Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the meaning of pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting experiences among female counselors. To achieve this, in-depth interviews were conducted with nine female counselors who have at least one year aged children, and the data were analyzed using phenomenological qualitative research methods. The results yielded five main themes and 17 sub-themes. The main themes include ‘A Complete Transformation of Personal Life,’ ‘Fear of Losing Oneself as a Counselor.’ ‘Striving to Utilize My Changes as a Resource,’ ‘Evolving into a Better Me’, and ‘An Expansion of Experiences, not a Career Interruption.’ Findings from this study will contribute to a better understanding and empathy for female counselors in similar situations. Additionally, they will serve as a basis for establishing a counselor development model.