Meaning in life and work among counsellors: a qualitative exploration

Research has shown that meaning in life is beneficial to mental and physical health. Furthermore, having a sense of meaning in work has also been found to generate greater well-being and job satisfaction. However, the literature has paid scant attention to exploring the manner in which meaning in life is experienced among professional care providers such as therapists and counsellors. The purpose of this qualitative study was to provide an in-depth understanding of the experience of meaning in life among counsellors whose work is oriented towards the cultivation of well-being in educational settings. Three themes emerged from the analysis of 46 interviews with Israeli counsellors: (a) the development of meaning in life and work, (b) the sources of meaning in life; and (c) the sources of meaning in the counsellors’ work. Implications for future research and practice regarding the experience of meaning are discussed.