Wellness and Counselor Education

Abstract

Given the emotional nature of the counseling profession, stress, fatigue, and burnout are constant threats. Although such difficulties cannot be eliminated, counseling training can ensure that future counselors are ready to deal more effectively with such issues. The authors present 10 suggestions for promoting student wellness during counselor training.  

Relationship Between Psychological Well-Being and Perceived Wellness in Online Graduate Counselor Education Students

“…This study extended prior research by Harris et al, (2013) to the online student population. Researchers have clearly indicated a concern that unresolved psychological issues exist among psychotherapy and counseling students ( counselor's psychological well-being effects the therapeutic relationship (Wheeler, 2007) and accurate self-awareness of wellness to maintain that well-being is also supported in the literature (Bike, Norcross, & Schatz, 2009;Cashwell, Bentley, & Bigbee, 2007;Coster & Schwebel, 1997;Yager & Tovar-Blank, 2007;Young & Lambie, 2007). The initial data analysis supported accepting that a significant relationship exists between psychological well-being and perceived wellness.…”

“…In alignment with research by Venart et al, (2007) andYager andTovar-Blank (2007), students capable of recognizing their own needs, combined with the understanding of the importance of addressing impairments for the viability of the therapeutic relationship, may effectively self-advocate addressing particular issues. Unlike findings by Cooke, Bewick, Barkham, Bradley, and Audin (2006), where only 5% of psychologically vulnerable university students sought counseling, 64% of online counseling students participated in individual counseling, which may be accounted for by accuracy of self-perception in online counseling students.…”

A Phenomenological Investigation of Wellness Within Counselor Education Programs

“…Self‐awareness was identified in participants’ statements about being conscious of stressors and personal wellness needs. Self‐awareness was a recommendation in several conceptual articles as well as for both counseling professionals and counseling trainees (Skovholt, 2012; Venart et al, 2007; Yager & Tovar‐Blank, 2007). In addition, Lawson (2007) reported that maintaining self‐awareness was a career‐sustaining behavior indicated by many counseling professionals.…”

Personal Counseling in Academic Programs with Counselor Trainees

“…A counselor trainee may view personal counseling as only a tool for when issues emerge instead of as self-growth (Yager & Tovar-Blank, 2007).…”