Mindfulness Practice and Expressions of Wellness: Experiences of Doctoral Counselor Education and Supervision Students

ABSTRACT

Researchers advocate for wellness as part of counseling practices to minimize stress, improve quality of life, and promote well-being. Furthermore, mindfulness may play a critical role in the cultivation of wellness, particularly among counselor education and supervision (CES) students. This study aimed to capture the lived experiences of wellness practices among CES doctoral students who received formal mindfulness training. The following four themes emerged: (a) self-discovery through awareness, (b) practices of presence, (c) wellness as a whole person, and (d) resistance and challenges. Participants identified awareness as central to the intersection of mindfulness and wellness. Implications include using mindfulness as a vehicle to identify and engage in wellness practices that best serve students’ needs and ways to skillfully integrate mindfulness into CES curricula. Examining the in-depth stories of wellness cultivation and the influence of mindfulness could lead to new insights and practical steps to enhance counselor training and whole-person development.

KEYWORDS:

• Wellness
• well-being
• mindfulness
• awareness
• presence
• CACREP

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Researchers received a $1,500 Summer Immersion Grant from the university to conduct this study. Funds were used for transcription services.