to (not) engagement in PA among adolescents. 'Myself as a source' represents the importance of adolescents' own efforts, knowledge, physical predispositions and PA experience. 'How PA can be done' represents school as an opportunity for PA, and PA teachers and sports coaches as specialists who can create an enabling environment for sports. 'Others as a source' represents the social circle that can set a positive sports example and can encourage adolescent's efforts in PA. 'Factors outside' represents other factors that can inspire adolescents, e.g. by giving them a comfortable space and time to exercise, or can be a barrier to PA. The potential factors that include adolescents' perspectives can be more leveraged in designing supportive, inclusive, enjoyable, and skills-appropriate PA programmes.

학교폭력 사안 처리 과정에서 초등학교 담임교사의 경험에 대한 합의적 질적 연구

Objectives This study aimed to explore the experiences of elementary school homeroom teachers in managing school violence incidents. It sought to understand these teachers' challenges and issues to provide foundational data for effectively managing school violence cases.
 Methods This study conducted interviews with nine homeroom teachers from elementary schools in Busan, Gyeongnam, and Gyeongbuk using Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) methods. Participants were recruited through notices sent to elementary schools, teacher healing centers, and professional training institutions in the respective regions or based on recommendations from previous study participants. The participating teachers had not been in charge of school violence-related duties but had encountered such incidents in their classes over the past three years (since 2021).
 Results Analysis identified 34 categories across four incident management stages: pre-incident, immediate af-termath, investigation, and post-resolution. Through the categories of each domain, various emotional responses and perceptual changes experienced by the teachers at different stages were identified. Before the incidents, teachers felt challenges in prevention and conflict resolution and anxiety due to a lack of cooperative systems. Following an incident, they experienced confusion, self-blame, and negative emotions. During the investigation, the difficulty in maintaining objectivity and neutrality, conflict, emotional turmoil, and isolation were prominent, al-though positive changes occurred through support and cooperation from colleagues and parents. After the in-cident resolution, alongside recognizing the importance of prevention and management, teachers faced educa-tional disillusionment and emotional challenges but also discovered resilience and strength. Through these expe-riences, the teachers realized the necessity for a supportive stance, enhanced competencies, and a supporting system.
 Conclusions The study discusses and suggests ways to strengthen the teachers' capacity to manage school vio-lence cases and improve procedures. This research is expected to contribute to substantial changes in the educa-tional field.

Spiritual Surrender: Initial Appraisals of Cancer Diagnoses in Black Christian Women

The meaning-making model proposes that distress results from discrepancies between one’s global meaning system and one’s situational appraisals of negative life events. This model suggests a preventative function for religion when religious global beliefs inform situational appraisals in ways that minimize distress. Using consensual qualitative research, we evaluated the initial reactions to a cancer diagnosis of 29 Black Christian women. We examined how the women appraised the cancer diagnosis and how this appraisal was related to reported distress. Our results indicated that lower levels of distress were related to believing that God was faithful, while higher levels of distress were related to beliefs in retributive justice and cancer as a death sentence. Lower distress was further related to spiritual surrender, a religious coping practice that combines entrusting the outcome of one’s cancer experience to God and actively pursuing treatment. We discuss spiritual surrender as a collaborative religious coping strategy and highlight its importance in informing culturally sensitive psychological interventions.