The Pros and Cons of Consolidating Rehabilitation Counseling Associations: A Qualitative Analysis of Views From the Field

The potential for unification of rehabilitation counseling professional associations has been a conceptual debate the past several decades. In previous article this special issue, Phillips et al. (2022) provided quantitative data to capture opinions professionals on issue consolidation. present study builds those findings by providing qualitative analysis rationale each response from not only association members, but broader community. provides clarity about stakeholders’ regarding their beliefs Responses were analyzed group according whether participants in favor of, opposed to, or uncertain majority respondents supportive consolidation felt it offered pathway toward internal unity and external validation profession, while main centered loss distinctiveness individual associations. Overwhelmingly, who undecided cited lack familiarity as barrier decisive response. Implications these results are presented.