The Experiences of Rural School Counselors Seeking to Implement Antiracist Practices: A Phenomenological Investigation

Abstract

Background: School counselors are expected to address systemic inequities in pre-K–12 settings, yet limited empirical research has examined how antiracist practices are enacted in rural contexts shaped by political resistance, professional isolation, and constrained resources. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of rural school counselors who implemented or attempted to implement antiracist practices.Research Question: What are rural school counselors’ lived experiences with implementing and/or attempting to implement antiracist school counseling practices in pre-K–12 schools? Methods: The study used a critical phenomenological design guided by critical race theory (CRT). I conducted in-depth interviews with six rural school counselors across multiple U.S. regions. Data were analyzed using Moustakas’ phenomenological approach, adapted through a CRT lens to examine how race, power, and systemic inequities shaped participants’ experiences. Results and Conclusions: Four themes emerged: school counselor disposition, barriers, effective practices, and support. School counselors described how awareness and intentionality grounded their equity efforts, while systemic racism, insulated perspectives, reactive school cultures, and limited institutional backing constrained sustained change. Despite these barriers, participants engaged in advocacy, promoted student and family voice, and increased racial awareness through relationship-centered practices. Collaboration and continuity strengthened school counselors’ capacity to advance antiracist work. Findings highlight the need for rural-responsive counselor preparation, sustained professional networks, and policy supports that address sociopolitical realities. This study offers empirical insight into antiracist school counseling in rural contexts and underscores the importance of integrating evidence-based school counseling principles with equity-centered practice.