Integrating Health and Wellness in Mental Health Counseling: Clinical, Educational, and Policy Implications

Abstract

Few counselor training programs offer wellness courses or training on how to ethically and competently integrate physical and mental health issues when working with clients. This article highlights the interrelatedness of mental and physical health to build on the counseling profession's own tradition of wellness and to encourage mental health counselors and counselor educators to adapt to changes in integrated healthcare. We propose that the mental health profession adopt competencies for wellness as part of standard counselor preparation and continuing education.