Career Counseling with Foster Adolescents Transitioning to Adulthood: A Phenomenological Study Using a Psychoeducation Group Counseling Approach

Authors

Carly Paro-Tompkins, College of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USAFollow
Elda Veloso Ph.D., College of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USAFollow
Galaxina G. Wright, College of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USAFollow
Jennifer Reeves, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USAFollow
Samantha Both, College of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USAFollow

Abstract

Young adults who age out of the foster care system face a unique set of challenges including increased risk of homelessness, substance use, mental health problems, and difficulty with employment. The current phenomenological study aims to understand participants’ experiences of Project P.A.T.H., a group psychoeducational group intervention aimed at improving self-efficacy, employment hope, and job search knowledge in individuals who were unemployed or underemployed and actively seeking employment. Participants were recruited through the FLITE Center, a nonprofit organization providing services supporting individuals transitioning out of the foster system. A total of 23 participants aged 18-26 participated in this study. The participants took part in a structured two-day psychoeducational group workshop facilitated by trained professionals specializing in career development and mental health. The group emphasized key areas such as career planning, job search tactics, interviewing skills, and job performance and success (i.e., emotional regulation, conflict resolution, problem solving, etc.) followed by focus groups providing insight and feedback about their experience. Focus group interviews were analyzed using Colaizzi’s (1978) seven steps and open coding. Four significant themes emerged from the qualitative data collection: emotional regulation, professional preparation, mattering, and simulation practice. Participants emphasized the importance of regulating their emotions while also building confidence, which was crucial in helping them be successful in their job search process. Participants were appreciative of the information and the opportunity to practice job search and interviewing skills.

Keywords

foster youth, career development, job search, intervention research, group work, phenomenological study

Author Bio(s)

Carly Paro-Tompkins, Ed.D., an Associate Professor in the Department of Counseling at NSU's College of Psychology, focuses on teaching, supervising, and practicing as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Qualified Supervisor. Her expertise lies in multiculturalism, group practice, ethics, counseling techniques, and supervision. She is dedicated to serving NSU, the counseling profession, and the community. Her research interests include transformational pedagogy, clinician bias, and working with young adults aging out of foster care. Please direct correspondence to cparo1@nova.edu

Dr. Elda Kanzki-Veloso is a Counseling Professor at Nova Southeastern University's College of Psychology. She specializes in Family Therapy. She coordinates practicum and internship placements, focusing on practical training quality. Her research interests include veterans, adolescent substance abuse, and technology integration in education. Dr. Kanzki-Veloso has led academic centers and dissertation processes, bringing a wealth of experience to her teaching and research work.

Galaxina G. Wright, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling at NSU's College of Psychology is a career development researcher focusing on challenges for historically underserved communities. She is also a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a National Certified Counselor, while serving in several leadership positions within counseling associations. She served as the lead for this research study, as well as other projects focusing on providing career services, addressing barriers, and developing interventions.

Jennifer Reeves, Ph.D., is a Professor and the Director of Dissertation Support Services at the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice at Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Reeves received her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, with emphases in Sport Psychology, Counseling Psychology, and Statistics and Measurement, from Florida State University (FSU); an M.S. in Educational Psychology from FSU; and a B.S. in Health Psychology from Rhodes College. She specializes in developing strategies to support dissertation students, social presence in online education, teaching research and statistics, assessing student learning outcomes, and evaluating programs/analyzing data. She recently received the Rod Rose Award and the FCE&SCJ Professor of the Year. She currently serves as the Lead Evaluator for an NSF IRES Track II Grant (2021-2024).

Samantha Both, Psy.D., completed her doctorate in clinical psychology at Nova Southeastern University. Her interests are in trauma and suicidality in rural communities, health psychology, chronic pain, and multiculturalism.

Acknowledgements

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to our community partner, the FLITE CENTER, for their invaluable collaboration on this project. Without their involvement, this project would not have been possible. We are truly appreciative of the incredible work they do to support foster children, adolescents, and adults in the South Florida community.

Publication Date

7-27-2025

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2025.7583

Recommended APA Citation

Paro-Tompkins, C., Kanzki-Veloso, E., Wright, G. G., Reeves, J., & Both, S. (2025). Career counseling with foster adolescents transitioning to adulthood: A phenomenological study using a psychoeducation group counseling approach. The Qualitative Report, 30(7), 3938-3964. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2025.7583

ORCID ID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4363-018X; https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6786-6531; https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5305-9639; https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6804-7440; https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2889-4028; https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4549-9350; https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8617-0045; https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6524-7412; https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0785-9019; https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1186-3664; https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3264-3937; https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8678-9156; https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0503-9419;