Texas A & M University
Dr. Jeanette Madkins, Psychologist
Dr. Esther W. Wright-Wilson, Psychologist
This program will address the value of spirituality in the healthy development of college students, provide clinical tools for ethical and therapeutic exploration of spirituality, and explore counselor and agency means of supporting the value of spirituality exploration in the holistic health of college students.
Participants will recognize the value of spirituality in the development of college students.
Enhance participant’s awareness of the value of exploring spirituality in college counseling.
Participants will increase their repertoire of clinical spiritual exploration skills.
This program will approach the development of the college student from a holistic perspective, illustrating the most effective counseling to be that which attends to the mind, body, and spirit. Attention to the inner spirit and spirituality in college counseling is challenging to do ethically and respectfully, yet we posit that it is the spirit within that can provide the inner compass for the direction of the student’s life, goals, and decisions. Even for students for whom the word “spirit” has negative connotations, the process of spiritual exploration can be facilitated trough a focus on their core values and principles. These values and principles heavily influence many of the major life decisions made during this developmental period, such as career, intimate relationships, and individuation.
This program will have three primary foci: to illustrate the value of spirituality in the healthy development of college students, to provide the clinical tools for ethical and therapeutic exploration of spirituality, and to explore counselor and agency means of supporting and validating the value of spiritual exploration in addressing the needs of college students within a holistic framework. To achieve these aims, a brief overview of the recent research and theory regarding the developmental stages of college students will be presented, followed by an emphasis on the role of spiritual identity in the process of individuation. We will then provide and explain creative means of therapeutically guiding this spiritual exploration, including the use of guided imagery, song, poetry, values clarification, journaling, and bibliotherapy. Clinical issues will also be addressed, such as counselor resistance and ethical referral. Finally, agency considerations, such as intake questionnaires, referral coordination, campus resources, and diversity statements, will be explored as avenues for communication of the value of spiritual exploration.
Date Updated: 09-AUG-2008
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