Publication: CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS’ EXPERIENCES WITH MANDATED REPORTING OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN PENNSYLVANIA
Loading...
Date
2026-04-16
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type
Poster
Abstract
Many phenomenological factors influence counselors when navigating mandated reporting and deciphering reasonable suspicion, such as beliefs, emotions, culture, decision-making, training opportunities, and past experiences (Levi & Crowell, 2011). The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of clinical mental health counselors with mandated reporting of child abuse and neglect in Pennsylvania. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used to analyze the lived experiences of eight clinical mental health counselors. The hermeneutic circle guided data analysis in a parts-to-whole process, which enabled interpretations to transform into phenomenologically crafted texts (Gadamer, 1988, 2004; Heidegger, 1962). Findings revealed global themes among participants relating to the reporting process, decision-making factors, and preparation for the role of mandated reporter. The identification of global themes addressed the study’s research questions and gaps in the counseling field. Implications from the study will be used to inform counselors’ reporting practices, counselor educators’ curricula when training masters-level counseling students, and awareness to facilitate systemic change.