The experiences of college students in counseling during the COVID-19 pandemic
Date
2023
Authors
Keyes, David, author
Gonzalez-Voller, Jessica, advisor
Carlson, Laurie, committee member
Bright, Charlotte, committee member
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Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic had significant impacts on communities around the globe. This created additional stressors on college students, a population known to already have significant stressors and mental health concerns. This qualitative study uses semi-structured interviews and arts-based submissions to explore the mental health counseling experiences of college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Six participants volunteered via responses to fliers posted throughout the Colorado State University main campus. Several themes emerged following transcription and explorative-reflexive thematic analysis. Participants endorsed feelings of isolation, loss, and fear related to the pandemic. Participants also endorsed that trauma- or stressor-related concerns as well as anxiety and depression as primary reasons for seeking mental health counseling. Participants found talk therapy and aspects of the therapeutic relationship to be helpful components in their experience. Participants also stated that tangible items such as skills, frameworks, and diagnoses as important components to their experience. Participants generally had a negative view of telehealth due to feelings of disconnectedness and a lack of privacy. Overall, participants viewed mental health counseling as helpful even if some of their experiences were negative. Some implications for the counseling field and counselors include directly and clearly communicating needs and plans, incorporating activities and frameworks as a means of understanding, utilizing arts-based communication, viewing the pandemic as a clinician may view past trauma, and implementing psychoeducation and psychodrama as possible treatment methods.
Description
Rights Access
Subject
counseling
qualitative
COVID-19
college students