Date
8-20-2026
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision (PhD)
Chair
Joy Mwendwa
Keywords
peer mentorship, mentors, counselor education, doctoral students
Disciplines
Counseling
Recommended Citation
Emmanuel, Deepa Michelle, "Walking with Wisdom: CES Doctoral Students’ Mentoring Experiences" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8736.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8736
Abstract
The attrition rates among doctoral students are alarmingly high due to the challenges they face. However, mentorship has been identified to increase retention. In addition, evidence in the literature demonstrates that mentorship has a wide range of benefits. Moreover, mentorship is an important part of counselor education. However, as most of the mentorship-related research is focused on mentees, there is a dearth of literature regarding mentors. Therefore, the purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of the peer mentors who are doctoral students in counselor education and supervision programs. That is, this study aimed to explore and understand the motivations, benefits, and challenges faced by peer mentors in doctoral counseling education and supervision programs. This paper begins with an introduction to the topic, wherein the significance of the study, the research questions, and the researcher’s positionality are explored. The second chapter comprises an in-depth exploration of related literature and the theoretical framework. The third chapter explores and delves into the study methods, such as data collection, data analysis, ethical considerations, and trustworthiness. The fourth chapter presents the findings of the study. Five primary themes were identified in this study—Motivation and Purpose, Support and Boundaries, Emotionally Taxing Engagement, Belonging, and Professional Identity Development. The paper concludes with a summary and discussion of the findings, theoretical, empirical, and practical implications, delimitation and limitations, recommendations for future research, and a summary of the chapter.
