Counselor Education Commons^™

Understanding Counselor Burnout From An Ecological Systems Perspective, Stephanie Thorson-Olesen, Lisa Belknap, Emily Velidow, Jessica Gaul, Phoenix Rosewood, Nayara Aparecida Da Costa Silva Beall

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Using Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory as a guiding framework, this study explored the experiences of licensed counselors who self-identified as having recovered from burnout. Burnout was conceptualized as a prolonged response to chronic occupational stress, while participants were invited to describe their experiences based on their own lived understandings of the phenomenon. A qualitative thematic analysis was conducted using data collected through an anonymous online survey featuring open-ended prompts. Participants included 32 licensed counselors who graduated from CACREP-accredited programs and reported previously experiencing burnout and no longer identifying as currently burned out. Thematic analysis yielded nine interrelated themes encompassing contributors, …

Protecting Those Who Protect Us: A Blueprint For Mandatory Mental Wellness Standards For First Responders, Joy Hutchinson

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

First responders, including firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), dispatchers/telecommunicators, and corrections officers, serve as the backbone of public safety in the United States. Their work requires rapid decision-making, repeated exposure to traumatic events, and sustained emotional regulation in high-stakes environments (Hoell et al., 2023; Vig et al., 2020). Despite their critical roles, mental health support across these professions remains inconsistent, optional, and largely reactive rather than preventative, with many systems relying on self-referral only after crisis onset (Burke, 2021; Johnston et al., 2025).

Between 2021 and 2025, U.S.-based research has documented alarming levels of burnout, depression, anxiety, …

A Wellness Approach To Aging, Retirement, And Suicide Risk: Gerontological Considerations, Seth T. Robinson, Derek J. Lee

Adultspan Journal

Suicide risk in older adulthood represents complex interactions between developmental transitions; changing social contexts; and interactions between ecological context and individual perceptions of belongingness, burdensomeness, and hope. This paper presents an integrative,developmentally appropriate framework for conceptualizing and addressing suicide risk in older adulthood, which is grounded in the Indivisible Self model of wellness. Drawing on current empirical knowledge of wellness, suicidality, and older adulthood, this paper presents risk and protective factors associated with older adulthood through life transitions, changing social contexts, and other relevant factors. We present a novel integration of suicide intervention, wellness, and holistic care as a suitable …

Group Counseling Deactivation Mode To Improve Psychological Well-Being Of Students, Muya Barida, Dian Ari Widyastuti, Yuanita Dwi Krisphianti, Aslina Ahmad, Nurul Hidayati Rofiah, Andriyani Andriyani, Riana Mashar, Emiko Saraswaty

Jurnal Kajian Bimbingan dan Konseling

Life moves dynamically, profoundly impacting adolescents and often causing deep anxiety due to numerous pressures. The gap between expectations and reality frequently exacerbates this anxiety. Ideally, adolescents should be equipped to manage their inner lives to prevent excessive anxiety, and individuals can better manage anxiety if they possess strong psychological well-being. This study aims to improve psychological well-being through a group counseling deactivation mode. The research applied an experimental research method with a one group pretest-posttest design. Participants consisting of junior high school students in Yogyakarta, selected through purposive sampling for their low psychological well-being levels. Data on psychological well-being …

Development And Evaluation Of The Sex Positivity Inventory For Counselors, M. Ashley Burks, Jennifer Gerlach, Joshua C. Watson

Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education

The purpose of the study was to clarify the definition of sex positivity and identify sex-positive attitudes, knowledge, and skills through the development and evaluation of the Sex Positivity Inventory for Counselors (SPI-C). The exploratory factor analysis supported a six-factor, 34-item scale, accounting for 32.9% of the variance within the study. The SPI-C had an excellent internal consistency of 0.96 and consisted of the following factors: 1) Procedural Sex Positivity, 2) Comfortability with Sexuality, 3) Perceived Sex Positivity, 4) Fundamental Sex Education, 5) Sexological Worldview, and 6) Unconditional Positive Sexual Regard. Implications for practice, counselor education, and supervision are discussed.

Life Balance For Counselors-In-Training: An Interpretative Phenomenological Investigation, Corey Olver

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Life balance is an important yet understudied construct for counselors-in-training (CITs). Pursuing a graduate degree in counseling involves an investment of time and resources that may increase stress and adversely affect CIT wellbeing. This study explores the experience of ten CITs as they navigated life balance during their education. Analysis revealed that life balance was challenging as CITs managed their educational, personal, and work demands. Key findings reveal that satisfaction with life balance is related to alignment between real and ideal activity engagement, that students made important sacrifices to maintain balance, and their educational experience contributed to life balance perception. …

The Intersection Of Rurality And Wellness: A Multi-Manuscript Investigation Into Rural Well-Being, Lucas Perez

Theses and Dissertations

Rural communities face unique mental health and wellness challenges, including geographic isolation, provider shortages, and stigma surrounding help-seeking. This dissertation explores rural wellness through three interrelated studies, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods to examine disparities, perceptions of rurality, and demographic influences on well-being. The first study utilized the Five Factor Wellness Inventory (5F-WEL) to compare wellness scores between rural and non-rural individuals. The second study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore rural definitions of wellness, as well as barriers and strengths related to mental health. The third study examined how perceptions of rurality and demographic factors predict wellness …

Exploring The Holistic Wellness Of Black Women Counselors, Shanta A. Jerideau

Theses and Dissertations

Counselor wellness is crucial for clinician longevity and ethical practice. However, there is limited literature on the holistic wellness of Black women counselors. This manuscript probes into the lived experiences of Black women counselors, particularly in relation to the sociopolitical climate and racial injustices in the United States. Utilizing Consensual Qualitative Research, we examine the experiences of 15 Black women counselors working in counselor education, private practice, and community agencies within the Southeast Region of the United States. We anticipate this approach will enhance counselor education literature and foster increased peer support.

Parallel Journeys: Supporting Wounded Healers In Counselor Education, Susannah C. Coaston

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Much has been written about the motivations for wounded healers to pursue work in the helping professions. Those with painful life experiences can have a unique ability to understand the pain of others, and through their recovery, they may gain insight and understanding to benefit others. The counselor development process can be fraught with challenges that may have a detrimental impact on wounded healers. As such, counselor educators can benefit from amending their approaches to ensure that wounded healers gain the skills necessary to support their mental health and well-being, effectiveness, and personal and professional development. This article introduces a …

Gatekeeper, Keep Thyself: How Impairment Impacts The Integration Of Counselor Wellness Competencies, Curtis Lee Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study examined counselor educators’ beliefs regarding the importance of Counselor Wellness Competencies (CWCs) and how effectively they teach them to their counselors-in-training (CIT). This study focused on significant relationships between the importance and effective teaching, self-care, and burnout. Counselor educators who place higher importance on the CWCs reported having higher self-efficacy in teaching them. The findings suggest that counselor educators with more self-care behaviors experienced less burnout and were better able to show congruence between the importance and effective teaching of the CWCs. The conclusion of this report explores limitations and directions for future research.

Wellness And Discrimination In Counselor Education, Brett K. Gleason, Madeline Clark, Lena Salpietro, Rachel Jacoby

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

Wellness and diversity are cornerstones of professional counseling; however, both have received little attention in terms of counselor educators and their students. The results of a quantitative study (N = 301) explored the relationship between wellness and experiences of discrimination for counselor educators, doctoral students, and master’s counseling students. Researchers utilized the Five Factor Wellness Inventory, Everyday Discrimination Scale, and a demographic questionnaire to conduct both a hierarchical linear regression and a factorial ANOVA to answer research questions. Results of the study indicated that both perceived discrimination and identity factors significantly impact wellness levels for individuals within counselor education. Implications …

Wellbeing In The Caribbean: Exploring Wellness In Afro-Caribbean Populations, Lynnquell S. Gardiner

Dissertations, 2020-current

Research on Caribbean individuals’ mental health and wellness is scarce in the literature, especially for those residing in Caribbean regions. The purpose of these studies was to examine local definitions of wellness and explore the role of nature for Afro-Caribbean (AC) individuals who make up most of the Caribbean’s population. Using two popular wellness models, relevance of application was explored for use with AC women participants. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was further used to explore participants definitions of wellness, existing strengths, and challenges in maintaining balance as it relates to wellness. Family connection, rest, and being in nature were significant …

Infusing Shame Resilience Into The Counseling Curriculum To Support Client Conceptualization And Student Wellness, Sarah I. Springer, Kathleen Grant, Lauren Cozzolino

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Shame is a silent epidemic that influences the health of our clients and the counselors who serve them. Using the tenets of phenomenology, researchers explored the experiences of students participating in a counseling course created to infuse shame resilience into the curriculum. Results and implications for future research are included.

Aspiring Counselors’ Mental Health: Recognizing Students’ Wellbeing As An Impactor On Development, Christopher R. Lafever, Melinda M. Gibbons

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Aspiring Counselors (AC) are learning to navigate professional knowledge and skills while engaging in developmentally necessary self-reflection. Wellness, as a professional cornerstone, has been an emphasis in the instruction and development of AC. AC’s development can have barriers of professional and personal disposition, such as un-met or underattended mental health concerns which may require remediation. AC may also have higher prevalence of adverse childhood and trauma experiences. Exploring the current literature on AC’s development, wellness, and adverse childhood experiences and trauma provides insights in how counselor educators can structure programs in a more proactive rather than responsive way. The purpose …

Supervisory Impact On Counselor-In-Training Wellness, Erin Brumfield Grima

Dissertations

Counselors being able to engage in self-care practices to establish and maintain their wellness is a well-documented need. The risks of neglecting self-care are also well documented, yet counselors struggle to engage in consistent self-care practices (Baker & Gabriel, 2021; Posluns & Gall, 2020). When demand for counselors is constant (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2020) an examination of how to impact counselor wellness through supervision discussion of self-care is needed. The purpose of the study was to examine supervision discussion of self-care, support of mastery of counselors-in-training’s emotions and any resulting impact on counselor wellness. Data …

A Holistic View Of Integrated Care Within Counselor Education: A Multi-Manuscript Dissertation, Alexander Mcclain Fields

Theses and Dissertations

The integration of behavioral health into primary care settings, otherwise known as integrated care (IC), is a movement growing in momentum and continues to challenge traditional healthcare occurring in silos. Through an IC modality, healthcare consumers receive all their care through a “one stop shop” approach and previous outcomes have suggested an overall benefit for an individual’s holistic health, as well as savings for healthcare settings. Counselors are in a prime position to join IC teams and contribute to consumer healthcare outcomes through a unique professional identity. The aim of this dissertation study, which consisted of three completed manuscripts, was …

Photography As A Wellness Tool For Counselors-In-Training, Charaya C. Upton, Joel F. Diambra, Pamelia E. Brott, Zach Budesa

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

The academic journey to become a professional counselor can be challenging for counselors-in-training (CIT), adversely affecting their physical health, mental health, and wellness. Counselor educators (CE) have recognized a need for wellness training and interventions to assist CIT during graduate school and to prepare them for their careers. Photography is considered a tool in art therapy within the realm of expressive therapies that can be used for wellness purposes. We review wellness, CIT struggles with wellness, expressive therapies, and photography techniques to promote CIT professional development and wellness practices. We identify the history of photography tools, describe each tool more …

Wellness And Professional Quality Of Life In Counselor-In-Training Interns: Assessment Of Wellness And Non-Wellness-Infused Supervision, Ashley J. Blount, Abby L. Bjornsen, Daniel B. Kissinger, Kara Schneider, Lindsay Vik, Jessica Gonzalez-Voller

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Counselors-in-training (CITs) commonly encounter issues of burnout, compassion fatigue, and/or vicarious traumatization due to the nature of their jobs in the helping profession. Wellness infused supervision may help CITs foster personal wellness and mitigate deleterious effects of helping. This investigation examined connections related to counselor-in-training wellness and professional quality of life during an internship-level supervision course across a wellness and control section.

Methods: A quasi-experimental design was piloted, comparing a wellness-focused supervision internship section with a non-wellness control group supervision internship section during one academic semester. Participants included 15 clinical mental health CITs (9 experimental; 6 control), who were …

Promoting Well-Being From The Start: Implementation Of A Wellness Curriculum, Nayoung Kim, Jayna Mumbauer-Pisano

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

The 2016 Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs standards (F.1.k.) and the 2014 American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics (C.2.g.) stipulate that counselor wellness and self-care be prioritized throughout counselor education programs. However, there is little evidence to suggest counselors’-in-training (CIT) wellness increases during a counseling program. The Introduction to Counseling Wellness Curriculum (ICWC) was developed to assist in meeting these standards and promote wellness from the onset of a counseling program. This eight-week long curriculum presents content to cover different dimensions of wellness and specific activities to implement self-care practices. The skills obtained through the …

The Effects Of Holistic Grief Counseling Training On Master’S Level Counseling Students’ Grief And Loss Counseling Competency, Kathryn Paige Linich

Theses and Dissertations

Grief is a universal event, yet many counselors are not prepared to used evidence-based practices when recognizing and working with grieving clients. Researchers have explored ways to improve grief counseling education, but none of these recommendations have been put into practice. The aim of this dissertation study, which consists of two full studies, was to develop a holistic grief counseling training for master’s level counseling students that incorporates recommendations for curricular inclusion from the research. The training was designed to be incorporated into one full class period in any master’s level counseling course. The first study is a pilot study …

A Phenomenological Study Of Counseling Students’ Learning About Wellness, Heather J. Fye, Eric R. Baltrinic

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

The authors conducted a phenomenological qualitative study of counselor students’ experiences of learning about wellness guided by the Indivisible Self (Myers & Sweeney, 2004). Participants (N = 11 ) engaged in the experiential wellness activities during co-curricular group meetings throughout one academic year. Data were analyzed and three themes emerged: Wellness Considerations, Wellness Connections, and Wellness Applications. Limitations and directions for future research are illustrated.

Wellness In The Helping Professions: Historical Overview, Wellness Models, And Current Trends, Ashley J. Blount, Dalena L. Dillman Taylor, Glenn W. Lambie

Journal of Wellness

Introduction

Wellness and the concept of holism have rich histories throughout the helping professions. However, Westernized medical models often promote the concept of treatment rather than prevention, limiting the helper’s ability to focus on wellness when working with clients/patients. Therefore, in order to support a re-integration to holistic wellness and the prevention of illness, and re-focus on a wellness ideology, we conducted a thorough theoretical overview of wellness in the helping professions to: (a) provide a historical overview of wellness in helping professions, (b) discuss prominent wellness models, (c) review wellness assessments, (d) present wellness supervision models, and (e) offer …

Counselor Educators’ Integration Of Wellness With Doctoral Students Within Cacrep-Accredited Programs, Jeremiah T. Stokes, Quentin Hunter

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore seven counselor educators’ experiences integrating wellness during the teaching and training of doctoral students in CACREP accredited counselor education programs. Themes associated with specific teaching modalities, wellness needs of doctoral students, and counselor educators’ own wellness practices are discussed.

Exploring School Counseling Students’ Unpaid Internship Experiences In Their Personal Lives, Tatiana Eggum

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Research by Foss and Kelly, that graduate students face specific challenges in their lives due to multiple roles that they partake in as a student, professional, and family member (2017). The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the impact of unpaid internships on school counseling students’ personal lives by asking about their financial, social, and emotional experiences. The research focuses on school counseling students that are in an accredited program by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and are currently participating in an unpaid internship. After seven days the survey was deactivated and …

Act To Save A Life: Evidence-Based Youth Suicide Prevention, Meghan Diamon

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Youth suicide is a preventable tragedy that can occur when children's mental health needs are unmet. Participants will discuss published research on risk factors for youth suicide, how to implement an evidence-based prevention program, and how to tackle common obstacles encountered. Participants will be prepared to mobilize school staff, parents, and community members to address the critical issues of depression awareness and suicide prevention.

Examining Perceptions And Sensemaking Of Wellness Among African American Women Who Manifest The Archetype Of The Strong Black Woman, Donya D. Wallace

Theses and Dissertations

Furthering a strengths-based approach to mental health and wellness requires researchers to explore the role of cultural systems, sociohistorical factors and the intersectionality of race and gender as factors impacting wellness. To fill the existing gap in the literature describing perceptions of wellness through a cultural lens, I examined experiences of wellness among African American women who manifest the archetype of the Strong Black Woman. Working within the client’s perspective, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was employed to analyze data collected during semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus groups. I conducted the interviews to explored participant personal and social experiences with wellness. Super-ordinate …

A Qualitative Inquiry Into The Systemic Influences Upon The Wellness Of Home And Community Based Counselor, Elizabeth Moore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Home and community based counseling services have become instrumental to the treatment of children and adolescents struggling with mental illness. Counselors working in these systems of care face significant challenges in this unique setting. Most home and community based counselors (HCBCs) face these challenges as recent graduates, not having adequate preparation for the home setting, while receiving little supervision. HCBCs have reported feeling isolated and unsupported and question their effectiveness as counselors. Macchi, Johnson, and Durtschi’s (2014) results point to the importance of self-care to HCBC wellness, especially when the HCBC is lacking supervision. Yet, we are unable to glean …

Wellness And Karate, Cristina Kumpf

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The promotion of wellness is an integral part of the counseling field and is considered to be a central focus to the counseling process (Barden, Conley, & Young, 2015; Myers, 1992). The counseling profession adopted the concept of wellness because it harmonizes with many of the founding principles of the ACA and is seen as a process of questing toward optimal health and well-being in body, mind, and spirit (Barden, Conley, & Young, 2015; Myers, 1992; Myers, Sweeney, & Witmer, 2000). Additionally, ACA Code of Ethics (2014) state that counselors “engage in self-care activities to maintain and promote their own …

Exploring Internship Experiences Of Counselors-In-Training Through Pinterest: A Consensual Analysis, Jeffrey M. Warren, Mark Schwarze

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Field placements are one component of essentially all counselor education programs. However, little is known about the lived experiences of counselors-in-training enrolled in internship. Over the course of a semester, students enrolled in internship submitted images and comment to an on-line pinboard (Pinterest) to describe their weekly field placement experiences. Consensual qualitative research was utilized in this study to analyze the submissions and to better understand counseling students’ experiences during internship. Findings are presented and implications for counselor educators are discussed.

The Lived Experiences Of Academic Advisors With Counseling Degrees In Addressing Wellness With College Student-Athletes, Jennifer M. Gerlach

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to investigate the lived experiences of academic advisors who have master’s degrees in counseling in addressing wellness with college student-athletes. Of particular note was to explore if they addressed wellness and, if so, how they addressed wellness. Extant literature is replete with evidence documenting the numerous challenges and stressors student-athletes experience due to their athlete status. Prior to this study, the role of the academic advisor in addressing wellness has not been represented in the literature. This study examined the lived experiences of 10 academic advisors with counseling degrees, or currently enrolled …