The person and the professional : when values in the counselling profession collide

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the understanding local counsellors have of value conflicts and how they deal with them. Given that the research investigated the direct experience of eight local counsellors, a qualitative method was used. Data was gathered through in-depth semi-structured interviews and the methodological approach used was that of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Six themes emerged through data analysis amongst which the understanding of values and the way they are perceived by the counsellor and the influence of training taken on them. A number of data-elicited recommendations about the structure used in dealing with value conflict, is presented together with suggestions for future research in the area.