A Qualitative Research on the School Psychological Counselors' Competencies Working with Child Abuse

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine how school counselors explain the meaning of their competencies about child abuse. 30 school counselors with different school settings were interviewed. While 17 school counselors have reported at least one child abuse case, 13 school counselors did not experience child abuse case in their professional life. Knowledge, trainings and opinions about child abuse were asked to all participants and how child abuse process had been experienced was also asked to the counselors who had experiences with working child abuse. The responses were evaluated by categorical and emotional analysis. The findings were shown in tables under themes and sub themes. When the results of the study were generally evaluated, school counselors had limited theoretical knowledge and occupational competencies, preventive guidance studies were not at the expected level, school counselors had serious lack of knowledge about how to manage abuse process and how to counsel with abused clients.