Understanding the transition from psychology graduate to post-graduate counselling studies

Article


Saywell, Cassandra, Beel, Nathan, du Plessis, Carol and McMullen, Crystal. 2024. "Understanding the transition from psychology graduate to post-graduate counselling studies." Australian Journal of Career Development. 33 (2), pp. 188-198. https://doi.org/10.1177/10384162241255803
Article Title

Understanding the transition from psychology graduate to post-graduate counselling studies

ERA Journal ID20813
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsSaywell, Cassandra, Beel, Nathan, du Plessis, Carol and McMullen, Crystal
Journal TitleAustralian Journal of Career Development
Journal Citation33 (2), pp. 188-198
Number of Pages11
Year2024
PublisherSAGE Publications Ltd
Place of PublicationUnited Kingdom
ISSN1038-4162
2200-6974
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/10384162241255803
Web Address (URL)https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10384162241255803
AbstractUniversity graduates have invested significant time, money, and effort into completing their studies, with many discovering that their chosen discipline is not what they were expecting, nor the right fit for their individual values or goals. Transition between disciplines is particularly common in the helping professions, but little is known about the motivation for these transitions. To better understand motivations for transitioning disciplines, we investigated why psychology graduates chose to transition to post-graduate counselling studies. Using semi-structured interviews, we asked the participants (n = 8) to describe their perceptions, motivations, and experiences of studying psychology and counselling. Applying reflexive thematic analysis, we identified a meta-theme that the transition to counselling was facilitated by the participants’ desire to have a profession that aligned with their core values; and they viewed counselling as a strength-based, flexible, holistic, and humanistic approach to helping others.
Keywordscareer change; Counselling; post-graduate student; career choice; Psychology
Contains Sensitive ContentDoes not contain sensitive content
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020440902. Counselling, wellbeing and community services
Byline AffiliationsUniversity of Southern Queensland
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/z9q2y/understanding-the-transition-from-psychology-graduate-to-post-graduate-counselling-studies

  • 3
    total views
  • 4
    total downloads
  • 3
    views this month
  • 4
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Australian educators teaching in ACA and PACFA accredited counselling and psychotherapy courses
Beel, N. and Purvis, M.. 2024. Australian educators teaching in ACA and PACFA accredited counselling and psychotherapy courses.
Male-friendly counselling for young men: a thematic analysis of client and caregiver experiences of Menslink counselling
Boerma, Micah, Beel, Nathan, Neill, James T., Jeffries, Carla, Krishnamoorthy, Govind and Guerri-Guttenberg, Jonathan. 2024. "Male-friendly counselling for young men: a thematic analysis of client and caregiver experiences of Menslink counselling." Australian Psychologist. https://doi.org/10.1080/00050067.2024.2378119
Fluidity in capability: Longitudinal assessments of suicide capability using ecological momentary assessments
Bayliss, Luke T., Hughes, Christopher D., Lamont-Mills, Andrea and du Plessis, Carol. 2024. "Fluidity in capability: Longitudinal assessments of suicide capability using ecological momentary assessments." Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior. 54 (1), pp. 138-153. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.13025
Where do incarcerated trans women prefer to be housed and why? Adding nuanced understandings to a complex debate through the voices of formerly incarcerated trans women in Australia and the United States
Bromdal, Annette, Sanders, Tait, Stanners, Melinda, du Plessis, Carol, Gildersleeve, Jessica, Mullens, Amy B., Phillips, Tania M., Debattista, Joseph, Daken, Kirstie, Clark, Kirsty A. and Hughto, Jaclyn M. W.. 2024. "Where do incarcerated trans women prefer to be housed and why? Adding nuanced understandings to a complex debate through the voices of formerly incarcerated trans women in Australia and the United States." International Journal of Transgender Health. 25 (2), pp. 167-186. https://doi.org/10.1080/26895269.2023.2280167
‘It's all about rapport’: Australian therapists' recommendations for engaging adolescent males in counselling and psychotherapy
Boerma, Micah, Beel, Nathan, Jeffries, Carla and Krishnamoorthy, Govind. 2024. "‘It's all about rapport’: Australian therapists' recommendations for engaging adolescent males in counselling and psychotherapy." Counselling and Psychotherapy Research. 24 (2), pp. 805-817. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12716
Correctional staff knowledge, attitudes and behaviors toward incarcerated trans people: A scoping review of an emerging literature
Daken, Kirstie, Excell, Tarra, Clark, Kirsty A., Hughto, Jaclyn M. W, Sanders, Tait, Debattista, Joseph, du Plessis, Carol, Mullens, Amy, Phillips, Tania, Gildersleeve, Jessica and Bromdal, Annette. 2023. "Correctional staff knowledge, attitudes and behaviors toward incarcerated trans people: A scoping review of an emerging literature ." International Journal of Transgender Health. 25 (2), pp. 149-166. https://doi.org/10.1080/26895269.2023.2265386
Conceptualisation of Personal Recovery and Recovery-Oriented Care for Youth: Multisystemic Perspectives
Dallinger, Vicki C., Krishnamoorthy, Govind, du Plessis, Carol, Pillai-Sasidharan, Arun, Ayres, Alice, Waters, Lillian, Groom, Yasmin, Sweeney, Kiara, Anderson, Linda, Rees, Bronwyn and Burton, Lorelle. 2023. "Conceptualisation of Personal Recovery and Recovery-Oriented Care for Youth: Multisystemic Perspectives." International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. https://doi.org//10.1007/s11469-023-01170-3
Patterns in Making Victims’ Gender Visible or Invisible in News Media Reporting of Boko Haram’s Massacres and Kidnappings
Beel, Nathan and Jonathan, Kate. 2023. "Patterns in Making Victims’ Gender Visible or Invisible in News Media Reporting of Boko Haram’s Massacres and Kidnappings." International Journal of Communication. 17, p. 5708–5735.
“Never Let Anyone Say That a Good Fight for the Fight for Good Wasn’t a Good Fight Indeed”: The Enactment of Agency Through Military Metaphor by One Australian Incarcerated Trans Woman
Halliwell, Sherree, Hickey, Andrew, du Plessis, Carol du, Mullens, Amy B., Sanders, Tait, Gildersleeve, Jessica, Phillips, Tania M., Debattista, Joseph, Clark, Kirsty A., Hughto, Jaclyn M. W., Daken, Kirstie and Bromdal, Annette. 2023. "“Never Let Anyone Say That a Good Fight for the Fight for Good Wasn’t a Good Fight Indeed”: The Enactment of Agency Through Military Metaphor by One Australian Incarcerated Trans Woman." Paner, Heather and Dwyer, Angela (ed.) Transgender People and Criminal Justice: An Examination of Issues in Victimology, Policing, Sentencing, and Prisons. Switzerland. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 183-212
More Than Just Counselling: Australian Counsellor Job Advertisement Trends
Beel, Nathan. 2023. "More Than Just Counselling: Australian Counsellor Job Advertisement Trends ." Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia. 11 (1). https://doi.org/10.59158/001c.77591
Introduction
Beel, Nathan, Chinchen, Christine, Machin, Tanya and du Plessis, Carol. 2023. "Introduction." Beel, Nathan, Chinchen, Christine, Machin, Tanya and du Plessis, Carol (ed.) Common client issues in counselling: An Australian perspective.. Australia. University of Southern Queensland. pp. 1-11
Review: Recommendations for male-friendly counselling with adolescent males: A qualitative systematic literature review
Boerma, Micah, Beel, Nathan, Jeffries, Carla and Ruse, Jesse. 2023. "Review: Recommendations for male-friendly counselling with adolescent males: A qualitative systematic literature review ." Child and Adolescent Mental Health. 28 (4), pp. 536-549. https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12633
Depression
Brown, James and Beel, Nathan. 2023. "Depression." Beel, Nathan, Chinchen, Christine, Machin, Tanya and du Plessis, Carol (ed.) Common client issues in counselling: An Australian perspective. Australia. University of Southern Queensland. pp. 102-117
Common Client Issues in Counselling: An Australian Perspective
Beel, Nathan, Chinchen, Christine, Machin, Tanya, du Plessis, Carol, Mullens, Amy B., Rees, Bronwyn, Purnell-Webb, Trish, Brown, Samantha, Murray, Judith, Ayre, Kay, Gilmour, John, Falcon, John, Flanagan, John, Brown, James, Krishnamoorthy, Govind, Bryce, India, Malengret, Claire, Dall'Osto, Claire and King, Deborah. Beel, Nathan, Chinchen, Christine, Machin, Tanya and du Plessis, Carol (ed.) 2023. Common Client Issues in Counselling: An Australian Perspective . University of Southern Queensland.
Navigating Detransition Borders: An Exploration of Social Media Narratives
Sanders, Tait, du Plessis, Carol, Mullens, Amy B. and Bromdal, Annette. 2023. "Navigating Detransition Borders: An Exploration of Social Media Narratives ." Archives of Sexual Behavior: an interdisciplinary research journal. 52 (3), p. 1061–1072. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-023-02556-z
Transformative change comes from more than structured content: Qualitative exploration of parent experiences of a post-separation group program
Bayliss, Luke, Krishnamoorthy, Govind, Malhotra, Aastha, Beel, Nathan, du Plessis, Carol, Crathern, Jennifer, Hall, Stuart and Burton, Lorelle. 2023. "Transformative change comes from more than structured content: Qualitative exploration of parent experiences of a post-separation group program." Family Relations. 72 (5), pp. 3067-3083. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12836
A Trans Agent of Social Change in Incarceration: A Psychobiographical Study of Natasha Keating
du Plessis, Carol, Halliwell, Sherree, Mullens, Amy, Sanders, Tait, Gildersleeve, Jessica, Phillips, Tania and Bromdal, Annette. 2023. "A Trans Agent of Social Change in Incarceration: A Psychobiographical Study of Natasha Keating." Journal of Personality. 91 (1), pp. 50-67. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12745
Future-proofing Queensland families: Investigating CatholicCare’s leadership in family support services and responses to national family law reforms
Bayliss, Luke, Krishnamoorthy, Govind, Malhotra, Aastha, Beel, Nathan, du Plessis, Carol and Burton, Lorelle. 2022. Future-proofing Queensland families: Investigating CatholicCare’s leadership in family support services and responses to national family law reforms. Toowoomba, Australia. University of Southern Queensland.
Suicide capability within the ideation-to-action framework: A systematic scoping review
Bayliss, Luke T., Christensen, Steven, Lamont-Mills, Andrea and du Plessis, Carol. 2022. "Suicide capability within the ideation-to-action framework: A systematic scoping review." PLoS One. 17 (10), p. e0276070. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276070
Navigating intimate trans citizenship while incarcerated in Australia and the United States
Bromdal, Annette, Halliwell, Sherree, Sanders, Tait, Clark, Kirsty A., Gildersleeve, Jessica, Mullens, Amy B., Phillips, Tania M., Debattista, Joseph, du Plessis, Carol, Daken, Kirstie and Hughto, Jaclyn. 2023. "Navigating intimate trans citizenship while incarcerated in Australia and the United States." Feminism and Psychology. 33 (1), pp. 42-64. https://doi.org/10.1177/09593535221102224
Trans architecture and the prison as archive: 'don’t be a queen and you won’t be arrested'
Sanders, Tait, Gildersleeve, Jessica, Halliwell, Sherree, du Plessis, Carol, Clark, Kirsty A., Hughto, Jaclyn M. W., Mullens, Amy B., Phillips, Tania M., Daken, Kirstie and Bromdal, Annette. 2022. "Trans architecture and the prison as archive: 'don’t be a queen and you won’t be arrested'." Punishment and Society: the international journal of penology. https://doi.org/10.1177/14624745221087058
Victimization Within and Beyond the Prison Walls: A Latent Profile Analysis of Transgender and Gender Diverse Adults
Hughto, Jaclyn M. W., Clark, Kirsty A., Daken, Kirstie, Bromdal, Annette, Mullens, Amy B., Sanders, Tait, Phillips, Tania, Mimiaga, Matthew J., Cahill, Sean, du Plessis, Carol, Gildersleeve, Jessica, Halliwell, Sherree D. and Reisner, Sari L.. 2022. "Victimization Within and Beyond the Prison Walls: A Latent Profile Analysis of Transgender and Gender Diverse Adults." Journal of Interpersonal Violence: concerned with the study and treatment of victims and perpetrators of physical and sexual violence. 37 (23-24), pp. 23075-23106. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605211073102
Show no weakness: Male-friendly counsellors’ descriptions of men
Beel, Nathan, Brownlow, Charlotte, Jeffries, Carla and du Preez, Jan. 2022. "Show no weakness: Male-friendly counsellors’ descriptions of men." Australian Counselling Research Journal. 16 (1), pp. 12-22.
Internet-based interventions to support recovery in youth: A systematic review
Dallinger, Vicki, Krishnamoorthy, Govind, Burton, Lorelle, Du Plessis, Carol, Pillai, Arun and Ayres, Alice. 2022. "Internet-based interventions to support recovery in youth: A systematic review." Digital Health. 8, pp. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076221129094
“I Want to Be Stepping in More” - Professional Online Forum Moderators' Experiences of Supporting Individuals in a Suicide Crisis
Perry, Amanda, Lamont-Mills, Andrea, du Preez, Jan and du Plessis, Carol. 2022. "“I Want to Be Stepping in More” - Professional Online Forum Moderators' Experiences of Supporting Individuals in a Suicide Crisis ." Frontiers in Psychiatry. 13, pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.863509
COVID-19’s Nudge to Modernise: An Opportunity to Reconsider Telehealth and Counselling Placements
Beel, Nathan. 2021. "COVID-19’s Nudge to Modernise: An Opportunity to Reconsider Telehealth and Counselling Placements ." Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia. 9 (1), pp. 1-18. https://doi.org/10.59158/001c.71230
Clinical Psychological Science
McMullen, Crystal, Beccaria, Gavin and Kenardy, Justin. 2022. "Clinical Psychological Science." Machin, Tony, Machin, Tanya, Jefferies, Carla, Hoare, Nancey and Abel, Susan (ed.) The Australian Handbook for Careers in Psychological Science. Toowoomba, Australia. University of Southern Queensland. pp. 106-115
A Critical Discourse Analysis of an Australian Incarcerated Trans Woman’s Letters of Complaint and Self-Advocacy
Halliwell, Sherree D., du Plessis, Carol, Hickey, Andrew, Gildersleeve, Jessica, Mullens, Amy B., Sanders, Tait, Clark, Kirsty A., Hughto, Jaclyn M. W., Debattista, Joseph, Phillips, Tania M., Daken, Kirstie and Bromdal, Annette. 2022. "A Critical Discourse Analysis of an Australian Incarcerated Trans Woman’s Letters of Complaint and Self-Advocacy." Ethos. 50 (2), pp. 208-232. https://doi.org/10.1111/etho.12343
Applications and careers for counsellors and counselling psychologists
Beel, Nathan, Hoare, Nancey, Davies, Michael, O'Hara, Denis J. and du Preez, Jan. 2022. "Applications and careers for counsellors and counselling psychologists." Machin, Tony, Machin, Tanya, Jeffries, Carla, Hoare, Nancey and Abel, Susan (ed.) The Australian Handbook for Careers in Psychological Science. Toowoomba, Australia. University of Southern Queensland. pp. 116-139
Suicide capacity within the ideation-to-action framework: a scoping review protocol
Bayliss, Luke T., Lamont-Mills, Andrea, du Plessis, Carol and Morgan, Talia. 2021. "Suicide capacity within the ideation-to-action framework: a scoping review protocol." BMJ Open. 11 (2). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043649
Utilisation of Digital Applications for Personal Recovery Amongst Youth with Mental Health Concerns
Dallinger, Vicki C., Krishnamoorthy, Govind, du Plessis, Carol, Pillai-Sasidharan, Arun, Ayres, Alice, Waters, Lillian, Groom, Yasmin, Alston, Olivia, Anderson, Linda and Burton, Lorelle. 2022. "Utilisation of Digital Applications for Personal Recovery Amongst Youth with Mental Health Concerns." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 19 (24), pp. 1-21. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416818
Suicidal behaviours and moderator support in online health communities: a scoping review
Perry, Amanda, Pyle, Denise, Lamont-Mills, Andrea, du Plessis, Carol and du Preez, Jan. 2021. "Suicidal behaviours and moderator support in online health communities: a scoping review." BMJ Open. 11 (6). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047905
A Journey Towards Meaning: An Existential Psychobiography of Maya Angelou
Harisunker, Nadene and du Plessis, Carol. 2021. "A Journey Towards Meaning: An Existential Psychobiography of Maya Angelou ." Europes Journal of Psychology. 17 (3), pp. 210-220. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.5491
So you want to be a lecturer in counselling
Beel, Nathan. 2020. "So you want to be a lecturer in counselling." Psychotherapy & Counselling Today.
'I Am Grateful That I Still Live Under One Roof With My Family': Gratitude Among South African University Students
du Plessis, Carolina F., Guse, Tharina and du Plessis, Graham A.. 2020. "'I Am Grateful That I Still Live Under One Roof With My Family': Gratitude Among South African University Students." Emerging Adulthood. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167696820970690
Transtheoretical recommendations for counselling men: scholar and therapist perspectives
Beel, Nathan. 2019. Transtheoretical recommendations for counselling men: scholar and therapist perspectives. PhD Thesis Doctor of Philosophy. University of Southern Queensland. https://doi.org/10.26192/KRTD-PK13
I’m still in the blue family: gender and professional identity construction in police officers
du Plessis, Carol, Winterbotham, Sonya, Fein, Erich C., Brownlow, Charlotte, du Preez, Jan, McKenna, Bernard, Chen, Peter, Beel, Nathan and du Plessis, Graham. 2021. "I’m still in the blue family: gender and professional identity construction in police officers." Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology. 36, pp. 386-396. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-020-09397-9
Understanding the cues and strategies counsellors use to develop rapport with clients through telephone counselling
Phillip, Karen, Beel, Nathan and Machin, Tanya. 2020. "Understanding the cues and strategies counsellors use to develop rapport with clients through telephone counselling." Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia. 8 (1), pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.59158/001c.71253
The Use of Unusual Psychological Theories in Psychobiography: A Case Study and Discussion
du Plessis, Carol and Stones, Christopher R.. 2019. "The Use of Unusual Psychological Theories in Psychobiography: A Case Study and Discussion." Mayer, Claude-Helene and Kovary, Zoltan (ed.) New Trends in Psychobiography. Cham, Switzerland. Springer. pp. 209-227
Suicidal behaviours and moderator support in online health communities: protocol for a scoping review
Perry, Amanda, Lamont-Mills, Andrea, du Plessis, Carol, du Preez, Jan and Pyle, Denise. 2020. "Suicidal behaviours and moderator support in online health communities: protocol for a scoping review." BMJ Open. 10 (1). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034162
Therapy dropouts and strategies to reduce them
Beel, Nathan. 2019. "Therapy dropouts and strategies to reduce them." Psychotherapy & Counselling Today. 1, pp. 18-26.
Counseling men: treatment recommendations from Australian men’s therapists
Beel, Nathan, Brownlow, Charlotte, Jeffries, Carla and du Preez, Jan. 2020. "Counseling men: treatment recommendations from Australian men’s therapists." The Journal of Men’s Studies. 28 (1), pp. 101-121. https://doi.org/10.1177/1060826519861969
'But we do that too'! Terminology and the challenges in differentiating the counselling profession from other professions that counsel
Beel, Nathan. 2017. "'But we do that too'! Terminology and the challenges in differentiating the counselling profession from other professions that counsel." PACFA eNewsletter. 5, pp. 16-17.
Recommendations for male-friendly individual counseling with men: A qualitative systematic literature review for the period 1995–2016
Beel, Nathan, Jeffries, Carla, Brownlow, Charlotte, Winterbotham, Sonya and du Preez, Jan. 2018. "Recommendations for male-friendly individual counseling with men: A qualitative systematic literature review for the period 1995–2016." Psychology of Men and Masculinity. 19 (4), pp. 600-611. https://doi.org/10.1037/men0000137
Counselling men: an introduction to male-friendly counselling
Beel, Nathan. 2017. "Counselling men: an introduction to male-friendly counselling." PACFA eNewsletter. July, pp. 5-8.
The method of psychobiography: presenting a step-wise approach
du Plessis, Carolina. 2017. "The method of psychobiography: presenting a step-wise approach." Qualitative Research in Psychology. 14 (2), pp. 216-237. https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2017.1284290
Counselling men: an introduction to man-friendly counselling
Beel, Nathan. 2016. "Counselling men: an introduction to man-friendly counselling." Transformation through relationship: the heart and soul of therapy (2016). Melbourne, Australia 01 - 11 Sep 2016 Australia.
Therapy that fits: feedback informed, client directed counseling
Beel, Nathan. 2016. "Therapy that fits: feedback informed, client directed counseling." Noble, Carolyn and Day, Elizabeth (ed.) Psychotherapy and counselling: reflections on practice. South Melbourne, Australia. Oxford University Press. pp. 88-99
Domestic violence, gender, and counselling: toward a more gender-inclusive understanding
Beel, Nathan. 2013. "Domestic violence, gender, and counselling: toward a more gender-inclusive understanding." Psychotherapy in Australia. 19 (4), pp. 44-52.
What can we learn from what works across therapies?
Beel, Nathan. 2011. "What can we learn from what works across therapies?" Armstrong, Philip (ed.) 2011 Australian Counselling Association National Conference (ACA 2011). Melbourne, Australia 12 - 14 Nov 2011 Brisbane, Australia.
What can we learn from what works across therapies?
Beel, Nathan. 2011. "What can we learn from what works across therapies?" Counselling Australia. 11 (4), pp. 14-18.
Ethical Issues In Internet Counselling: Ethical issues in counselling over the Interenet: an examination of the risks and benefits
Beel, Nathan and Court, John H.. 1999. "Ethical Issues In Internet Counselling: Ethical issues in counselling over the Interenet: an examination of the risks and benefits." Clinical Psychologist. 4 (2), pp. 35-42. https://doi.org/10.1080/13284200008521058