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Table of Contents

TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u Abstract PAGEREF _Toc38968150 \h iDeclaration PAGEREF _Toc38968151 \h iiCHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION PAGEREF _Toc38968152 \h 1Background of the Study PAGEREF _Toc38968153 \h 1Need for the Study PAGEREF _Toc38968154 \h 4Purpose of the Study PAGEREF _Toc38968155 \h 5Significance of the Study PAGEREF _Toc38968156 \h 6Research Question PAGEREF _Toc38968157 \h 7Definition of Terms PAGEREF _Toc38968158 \h 7Research Design PAGEREF _Toc38968159 \h 8Assumptions and Limitations PAGEREF _Toc38968160 \h 11Assumptions PAGEREF _Toc38968161 \h 11Theoretical Assumptions PAGEREF _Toc38968162 \h 12Limitations PAGEREF _Toc38968163 \h 12Delimitations PAGEREF _Toc38968164 \h 13Organization of the Remainder of the Study PAGEREF _Toc38968165 \h 13CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW PAGEREF _Toc38968166 \h 15Introduction PAGEREF _Toc38968167 \h 15Methods of Searching PAGEREF _Toc38968168 \h 15Theoretical Orientation for the Study PAGEREF _Toc38968169 \h 16Adlerian Theory PAGEREF _Toc38968170 \h 16Social Cognitive Theory PAGEREF _Toc38968171 \h 18Positive Psychology Theory PAGEREF _Toc38968172 \h 20Adlerian, Social Cognitive, or Positive Psychology Theory PAGEREF _Toc38968173 \h 22Review of the Literature PAGEREF _Toc38968174 \h 23Passionate Practice PAGEREF _Toc38968175 \h 24Work Environment PAGEREF _Toc38968176 \h 25Counselor Wellness PAGEREF _Toc38968177 \h 29Methodological Literature PAGEREF _Toc38968178 \h 30Problems Faced by Counsellors PAGEREF _Toc38968179 \h 34Strengths and Weaknesses PAGEREF _Toc38968180 \h 36Synthesis of the Research Findings PAGEREF _Toc38968181 \h 39Critique of Previous Research Methods PAGEREF _Toc38968182 \h 41Summary PAGEREF _Toc38968183 \h 43CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY PAGEREF _Toc38968184 \h 45Purpose of the study PAGEREF _Toc38968185 \h 45Research Question PAGEREF _Toc38968186 \h 46Research Design PAGEREF _Toc38968187 \h 46Target Population and Sample PAGEREF _Toc38968188 \h 47Population PAGEREF _Toc38968189 \h 48Sample PAGEREF _Toc38968190 \h 48Procedures PAGEREF _Toc38968191 \h 49Participant Selection PAGEREF _Toc38968192 \h 49Protection of Participants PAGEREF _Toc38968193 \h 51Data Collection PAGEREF _Toc38968194 \h 52Data Analysis PAGEREF _Toc38968195 \h 53Instruments PAGEREF _Toc38968196 \h 55The Role of the Researcher PAGEREF _Toc38968197 \h 56Guided Interview Questions PAGEREF _Toc38968198 \h 57Ethical Considerations PAGEREF _Toc38968199 \h 58Summary PAGEREF _Toc38968200 \h 60CHAPTER 4. PRESENTATION OF THE DATA PAGEREF _Toc38968201 \h 62Introduction: The Study and the Researcher PAGEREF _Toc38968202 \h 62Description of the Sample PAGEREF _Toc38968203 \h 63Research Methodology Applied to the Data Analysis PAGEREF _Toc38968204 \h 64Presentation of Data and Results of the Analysis PAGEREF _Toc38968205 \h 65Loving What They Do PAGEREF _Toc38968206 \h 65Connected to colleagues PAGEREF _Toc38968207 \h 67Administrative Support PAGEREF _Toc38968208 \h 70Family Oriented PAGEREF _Toc38968209 \h 71Summary PAGEREF _Toc38968210 \h 73CHAPTER 5. DISCUSSION, IMPLICATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS PAGEREF _Toc38968211 \h 75Summary of the Results PAGEREF _Toc38968212 \h 75Discussion of the Results PAGEREF _Toc38968213 \h 77Conclusions Based on the Results PAGEREF _Toc38968214 \h 81Comparison of the Findings with the Theoretical Framework and Previous Literature PAGEREF _Toc38968215 \h 81Interpretation of the Findings PAGEREF _Toc38968216 \h 84Limitations PAGEREF _Toc38968217 \h 88Implications of the Study PAGEREF _Toc38968218 \h 88Recommendations for Further Research PAGEREF _Toc38968219 \h 88Recommendations developed directly from the data PAGEREF _Toc38968220 \h 89Recommendations derived from methodological, research design, or other limitations of the study PAGEREF _Toc38968221 \h 89Recommendations based on delimitations PAGEREF _Toc38968222 \h 90Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc38968223 \h 90References PAGEREF _Toc38968224 \h 90Appendix A: Research Questions PAGEREF _Toc38968225 \h 116Appendix B: Populations and Samples PAGEREF _Toc38968226 \h 117

CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION Chapter 1 starts with presenting a background of the study to gain knowledge of the experiences of Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) providing services in Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CBHCs), relating to the clinical environment and their passionate practice. By gaining the knowledge of their experiences in this environment, the need for the current research is reinforced while also identifying the significance of the study. The research design, the research question, and assumptions and limitations will be introduced, as well as the definitions of terms utilized throughout the study.

Background of the StudyThere has been an increased interest in work passion, with multiple studies that emphasize how organizations may benefit from a passionate workforce (Gilal, F., Channa, Gilal, N., & Shah, 2019). A quality work model is essential to attain employees' wellbeing and to implement positive outlooks at work, assuring a beneficial experience of both employee and organization (Parker, Van den Broeck, & Holman, 2017). As with other helping professions, professional counselors get subjected to heartbreaking circumstances and tremendous situations that can eventually have a negative effect on their wellbeing (Coaston, 2017). One area of importance for these counselors that can affect their enthusiasm and passionate practice is the environment in which they work. Although researchers have conducted several studies regarding counselor wellness and burnout, limited research exists on understanding professional counselors' experiences with the working environment and remaining passionate in their practice.

There are various concepts related to the promotion of passion and career satisfaction. The word passion, depending on the context, takes on different meanings. For example, Vallerand (2015) described passion as relating to loving someone, suffering for something, enthusiastic sexual experience, and as love and adoration for interest or occupation. Birkeland and Buch (2015) stated that passion for work is related to an individual's attitude regarding their work. Being passionate about one's career can have a significant impact on the work performance and wellness of employees (McAllister, Harris, Hochwarter, Perrewe, & Ferris, 2017). Research has also determined that the outcomes of work endeavors can be affected by the passion of the worker (Rhodes, 2016).

Just as determined in other helping professions, a counselor's passion may be increased through positive environmental interactions and is essential in dealing with life stressors effectively (Li, Eschenauer, & Persaud, 2018). Sanchez-Reilly et al. (2013) noted that a counselor's ability to utilize a combination of self-knowledge and self-awareness, along with awareness of their clients had been identified as the most important aspects of wellness when addressing either stressful professional or personal situations. Besides, taking ownership and care with one's job, handling stressors and demands as a productive way of investing in their career, in turn, possibly increasing their passion (Sanet, 2018). When conditions at work are more positive, counselors gain enthusiasm (Egan, Turner, & Blackman, 2017). Interventions to improve working environments can improve the workers' attitudes and perceptions (Kelly & Todd, 2017).

Just as situations and environmental factors can increase a counselor's passion, different scenarios and adversities may decrease their passion within their career. Office politics and aggravation from co-workers and administration were contributing factors for a counselor's negative view of their career, reflecting that the environment influences a counselor's viewpoint (Oser et al.,2013). Factors such as workload, low salaries, negative relationships with co-workers, inadequate supervision, and persistent tensions are also recognized to increase negative environmental factors for counselors (Romani & Ashkar, 2014). The personality of the employee may also influence the perception of the working environment and impact the way that they adapt (Lavigne, Forest, Fernet, & Crevier, 2014). It has been stated that career enthusiasm is derived from the thoughts and emotional judgments of different work and environmental factors (Egan et al., 2017). When these factors and emotions are positive, counselors are more enthused with their work situations (Egan et al., 2017). Research has also discovered that positive relationships with fellow workers, opportunities for advancement in one's career, along with an organization that values orderliness might increase the worker's passion for their work (Bradshaw, Atkinson, & Doody, 2017). St-Louis, Verner-Filion, Bergeron, & Vallerand (2018). also observed that resilience describes the individual's personality traits that allow them to adapt positively to adverse situations (St-Louis, Verner-Filion, Bergeron, & Vallerand, 2018). It would stand to reason that when able to use resilience and positive coping skills, passion can be increased (St-Louis et al., 2018).

Most behavioral health clinics provide secure and well-operating environments due to being public and having formal regulations (Yu, Hill, Ricks, Bennet, & Oriol, 2017). In actuality, these environments are an issue of enlightened self-interest (Yu et al., 2017). The extent to which counselors are satisfied with the conditions in which they work (Suvija & Subymon, 2017) influences the way that they interact with their clients. An opinion of one's job experience develops judgments that affect the worker's dec...