Researchers used 2 rounds of individual interviews and a focus group meeting to explore the identity development experiences of master's‐degree counselor education students. Grounded theory procedures generated a tentative substantive theory that conceptualized these experiences. The theory illustrated how counselors‐in‐training used a recycling identity formation process that involved conceptual and experiential learning experiences to identify, clarify, and reclarify their identities as counselors.

This qualitative study explored 4 counselor education doctoral students' 1st-semester experience. Data analysis revealed students experienced vicissitudes of thought and emotion that varied from self-doubt to beliefs in their abilities, received information and made decisions about how to engage in their responsibilities, and felt affirmation of their capabilities and qualifications. With this affirmation, students were able to make decisions about further experiences they would have during their program. As the semester progressed, the students experienced greater feelings of confirmation yet returned to vicissitude when faced with new situations.