Attitudes and motivations carried by Filipino school counselor trainees during their practicum training

• Main Author: Galanza, Meniah Ann Martha C.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2021
• Subjects: Counselor trainees > Philippines; Practicums; Student counselors—Training of; Counseling
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdm_counseling/2; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etdm_counseling/article/1000/viewcontent/2021_Galanza_Partial.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

The current study aimed to explore the Filipino school counselor trainees’ attitudes and motivations during practicum training. This was done by looking into their goals, perceived ways to attain these goals, preferences, and what they considered as significant outcomes of their training. Twenty (20) Filipino school counselor trainees, who had completed their practicum training, were recruited and interviewed. Through a six-step process of thematic analysis, the results showed the following: 1) the counselor trainees’ goals revolved around professional development and accomplishment of tasks; 2) through planning ahead, making practicum requirements a priority, getting social support, and obtaining proper supervision, they were able to attain their goals; 3) factors such as guidelines set by the practicum site, quality of supervision, and specific client attributes; and ultimately, 4) the counselor trainees’ considered their completion of practicum training and enhanced professional identity as major accomplishments borne out of their training. Specific attitudes and two motivational factors that aided the counselor trainees’ during practicum, plus the importance of their social connections in pursuit of their goals were examined. Implications of the results for counselor education and recommendations for future research were also discussed.