STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES WITH AND PERCEPTIONS OF A COMMUNITY COLLEGE COUNSELING CENTER ON A COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUS: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY

The purpose of this study was to explore the phenomenon of community college students’ perceptions and experiences regarding mental health counseling services on a community college campus. The conceptual framework used for this study was Hettler’s (1976) Six Dimensions of Wellness model, which demonstrates the interconnectedness of all six dimensions (occupational, physical, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and social) that come together and are influential on overall wellness. A transcendental phenomenological approach was used for this study. Upon receipt of a signed (using a checkmark) informed consent and demographic data form, semistructured interviews were scheduled with participants to begin data collection. The interviews took place via Zoom, as the COVID-19 pandemic limited the ability to conduct interviews in person. There was a total of nine participants. The nine participants were of diverse race and ethnicity, between the ages of 18 to 26, and six self-identified as female and three self-identified as male. Data analysis took place using Moustakas’s (1994) modification of van Kaam’s (1959, 1966) method for data analysis for phenomenological research. Five themes emerged from the participants’ experiences. The essence of the participants’ experiences revealed their perceptions that having mental health services, counseling services, and mental health programs on campus would be beneficial. The nine participants gave various reasons for finding value in these services, which they felt would help with academic and personal challenges. Participants indicated that home and personal life impacts school life, and having mental health professionals on campus would be beneficial in learning how to cope and balance the two. The implications of this study are that community college students have outside responsibilities and challenges that impact them academically, mental health counseling, programs, and support is lacking, and a need for mental health support for community college students is not being met on community college campuses. Additionally, it is imperative that community college administration and stakeholders use the Six Dimensions of Wellness perspective of holistically meeting the needs of students and view counseling as one answer to persistence, retention, and completion.