| With the influence counselor educators-in-training will have on the counseling field, they are faced with the expectation to establish a strong professional identity (Auxier et al., 2003; CACREP, 2016; Calley & Hawley, 2008). The challenge counselor educators-in-training often face is the developmental process of becoming a counselor educator, particularly as they transition from student to being a professional counselor educator (Dollarhide, Gibson, & Moss, 2013). Currently, professional identity development is defined as an intra- and inter-personal process in which people attempt to integrate skills, knowledge, values, and beliefs with the greater professional field (Dollarhide et al., 2013; Jordan, 2007). To help with student development, some counselor education training programs use creative and expressive methods in effort to help students engage their learning in a different way as well as help with inter- and intra-personal struggles (Bradley, Whiting, Hendricks, Parr, & Jones, 2008; Warren et al., 2012; Wedding, Boyd, & Niemiec 2006). At this time, there is a lack of research focusing on professional identity development and specific ways creative methods are being used to help facilitate that process. The purpose of this study was to explore how sandtray may facilitate professional identity development with emerging counselor educators. Through a multi-case design and a grounded theoretical lens, data was collected and analyzed. Themes of emotional response, the greater good, distinct roles, early and ongoing integration, reflection and awareness, exposure, relationships, and values emerged through interviews prior to the sandtray experience. After sandtray creations, journaling, and interviews themes of increased reflection and awareness, deeper value integration, new thinking, strengthened sense of self, and increased confidence emerged. Additionally a model portraying how sandtray facilitated participants' professional identity development was developed. Implications, recommendations, and future research are discussed in the area of professional identity development for individuals and for counselor education training programs. |
