Lived Experiences of Post-Master's Counselors Using qEEG Data When Treating Clients
The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to foster an understanding of the lived experiences of post-master's counselors using qEEG data when treating clients. This study focused on the lived experiences of post-master's counselors and their use of qEEG data for client treatment, collecting data from a sample of 5 post-master's counselors using semi-structured interviews. In the context of the current mental healthcare demands, mental health presents a significant public health problem necessitating attention not only to the system but also to the interactions of the elements in the system, namely, post-master's counselors and available medical technologies. The framework that guided this research included the technology acceptance model and self-efficacy theory. The study was designed to address the problem regarding the reluctance that some new practitioners experience in adopting this technology and answer the question of what the lived experiences of post-master's counselors are when using qEEG data when treating clients. Using a thematic analysis approach, codes, categories, and themes were extracted from the interview responses. Four themes were established: client experience and empowerment, complexity, learning and resource challenges, diagnostic and clinical process, and transformative and professional impact. While findings from this study offer significant new insight into the perceived benefits and use of qEEG among post-master's counselors, there are gaps in the literature that continue to warrant attention, and which would be of benefit in ensuring this technology is applied appropriately and comprehensively within the field. This study could significantly contribute to understanding the lived experience of post master's counselors using qEEG in their practice, a perspective currently underrepresented in the literature.
mental health care, Post-master's counselors, public health, qEEG
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