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Kemp Dissertation1.93 MB
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Dissertation
The experience of leadership: a phenomenological analysis on the leadership experiences of master’s-level counseling students
University of Iowa
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
Spring 2026
DOI: 10.25820/etd.008363
Abstract
Leadership is an essential task of counseling professionals. Counselors are expected to engage in ethical leadership activities to support the growth and wellbeing of their clients, communities, and the profession. While leadership engagement is expected from practicing counselors, relatively little is known about how leadership is taught and shaped during graduate-level counselor preparation. Even less is known about how leadership is experienced among master’s-level counselors-in-training. Given the importance of developing strong counseling leaders, the field needs to address the current paucity in literature that centers the student voice and prioritizes the leadership experiences of master’s-level counseling students. Doing so will provide additional and novel insights into how the profession can continue supporting leadership development.
Therefore, the purpose of the study was to explore the leadership experiences of master’s-level counseling students who held leadership positions with their state-level counseling associations. The research question for this study was: How do counselors-in-training describe their leadership experiences with a state-level counseling association during graduate school? The study used the qualitative research approach of transcendental phenomenology to address this research question. Using semi-structured interviews, thirteen participants provided in-depth reflections on their leadership experiences including supports, challenges, meaningful moments, and long-term goals. These accounts offered meaningful insight into how the phenomenon of leadership was experienced by the participants.
Aligning with the transcendental phenomenological research approach, the researcher followed up with each participant after the initial interviews to offer the opportunity to amend any part of their narrative to ensure accuracy of their lived experience. After a comprehensive analysis of the participant interviews, four key themes emerged that illuminate their leadership experiences. Participants first described the various entry points into their leadership roles, including encouragement received from advisors, mentors, and peers, and situational catalysts such as association-level communications. Additionally, participants noted specific extrinsic and intrinsic motivators that sustained their involvement with their state-level counseling associations. Once established in their role, participants highlighted several important factors, such as counseling association culture, that influenced the quality of their leadership experience. Finally, participants explored the broader impact of their leadership experience on their growth and development as both a counselor and a leader as well as the impact on their decision to pursue continued leadership and service within the profession. Implications and recommendations are also provided for counselor education programs, professional counseling organizations, and researchers seeking to understand and support student leaders.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The experience of leadership: a phenomenological analysis on the leadership experiences of master’s-level counseling students
- Creators
- Kayla M Kemp
- Contributors
- Laura Gallo (Advisor)David Duys (Committee Member)Allison Levine (Committee Member)Katy Schroeder (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Counselor Education
- Date degree season
- Spring 2026
- DOI
- 10.25820/etd.008363
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- xii, 195 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2026 Kayla M Kemp
- Language
- English
- Date submitted
- 04/26/2026
- Description illustrations
- illustrations, tables
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 164-178).
- Public Abstract (ETD)
Professional counselors, no matter their specialty area, are expected to act as leaders in their offices, communities, and in the counseling profession. In addition to working directly with clients, counselors show leadership through advocacy and service that help strengthen the profession and support client wellbeing. During graduate school, master’s-level counseling students learn how to work with clients; however, little is known about how they experience and develop leadership while completing their counseling degree.
This study looked at the leadership experiences of master’s-level counseling students who held leadership roles with their state counseling associations. Thirteen counseling students and recent graduates were interviewed. The findings from the study show that students often learned about the leadership opportunities from association-related communications, their graduate programs, or from important people in their life, such as their faculty members, classmates, or supervisors. They also had their own motivations for taking on leadership roles, including networking and building their resume as well as giving back and connecting with others. The findings also showed that the overall culture of the association impacted how the students experienced their leadership role, either positively or negatively and often impacted whether or not the students saw themselves continuing to take on leadership roles in the future.
This research helps address the gap between the leadership activities that are expected of practicing counselors and how counselors-in-training actually experience leadership in graduate school. The study offers ideas for counselor training programs and counseling associations to support students as they grow into leaders in the counseling profession. The study also suggests possible changes in expectations set by accrediting bodies and future areas of investigation for researchers.
- Academic Unit
- Counselor Education
- Record Identifier
- 9985176870802771
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