“A balancing act”: The role of gender and cultural identities on Latina counselors-in-training

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of Latina counselors-in-training (CIT). Research indicates that the number of women enrolled in graduate school programs and obtaining masters and doctoral degrees has been steadily increasing. Although more women are enrolling in graduate school, the training experiences of Latinas in graduate counseling programs are unexplored. Previous literature notes how Latinas may be affected by their cultural values which can ultimately influence their identity development as CIT. Using an intersectional framework, the following study examined the process of counselor identity development and how culture and gender may impact Latina CIT. In the study, a total of 8 interviews were conducted with Latina CIT attending in a university located in the U.S.-Mexico border. Conventional qualitative analysis based on a constructivist epistemology was used to analyze the data. Participants\u27 responses were first coded by finding the meaning units within the transcribed text (Creswell, 2007). Thematic analysis also included the categorization of codes to create categories and themes which emerged from the data. Results of the analysis revealed the following three themes: (1) overcoming multiple demands as a Latina CIT, (2) the influence of Latina/o cultural values, and (3) forming a unique identity as a Latina CIT. The findings highlight the experiences of Latina CIT, the influence of gender and cultural identities on Latina CIT, and the counselor identity development of CIT