Wellness in School and Mental Health Systems: Organizational Influences

Abstract

Previously, improving counselor wellness focused on helping counselors cope with stressful environments. More recently, research has begun to emphasize healthy work environments. This article makes suggestions for organizations to enhance wellness in mental health practice and schools by changing policies, increasing professional identification, supporting counselor wellness, and improving safety.

The Experience of Ethical Dilemmas, Burnout, and Stress Among Practicing Counselors

“…Young and Lambie () noted various strategies mental health agencies can use to reduce job stress and promote well‐being. One strategy noted by Young and Lambie that may be useful as a means to manage the stress resulting from ethical dilemmas is group supervision.…”

“…If a counselor notices that a colleague has encountered a challenging ethical situation or faces ethical dilemmas at a higher rate, it may be beneficial to bring attention to the stress it is likely causing with the aim to help the peer cope effectively. Young and Lambie (2007) noted various strategies mental health agencies can use to reduce job stress and promote well-being. One strategy noted by Young and Lambie that may be useful as a means to manage the stress resulting from ethical dilemmas is group supervision.…”

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.…”

Examining the Contributions of Trait Emotional Intelligence on Addiction Counselor Burnout

“…They report experiences of stress due to workplace demands and issues related to the landscape of addiction work, including client readiness for change, relapse, homelessness, involvement with the criminal justice system, and co‐occurring mental health disorders (Ducharme, Knudsen, & Roman, ; McNulty, Oser, Johnson, & Roman, ). In addition, addiction counselors often experience low wages (Luna‐Arocas & Camps, ), demanding workloads (Broome, Knight, Edwards, & Flynn, ; S. Young, ), limited resources (Reyre et al, ), and a lack of prestige (Fahy, ), which can take an emotional toll (Oser, Biebel, Pullen, & Harp, ; Vilardaga et al, ) and contribute to emotional exhaustion and empathy fatigue (Stebnicki, ; M. E. Young & Lambie, ). As a result, substance abuse counselors are considered to experience more occupational stress than any other helping profession (Ducharme et al, ).…”