diff --git a/arc/job/trsh.py b/arc/job/trsh.py
index f1878a7011..222cecbba0 100644
--- a/arc/job/trsh.py
+++ b/arc/job/trsh.py
@@ -1137,10 +1137,22 @@ def trsh_ess_job(label: str,
         couldnt_trsh = True
 
     if couldnt_trsh:
-        logger.error(f'Could not troubleshoot geometry optimization for {label}! '
-                     f'Tried troubleshooting with the following methods: {ess_trsh_methods}')
+        # Count and remove 'trsh_attempt' entries for cleaner reporting
+        trsh_attempt_count = ess_trsh_methods.count('trsh_attempt')
+        filtered_methods = [method for method in ess_trsh_methods if method != 'trsh_attempt']
+        
+        # Build the message with the count and filtered methods
+        if trsh_attempt_count > 0 and filtered_methods:
+            message = f'Tried troubleshooting {trsh_attempt_count} times, with the following methods: {filtered_methods}'
+        elif trsh_attempt_count > 0:
+            message = f'Tried troubleshooting {trsh_attempt_count} times'
+        else:
+            message = f'Tried troubleshooting with the following methods: {filtered_methods}'
+        
+        logger.error(f'Could not troubleshoot {job_type} for {label}! '
+                     f'{message}')
         output_errors.append(f'Error: Could not troubleshoot {job_type} for {label}! '
-                             f'Tried troubleshooting with the following methods: {ess_trsh_methods}; ')
+                             f'{message}; ')
     return (output_errors,
             ess_trsh_methods,
             remove_checkfile,
diff --git a/arc/job/trsh_test.py b/arc/job/trsh_test.py
index d974874e9c..0802db5195 100644
--- a/arc/job/trsh_test.py
+++ b/arc/job/trsh_test.py
@@ -445,6 +445,27 @@ def test_trsh_ess_job(self):
             output_errors,
         )
 
+        # Gaussian: test 6b - verify troubleshoot attempts counting
+        job_status = {'keywords': ['MaxOptCycles', 'GL9999']}
+        ess_trsh_methods = ['trsh_attempt',
+                            'int=(Acc2E=14)', 'opt=(maxcycle=200)',
+                            'trsh_attempt', 'opt=(RFO)',
+                            'trsh_attempt', 'opt=(GDIIS)',
+                            'trsh_attempt', 'opt=(GEDIIS)',
+                            'trsh_attempt']
+        output_errors, ess_trsh_methods, remove_checkfile, level_of_theory, software, job_type, fine, trsh_keyword, \
+            memory, shift, cpu_cores, couldnt_trsh = trsh.trsh_ess_job(label, level_of_theory, server, job_status,
+                                                                    job_type, software, fine, memory_gb,
+                                                                    num_heavy_atoms, cpu_cores, ess_trsh_methods)
+        self.assertTrue(couldnt_trsh)
+        self.assertIn('Tried troubleshooting 5 times, with the following methods:', output_errors[-1])
+        self.assertNotIn('trsh_attempt', output_errors[-1])
+        self.assertIn("opt=(maxcycle=200)", output_errors[-1])
+        self.assertIn("opt=(RFO)", output_errors[-1])
+        self.assertIn("opt=(GDIIS)", output_errors[-1])
+        self.assertIn("opt=(GEDIIS)", output_errors[-1])
+        self.assertIn('all_attempted', output_errors[-1])
+
         # Gaussian: test 7
         job_status = {'keywords': ['MaxOptCycles', 'GL9999','SCF']}
         ess_trsh_methods = ['int=(Acc2E=14)']
diff --git a/arc/scheduler.py b/arc/scheduler.py
index c56fae7d72..04107f04f9 100644
--- a/arc/scheduler.py
+++ b/arc/scheduler.py
@@ -3554,7 +3554,8 @@ def troubleshoot_ess(self,
 
         level_of_theory = Level(repr=level_of_theory)
         logger.info('\n')
-        warning_message = f'Troubleshooting {label} job {job.job_name} which failed'
+        # log job failure information before troubleshooting
+        warning_message = f'{label} Job {job.job_name} failed'
         if job.job_status[1]["status"] and job.job_status[1]["status"] != 'done':
             warning_message += f' with status: "{job.job_status[1]["status"]},"'
         if job.job_status[1]["keywords"]:
@@ -3593,6 +3594,8 @@ def troubleshoot_ess(self,
                         f'Reached max troubleshooting attempts ({max_ess_trsh}).')
             self.output[label]['errors'] += f'Error: ESS troubleshooting attempts exhausted for {label} {job.job_type}; '
             return
+        logger.warning(f'Troubleshooting {label} job {job.job_name} '
+                           f'(attempt number {trsh_attempts + 1}).')
         job.ess_trsh_methods.append('trsh_attempt')
 
         # Determine if the species is a hydrogen atom (or its isotope).