Sensory processing disorder (SPD) is a neurological disorder impacting up to 20% of the global population. The majority of SPD research has been conducted outside the counseling profession and typically examines the presentation of SPD in youth. Therefore, counselors often have limited awareness of this disorder. The purpose of the present study was to conduct an exploratory qualitative thematic analysis (N = 89) examining the primary concerns of adult counseling clients with SPD, as reported by their counselors. Results include 12 themes that were organized into three categories: biological, psychological, and social. Thus, the results reflected the biopsychosocial model, originally outlined by G. L. Engel, as it pertains to SPD. Researchers provided implications for mental health counselors’ practice and suggestions for future research.
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July 2020
RESEARCH|
June 22 2020
Counseling Adults With Sensory Processing Disorder: An Exploratory Study
Emily Goodman-Scott;
1 Department of Counseling and Human Services, Old Dominion University
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Emily Goodman-Scott, 2100 New Education Building, 4301 Hampton Blvd., Norfolk, VA 23529. Email: [email protected]
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Melanie Burgess;
Melanie Burgess
2 Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Research, University of Memphis
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Gina Polychronopoulos
Gina Polychronopoulos
3 Office of Assessment, Christopher Newport University
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Journal of Mental Health Counseling (2020) 42 (3): 234–250.
Citation
Emily Goodman-Scott, Melanie Burgess, Gina Polychronopoulos; Counseling Adults With Sensory Processing Disorder: An Exploratory Study. Journal of Mental Health Counseling 1 July 2020; 42 (3): 234–250. doi: https://doi.org/10.17744/mehc.42.3.04
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