Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

5-1-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Rehabilitation Counseling

First Advisor

Rommel Johnson

Second Advisor

Saara Grizzell

Third Advisor

Marie Simonsson

Abstract

Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) in Texas frequently navigate emotionally demanding work, including high caseloads, complex client needs, and sustained exposure to client distress. Over time, these professional demands can contribute to stress, emotional fatigue, and job strain, increasing vulnerability to burnout and reducing professional quality of life (Bardhoshi & Um, 2021; Maor & Hemi, 2021; McCarthy et al., 2010; Thompson et al., 2014). This quantitative research study examined the professional quality of life of LPCs in Texas using the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) based on gender, ethnicity, age, licensure type, years of experience, does work setting induce compassion fatigue, and professional self-doubt using the Professional Self Doubt Scale (PSD). In this study, 119 LPCs were surveyed and completed demographic questions, the PSD scale, and the ProQOL Scale. The findings of this study found that the majority of participants were female, identified as Hispanic, with a median age of 40.8, and held the LPC licensure type. The majority of the participants in this study reported they ‘rarely’ felt PSD (n = 67, 56.3%). The majority of the participants in this study reported ‘High’ levels of compassion satisfaction (n = 61, 51.3%) and fifty-seven participants (47.9%) reported ‘Moderate’ levels of compassion satisfaction. All 119 participants in this study reported ‘Moderate’ level of burnout (100%). There was no participant who reported ‘Low’ or ‘High’ levels of burnout. The majority of the participants in this study reported ‘Low’ levels of Secondary Traumatic Stress (n = 86, 72.3%). All predictor or independent variables used in the standard (entry) method multiple linear regression analysis for Compassion Satisfaction (CS) explained 35.6 percent of the total variance, R= .60, R2=.356, F(7,111)=8.77, p<.05.

Similarly, all of the predictor variables regressed into the burnout compassion fatigue dependent variable explained 19.5 percent of the total variance. There were two significant standardized Beta coefficients, professional self-doubt and work CF. PSD had a Beta coefficient of .336, t=3.70, p<.05 and Work CF had a Beta coefficient of -.217, t=-2.43, p<.05.

Lastly, all of the predictor variables regressed into the secondary traumatic stress compassion fatigue dependent variable explained 43.7 percent of the total variance. The only significant standardized Beta coefficient was professional self-doubt with a value of .651, t=8.59, p<.05.

The findings in this study emphasize the levels of Professional Self-Doubt influence Compassion Satisfaction, Burnout, and Secondary Traumatic Stress. Demographics statistics and graphs are available in the appendices.

Comments

Copyright 2026 Celia A. Ramos. All Rights Reserved. https://proquest.com/docview/3371138188

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