I Lost My Mentor, Now What? The Experiences of Counseling Psychology Women Doctoral Students Who Lost Their Mentor: Training and Program Implications

Despite the importance of faculty mentorship in the development of doctoral students in counseling psychology programs, research focused on mentor relationships within health service provider programs is limited. Empirical research focused on the outcomes of faculty who leave their institutions and the impact their departure has on their mentees is scant. Thus, the present study utilized qualitative semistructured interviews within the constructivist-interpretivist paradigm to explore the experiences of eight counseling psychology doctoral students and one recent counseling psychology graduate in the United States who lost their mentor during their time as a student due to their mentor's unexpected death or job change. The nine interviews were coded inductively using reflexive thematic analysis methods. The theoretical framework for the study was based on the phenomenon of unexpected termination in the therapeutic relationship. Findings suggested the following: (a) A continued relationship with the mentor following the transition was healing; (b) participants experienced an increased capacity to attend to a wider range of interests than before the transition; (c) lack of fit with new mentor delayed degree completion; (d) the impact of loss of faculty of color was particularly difficult for students of color and program dynamics; (e) students went through a process of grieving the loss of their mentor; (f) fit was the most salient factor in choosing the student's new mentor; and (g) recommendations for training programs to help avoid leaving students in the lurch are delineated. Limitations and future areas of research are discussed.