Aspiring Counselors’ Mental Health: Recognizing Students’ Wellbeing as an Impactor on Development

Authors

Christopher R. LaFever, University of Tennessee, KnoxvilleFollow
Melinda M. Gibbons, University of Tennessee, KnoxvilleFollow

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Counselor Education, Trauma, Wellness

Subject Area

Counselor Education

Abstract

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 of this manuscript is to explore AC’s development, wellness, gatekeeping and remediation, and adverse childhood experiences or trauma.

Recommended Citation

LaFever, C. R., & Gibbons, M. M. (2023). Aspiring Counselors’ Mental Health: Recognizing Students’ Wellbeing as an Impactor on Development. Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision, 17(3). Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.sacredheart.edu/jcps/vol17/iss3/3