| This qualitative phenomenological study explored how six counseling students in
CACREP-accredited programs experienced a medical emergency while enrolled in their
programs. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (Smith et al, 2022), I conducted two
rounds of semi-structured Zoom interviews and member checks with each participant to
understand how they made meaning of their experiences. Four group themes emerged:
Disclosure as Necessary for Support, Fear of Falling Behind, Persistence Rooted in
Relationship, and Growth Through Disruption. Participants described disclosure as essential
to accessing help, felt pressure to keep pace academically during recovery, and emphasized the
importance of supportive relationships with faculty and peers. The findings show that medical
emergencies can disrupt students’ academic progress and professional identity, but they can also
foster resilience, insight, and growth. These results are significant because they highlight the
need for counseling programs to respond with flexible, relational, and accessible support for
students facing unexpected health crises.
Keywords: counselor education; medical emergencies; disclosure; accommodations;
disability |