The experiences of regulating emotions among trainee counsellors in UTAR

Lee , Ashlyn Wen Xin (2025) The experiences of regulating emotions among trainee counsellors in UTAR. Final Year Project, UTAR.

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Abstract

This study explores the in-depth experiences of emotion regulation among trainee counsellors in Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR). The primary research objective is to examine the emotional challenges faced by trainee counsellors and the strategies they employ to regulate their emotions throughout their training. A qualitative phenomenological design was used to gain a deeper understanding of participants’ lived experiences. The study involved six trainee counsellors aged 21 to 27, selected through purposive sampling. All participants were from UTAR Kampar Campus and currently under the training program. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews using a validated interview protocol and analysed thematically. Participants described their emotional regulation journey as a balance between personal growth and emotional struggle, shaped by self-doubt, emotional fatigue, and client-related stress. Despite these difficulties, participants reported gaining resilience through strategies such as mindfulness, seeking supervision, creative self-care, and reflective practice. The findings reveal that emotional regulation is a dynamic and developmental process influenced by both internal and contextual factors. The study provides practical implications for counselling education by recommending the integration of structured emotional support and ER training into the curriculum. These insights may contribute to the emotional well-being and long-term professional growth of future counsellors.

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