Presentation Schedule
Counseling Clients with Disabilities: Experiences of Taiwanese College Counseling Professionals (105973)
Session Chair: Odeta Merfeldaite
Saturday, 11 July 2026 11:10
Session: Session 2
Room: UCL Torrington, G08 (Ground Floor)
Presentation Type:Oral Presentation
Formal training on disabilities is limited within counselor and counseling psychology graduate programs in Taiwan. Despite this, approximately 15,000 students with disabilities (SWD) attend colleges and universities across the country, representing 1.54% of the total student population. Consequently, counseling professionals working in college counseling centers will inevitably encounter clients with disabilities (CWD). This study aimed to explore the experiences of college counseling psychologists when counseling CWD, particularly their coping strategies and the impact of these experiences on their professional development. Special attention was given to how the dynamics of ability and disability status influence the counseling relationships. The participants comprised eight counseling psychologists (four males and four females) working full-time or part-time in college counseling centers. A thematic analysis was conducted to analyze the qualitative data, leading to five major themes: 1. The Discrepancy Between Professional Training and Fieldwork Reality, 2. The Need for Systemic Advocacy and Role Flexibility, 3. "Universal Design" and Adaptation of Counseling Techniques, 4. Confronting Helplessness and the "Unchangeable," and 5. The Influence of Counselor Identity and Humility. Regarding counseling relationships, most participants were able-bodied and initially experienced anxiety and fear. They confronted challenges related to power dynamics and boundaries. By adopting a learner role rather than positioning themselves as experts, they achieved more balanced relationships. One participant, who became disabled during their training, reported that this experience fostered humility and significantly altered their approach to counseling. The implications for counselor education, clinical practice, and policy development will be discussed.
Authors:
Ta-Wei Wang, National Pingtung University, Taiwan
About the Presenter(s)
Dr Ta-Wei Wang is a University Associate ProfessorSenior Lecturer at National Pingtung University in Taiwan
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