Eric S. Thompson

Wellness in counselor preparation revisited: Promoting individual well-being

As part of a semester-long student-led wellness program, graduate students in counselor education were introduced to a variety of self-care strategies, including dyadic and experiential activities for the mind, body, and spirit. The conceptual framework for the pilot program was the Adlerian-based Indivisible Self Model of Wellness. The complementary Five-Factor Wellness Inventory, which integrates Adler’s construct of holism and life tasks, was used as a pre- and post-test measure to determine changes to individual wellness. Additionally, the researchers gathered subjective feedback from participants regarding their experiences in the wellness program. Findings showed that offering this relatively simple and flexible wellness program had a positive impact on students’ knowledge and practice of wellness.

Luna Yoga: A Wellness Program for Female Counselors and Counselors-in-Training to Foster Self-Awareness and Connection

ABSTRACT Yoga has gained popularity as a way to relieve stress and maintain well-being. It may also be a helpful resource for counselors to learn effective self-care strategies to sustain personal wellness and professional competence. This pilot study examined the impact of Luna Yoga, a four-week program created specifically for women to enhance creativity, connection, and self-awareness, and facilitate a socially supportive environment unlike traditional yoga sessions. This pilot study employed a delayed treatment control group design to test the impact of the Luna Yoga intervention on reported levels of wellness, resulting in an increase in social wellness among female professional counselors and counselors-in-training.