Molly Myers, Alpha Omega Lambda Chapter, Regent University-Virginia Beach

The Rooted in Wellness Initiative applied the Indivisible Self Model to support counseling students during residency through spiritual grounding, creative expression, physical self‑care, and community practices that strengthened holistic wellness.

The Rooted in Wellness Initiative offers a flexible, developmentally attuned framework that can be adapted across counselor training environments and other educational or clinical settings. Because the model integrates emotional, physical, creative, social, and spiritual dimensions of wellness, it is particularly well‑suited for adult learners who are navigating intensive professional formation experiences.

 

Graduate counseling students, including both master’s and doctoral, may benefit from similar initiatives that normalize self‑care, reduce the impact of residency‑related stress, and reinforce wellness as a core component of counselor identity. The initiative’s emphasis on experiential practices, sensory grounding, and community connection aligns naturally with the developmental needs of emerging clinicians who are learning to integrate theory, practice, and personal well‑being.

Although originally designed for adult populations, several components of the initiative can be adapted for children and adolescents in school, community, or clinical settings. Creative expression activities, sensory tools, and grounding practices translate well across developmental stages and can support emotional regulation, engagement, and self‑awareness in younger populations.

 

However, the spiritual integration component, which is central to the Indivisible Self Model and to the Regent University context should be tailored thoughtfully based on setting, cultural considerations, and client or student needs. In secular or public environments, the model’s emphasis on meaning‑making, values, and inner grounding can be preserved without explicit spiritual content.

The initiative is also highly adaptable for use in professional development workshops, wellness retreats, supervision groups, and organizational wellness programming. Its low financial cost, modular design, and emphasis on experiential learning make it feasible for programs seeking to enhance community connection, reduce burnout, and promote holistic well‑being. By offering a structured yet flexible approach, the Rooted in Wellness Initiative provides a replicable model that supports wellness across diverse adult learning environments while remaining adaptable for broader populations when developmentally and contextually appropriate.  

Anchored in the Indivisible Self Wellness Model (Myers & Sweeney, 2004), this initiative integrated emotional, physical, and spiritual wellness strategies as a means of mitigating burnout and supporting the professional identity development of master’s and doctoral counseling students.   

Reference(s):

Myers, J., & Sweeney, T. (2004). The indivisible self: An evidence-based model of wellness. Journal of Individual Psychology, 60, 234-245.