The personal and professional impact of COVID-19 on school counselors: An exploratory study.

School Counselors historically have faced multiple challenges that impact their lives personally and professionally. Due to numerous competing demands, school counselors are likely experience a plethora of stressors including role conflict, high student counselor ratios, minimal support, increasing mental health needs students. The COVID 19 pandemic exacerbated these by changing adding the responsibilities counselors, reducing access appropriate support systems, students’ for counseling services. This qualitative, exploratory study utilized phenomenological inquiry examine on counselors’ personal professional lives. research questions focus how Covid impacted roles, lives, they coped with consisted eight participants who were licensed in two Midwestern states. findings included themes training moving an online platform, increase conflict non-school duties, resources, increased burnout. Implications profession include need receive technology virtual environments, being mindful assigning non-counseling ensuring organizational administrative supervision, adequate resources help prevent feelings