Without License, With Purpose: The Lived Experiences of Non‐Licensed BIPOC Women Counselors Navigating a Predominantly White Professional Environment

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of non‐licensed Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) women counselors navigating predominantly White professional counseling environments. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), six participants with at least 1 year of counseling‐related experience shared their narratives through semistructured interviews. Five key themes emerged: systemic barriers, emotional and psychological impacts, structural exclusion, advocacy, and discrimination. Findings indicate that while participants experienced financial hardship, licensure challenges, racialized labor, and marginalization, they also demonstrated resilience, purpose‐making, and culturally responsive advocacy. The results indicate gaps in professional recognition and support for non‐licensed BIPOC women and offer implications for inclusive policy, training, and supervision practices in counseling.