Selecting a Theory of Counseling: What Influences a Counseling Student to Choose?

The study involved 19 masters-level counseling students in a qualitative research study. A structured interview format was utilized on how counseling students acquire their theoretical counseling orientation. Upon completion of structured interview questions, responses from the participants were formatted into themes and codes. The response themes of the participants included such themes as: 1) counseling theory is similar to my personal value system; 2) the theory makes sense logically; 3) I like the techniques this theory uses, etc. Implications from the study are also discussed.