Lifestyle & Wellness Counselling: Psychoeducational Groups

This course examines models of wellness counselling in the context of addictions/mental health treatment and introduces the student to psycho-educational counseling. Special attention will be paid to the ‘Psycho-education' model and instructional strategies focused on behavioural change. The course will focus on strategies which allow the counsellor andclient alike to develop and maintain a balanced and healthy way of life. As such, models and methods focusing onsystematic behaviour change will be an area of focus. The evolution of the concept and practice of‘wellness' will also be explored as will specific dimensions of wellness suchas stress management, self-esteem, social relationships, physical activity andnutrition. The course also has a strongfocus on the honing of group counselling skills in order to facilitate the effective delivery of wellness-based psycho-education sessions. As such, students spend much of the course developing and practicing the delivery of psycho-education sessions, includingthe opportunity to develop and conduct a psycho-educational workshop for a clinical population in the community.