The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted educational systems worldwide, presenting unprecedented challenges for families, students, teachers, and professional school counselors (Akgul et al., 2021). Professional school counseling underwent changes as all attempted to adapt to new ways of reaching and supporting students (Anicich et al., 2020). Through the existing and added difficulties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, professional school counselors have remained in the field. The purpose of this study is to explore professional school counselor perceptions of the factors leading to their retention in the field through the COVID-19 pandemic through a phenomenological qualitative study. Thirteen professional school counselors who worked during and after the COVID-19 pandemic (March 12, 2020,- May 11, 2023 (CDC, 2023)) participated in this phenomenological study. Results indicate that professional school counselors had varied experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, marked by themes of Challenges of the Pandemic, Changes in Work Demands, and varying Personal and Professional Resources. Results also indicate that the participants believed that Lessons from the Pandemic, and Motivation have helped them to remain in the field even through the experiences of the pandemic. These themes are described and detailed in this study. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]