| This research study examined the lived experience of crisis intervention counseling of twenty middle and high school counselors. To date, no qualitative studies have been done on the experiences of school counselors and crisis counseling. In phenomenological research, meanings are sought within the original context of the participant's story. The national sample included varied demographics. The interviews were audio taped and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using the Colaizzi method of hermeneutic phenomenology, a seven-stage process that searches for themes, meanings, and understanding. The participants reviewed the themes to confirm the researcher's interpretation. Themes that emerged from the data were combined and abstracted into a phenomenon that describes the lived experience of the counselors. The significance of this study is in providing an understanding of the meaning and impact of school based crisis counseling, which can assist counselor educators in designing curriculum at the university level and creating professional development trainings. Ultimately, the results of this study could influence changes in school counseling practice toward appropriate evidence based counseling to students in crisis. |
