ABSTRACT
This narrative inquiry study explores the process of affective development and the factors that facilitate growth within emotional awareness and the ability to self-attune for novice counselors with certification in Expressive Arts Therapy. Stories were collected from five novice counselors, within an internship or the first 3 years of practice as a counselor. Five themes emerged from a thematic analysis of the overarching narratives of participants around the process of attuning to affect and deepening emotional awareness: recognition of dissonance, experiencing acceptance, engaging with ambiguity, attunement to self, and adapting.