An Ironic Pairing: Enlisting Technology to Bring the Benefits of Nature to Counseling Students
- 25 October 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Journal of Creativity in Mental Health
- Vol. 18 (3), 424-437
- https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2021.1986187
Abstract
This qualitative and phenomenological study investigated the experiences of eleven counselors-in-training (CITs) exposed to four live computer-projected scenes and sounds of nature (running stream, snowy mountain landscape, campfire in the forest, and ocean setting) at the start of their practicum classes. The researchers sought to explore the subjective experiences of the CIT’s exposed to the technology-driven natural environment at the beginning of four consecutive practicum meetings. The findings suggest that technology can be harnessed to catalyze many of the same benefits that prior counselor education-based research indicates can be derived from engagement with the natural world: a decrease in negative emotional states that block learning and engagement, an increased sense of connectedness to class peers, and an enhanced recognition of the importance of self-care and personal wellness. Implications for counselor education programs, counselor educators, and counseling students are explored.Keywords
This publication has 16 references indexed in Scilit:
- The Impact of Wellness-Focused Supervision on Mental Health Counseling Practicum StudentsJournal of Counseling & Development, 2016
- Impact of views to school landscapes on recovery from stress and mental fatigueLandscape and Urban Planning, 2016
- Learning the Ropes: A Creative Orientation Approach for Counseling StudentsJournal of Creativity in Mental Health, 2016
- Benefits of Nature Contact for ChildrenJournal of Planning Literature, 2015
- The Effects of a Group Supervision Intervention to Promote Wellness and Prevent BurnoutThe Journal of Humanistic Counseling, 2015
- Employing the Restorative Capacity of Nature: Pathways to Practicing Ecotherapy Among Mental Health ProfessionalsEcopsychology, 2012
- Ecotherapy: Tribalism in the Mountains and ForestJournal of Creativity in Mental Health, 2009
- A Look at the Ecotherapy Research EvidenceEcopsychology, 2009
- Do Counselor Education Programs Promote Wellness in Their Students?Counselor Education and Supervision, 2007
- Creating and Teaching a Course in Ecotherapy: We Went to the WoodsThe Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Education and Development, 2004