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Neurocounseling, the integration of neurobiology into the practice of counseling, is gaining attention and empirical support within the counseling field. Clients and clinical mental health counselors appear eager for effective mind–body tools that are accessible during, between, and beyond sessions. Peripheral biofeedback encompasses a host of such interventions, including technological (e.g., heart rate variability feedback) and non-technological (e.g., observation) approaches. Non-technological approaches are cost-effective tools that can enhance the efficacy of other counseling approaches and may serve to improve client outcomes. Integrating non-technological and technological peripheral biofeedback is a promising direction for clinical practice. In this article, the authors provide an overview of the key components of the stress-response system, the neurobiology of breath and self-regulation, and the related elements of peripheral biofeedback. The authors describe a case example, identify gaps in the knowledge base, and explore the implications for clinical practice and research.

Wellness of counselor educators has remained relatively unexamined in the literature. Eleven counselor educators were interviewed to investigate the meaning of wellness to those in the profession as well as factors that affect counselor educator wellness. Phenomenological analysis of the interviews resulted in three themes (time, congruence, and professional supports). Implications for counselor educators and future research are discussed.

Developmental Counseling and Therapy (DCT) provides a paradigm for understanding how individuals construct meaning in qualitatively different ways. This approach provides a model for assessing presenting issues and planning appropriate interventions based on a culturally sensitive, wellness-oriented, developmental philosophy. Strategies for teaching and supervising DCT are described, and the authors reflect upon the promise of DCT in counselor preparation.

Researchers have suggested strategies in the spiritual domain for improving wellness. This study explored relationships among spirituality, religiosity, and wellness for poor, rural women in early adulthood, early–middle adulthood, and middle–later adulthood. Implications for evidence-based strategies to improve wellness for poor, rural women across the life span are provided.

As the world grows more connected, the counseling profession has developed a significant focus on multicultural concerns and internationalization (the incorporation of international perspectives), but the extent of this phenomenon is currently unknown. The current pilot study established baseline data concerning how counselor education programs encouraged and supported international opportunities for students and faculty. Representatives from 62 of the 215 (as of spring 2011) programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs completed a survey describing their institutions' and departments' commitment to incorporating student and faculty international activities into their counselor preparation programs, and the nature of such activities in faculty involvement and counselor training. Two primary themes emerged from the data: (1) a disconnect between commitment to and execution of international activities, and (2) a one-sided approach to internationalization and cultural exchanges. Implications for research and counselor preparation are considered.Keywords: internationalization, counselor preparation, cultural exchanges, baseline data, international activitiesHeppner, Leong, and Chiao (2008), writing from the perspective of counseling psychology, observed that increased global dialogue and the incorporation of international perspectives has resulted in a shift toward viewing the counseling profession as part of a larger global movement. In the introduction to a special issue of the Journal of Counseling & Development focused on counseling around the world, Hohenshil (2010) asserted that the growth of this movement is "one of the major and most exciting emerging trends in the counseling profession" (p. 3). The importance of this trend was underscored by Leung et al. (2009), who provided an extensive rationale for and discussion of internationalization in counseling. However, Leung et al. (2009), along with other authors, notably Pedersen (2003), Leong and Ponterotto (2003), and Heppner (2006), noted that internationalization is still a fresh concept and that understanding and implementing it is a work in progress.Ng and Noonan (2012) asserted that internationalization is "a multidimensional movement in which professionals across nations collaborate through equal partnerships to advance the practice of counseling as a worldwide profession" (p.ll). These collaborations will likely include many who identify as professional counselors, but must be inclusive so as to encourage contributions from those of other identities and traditions who promote mental health, wellness and development from different, though compatible, perspectives. In order to foster such collaborations, Leung et al. (2009) have advocated for "the nurturance of a global perspective in counseling scholarship, through our teaching, research, and service" (p. 112). Numerous authors have promoted such a perspective through articles that focus on the nature of counseling in various countries (e.g., Remley, Bacchini, & Krieg, 2010; See & Ng, 2010; Stockton, Nitza, & Bhusumane, 2010), those that explore counseling-oriented topics across borders (e.g., Chung, 2005; Furbish, 2007) and several that describe the challenges that international students face in Euro-American counseling training and supervision (e.g., Crockett & Hays, 2011; Yakunina, Weigold, & McCarthy, 2010).The global aspects of counseling, teaching and service also are central to research that explains and analyzes the involvement of extended cultural immersion experiences in counselor education programs (e.g., Alexander, Kruzek, & Ponterotto, 2005; Canfield, Low, & Hovestadt, 2009; Ishii, Gilbride, & Stensrud, 2009; Shannonhouse & West-Olatunji, 2013; Tomlinson-Clarke & Clarke, 2010). Throughout this cultural immersion literature, a primary emphasis is the use of cultural exchanges as an avenue toward increasing multicultural counseling competence. …

Group interventions have been useful for survivors to overcome the challenges of cancer. This study employed a pre/post, mixed-methods design to explore the influence of an 8-week support group on the holistic wellness of 14 breast cancer survivors. Pairing experiential activities with wellness-centered psychoeducation was viewed positively by participants and corresponded to increased scores on the Five Factor Wellness Inventory. Interview data generated insight for future group work with cancer survivors. Notably, care should be taken to consider the varied individual cancer experiences and it may be worthwhile to structure groups so that members can “pay forward” their new knowledge.

The present study investigated Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) chapter presidents’ use of CSI’s Principles and Practices of Leadership Excellence (PPLE). Fifty CSI chapter presidents completed a survey that assessed their experience with, perceived competence in, and rankings of importance of the PPLEs. Participants also reported on their involvement in leadership activities and training. Implications for professional counselor leadership training and for future research are discussed.

The authors examined relationships among university students’ marital messages received (MMR), marital attitudes, and romantic relationship self-efficacy (RSE). Results indicated that students’ marital attitudes and romantic relationship status predicted their level of RSE. The authors found differences in MMR, marital attitudes, and RSE on the basis of gender, ethnicity, age, romantic relationship status, and family-of-origin marital status. Counseling implications, future research directions, and limitations are discussed.

The authors examined holistic wellness factors and drinking and driving behaviors among undergraduate students. Two factors of the Indivisible Self Wellness Model, the Coping Self and the Physical Self, decreased the odds of engaging in drinking and driving behavior.

Developmental Counseling and Therapy (DCT) increases awareness by helping clients understand their cognitive style preferences and gain insight into factors underlying their substance abuse. This article presents the four DCT cognitive emotional styles, their relationship to relapse, and a format for conducting a DCT assessment-intervention interview and counseling intervention plan with a relapsing substance-abuse client, which is also demonstrated in a case vignette.

Nature, defined as "the elements of the natural world, as mountains, trees, animals" ("Nature," n.d.), has been associated with many measures of wellness, including a reduction in symptoms of stress, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression and anxiety, decreased recovery time from illnesses, and improvements in positive outlooks on life, concentration, and productivity (Guite, Clark, & Ackrill 2006; Maller, Townsend, Pryor, Brown, & St. Leger, 2005). Some authors claim these findings are grounded in an intuitive sense, if not a genetic need for humans to be connected with nature (Kellert & Wilson, 1993). Others believe humans possess an inherent "ecological unconscious" that either thrives or hurts from the depth to which humans are in contact with and connected to nature (Roszak, 1992). Both theories have been substantiated by an abundance of interdisciplinary literature found outside of counseling (Wilson, Ross, Lafferty, & Jones, 2008). Although the wellness effects of nature are clear, wellness models grounded in counseling have yet to explicitly account for such effects. For example, Myers and Sweeney's (2008) Indivisible Self model (IS-Wel) purports to be both holistic and contextual, yet nature is not specifically identified as a context or component of wellness. Furthermore, current approaches to counseling based in nature connections, such as adventure-based counseling (Hill, 2007), do not fully account for the impact the human-nature connection has on wellness or how the natural world can be integrated into counseling processes. As a consequence, models that claim to be holistic are in actuality missing an important component known to contribute to positive well-being. In this article, we introduce and define EcoWellness as a sense of appreciation, respect for, and awe of nature that results in feelings of connectedness with the natural environment and the enhancement of holistic wellness. We present models of wellness used in counseling and highlight the gap in relation to the human-nature connection. Dimensions of EcoWellness are explored through the perspective of interdisciplinary literature on the human-nature connection. A case example is provided, and implications for counseling practice and research are discussed. * Holistic Wellness Models in Counseling Wellness has been defined as "a way of life oriented toward optimal health and well-being, in which body, mind, and spirit are integrated by the individual to live life more fully within the human and natural community" (emphasis added; Myers, Sweeney, & Witmer, 2000, p. 252). This definition is the basis of both the Wheel of Wellness (Myers et al., 2000) and the IS-Wel (Myers & Sweeney, 2005). Both models share a foundation in Adlerian individual psychology and hence an emphasis on social interest, defined by Adler (i 927/1954) as a sense of community with others and the world around us (see Sweeney, 2009). The Wheel of Wellness (Witmer & Sweeney, 1992), a theoretical model, was developed from an interdisciplinary review of literature focused on quality of life over the life span, health, and longevity. The Wheel of Wellness includes five life tasks identified by Adler (1927/1954): spirituality (depicted as the core or central aspect of wellness), self-direction, love, friendship, and work. Self-direction includes an additional 12 subtasks, such as sense of humor, self-worth, and realistic beliefs. Witmer and Sweeney (1992) proposed the model as contextual and suggested that wellness is affected by education, media, government, and other factors, none of which explicitly refer to the impact human-nature interactions have on wellness. The IS-Wel (Myers & Sweeney, 2005) was developed through structural equation modeling of a database initially developed using the factors identified in the Wheel of Wellness (Myers & Sweeney, 2008). In this evidence-based model, wellness is defined as a higher order, global factor reflecting the indivisibility of the self. …

Forgiveness as a method of addressing “wounds” has been linked to enduring aspects of personality and improved physical and mental health outcomes. The aim of this study was to understand the effects of forgiveness on counseling students’ overall wellness. Counseling students (N= 115) from 5 universities completed self-report measures of forgiveness, wellness, and personality. Results indicate that, when personality factors are controlled, forgiveness contributes a significant proportion (10%) of the variance in wellness for counseling students. Implications for counselor training and counseling are discussed.

Consistent with the 2009 Standards of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, counselors must understand neurobiological behavior in individuals of all developmental levels. This requires understanding the brain and strategies for applying neurobiological concepts in counseling practice, training, and research. Neurofeedback, biofeedback for the brain, is one modality based in neuroscience that empowers individuals to recognize, monitor, and self-regulate brain wave activity to create greater wellness. Neurofeedback has significant potential in counseling preparation, research, and practice.

A sample of 506 professional counselors who were members of the American Counseling Association completed measures of professional quality of life, career-sustaining behaviors (CSBs), and wellness. Significant differences were found both within the sample based on caseload characteristics and between the participants and available norm groups. Counselors with high wellness scores engaged in more CSBs and reported higher positive professional quality of life factors (compassion satisfaction). Implications for counselors, counselor training, and research are discussed.

The effect of subtle death reminders (mortality salience) on multicultural counseling competence (MCC) was examined using a quasi-experimental design. One hundred forty-one counseling students were recruited and randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. Results of a one-way analysis of variance indicated that counseling students in the experimental group (the group exposed to subtle death reminders prior to rating their MCC), self-rated their MCC lower than did participants in the control group. Implications and limitations of these findings are explored.

To assess the extent to which holistic wellness factors are predictive of self-esteem, the authors administered the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventories, School Form (Coopersmith, 2002), and the Five Factor Wellness Inventory (Myers & Sweeney, 2005a) to 225 adolescents ages 15 to 17 years. Wellness factors (Coping Self, Social Self, and Creative Self) explained a significant portion of the variance in components of self-esteem (General Self-Esteem, Home-Parents Self-Esteem, and School-Academic Self-Esteem). Implications for counselors and for further research are considered.

Developmental Counseling and Therapy (DCT) is a new integrative approach to understand individuals and how to address their counseling needs. Clients construct their worldviews and actions based on their previously built thoughts, behaviors, and feelings by person-environment interactions ( Ivey & Goncalvez, 1988 ). Drawing more attention in the last couple of years ( Aricioglu, 2008 , Karairmak and Korkut, 2009 ), DCT also is relatively new in Turkish counseling practices and research. The developing and promising Turkish counseling profession needs introduction and adaptation of new counseling theories and practices. Therefore, this paper aims at discussing application of DCT and its components to Turkish counseling practices.

Women, especially African American women, have traditionally been in low-paying careers. This exploratory study examined how career aspirations are affected by future career and family plans. Results revealed that African American undergraduate women had higher career aspirations than Caucasian undergraduate women and also planned for multiple roles in the future. Las mujeres, sobre todo las mujeres Afroamericanas, han desarrollado tradicionalmente sus carreras en trabajos de menor remuneracion. Este estudio exploratorio examino como las aspiraciones de carrera son afectadas por los planes futuros de carrera y familia. Los resultados revelaron que las estudiantes universitarias Afroamericanas tenian aspiraciones de carrera mas elevadas que las estudiantes Caucasicas, y tambien planeaban tener multiples roles en el futuro.

A pilot study examining holistic wellness factors and drinking behaviors among undergraduate students revealed several significant relationships. Two second-order wellness factors of the Indivisible Self model of wellness--Coping Self and Essential Self--were negatively associated with both alcohol use intensity and drinking consequences. Implications for college counselors and for further research are considered. ********** Alcohol consumption, and its associated consequences, remains an enormous problem on college campuses, garnering the attention of news media, law enforcement, and government agencies. Wechsler, Lee, Kuo, & Lee (2000), in a series of nationwide surveys of approximately 140 institutions across the United States, found that rates of heavy, episodic drinking of alcohol (also referred to as binge drinking, defined as five or more drinks in one sitting for men, four for women), consistently were approximately 44% throughout the 1990s. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS], Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], Office of Applied Studies, 2007), the rates of binge drinking have changed little from those reported by Wechsler et al; for example, SAMHSA reported that 45.5% of college students engage in binge drinking and 19% engage in frequent binge drinking. Indeed, despite a bevy of prevention and intervention efforts, binge drinking continues to be a significant problem on campuses today. Researchers have repeatedly documented the consequences of drinking alcohol. An estimated 1,700 college students between 18 and 24 years old die each year from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including those resulting from car accidents (Hingston, Heeren, Winter, & Wechsler, 2005). Furthermore, 599,000 college students are unintentionally injured when drinking, and 669,000 college students are assaulted each year by another student who had been drinking (Hingston et al., 2005). A staggering number of college students, because of heaving drinking, either commit sexual abuse or are sexually abused; experience unsafe sex, alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, academic problems, mental health problems, or police involvement; or commit drunk driving, vandalism, or property damage (HHS, National Institutes of Health [NIH], National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [NIAAA], n.d.). Even more alarming is that college student excessive drinking affects all students, regardless of whether they choose to drink, and constitutes both a major public health problem and the number one campus life problem (HHS, NIH, NLAAA, 2002). Clearly, a better understanding of the factors that contribute to excessive drinking and those that mitigate and prevent alcohol use and abuse among college students is needed to inform policy, prevention, and intervention efforts. To date, the preponderance of research conducted regarding alcohol use among college students has been descriptive in nature, including reports on frequency of use, quantity of use, and frequency of consequences (e.g., Jessor, Costa, Krueger, & Turbin, 2006), prompting calls for more multivariate studies and greater tests of theoretical models (Baer, 2002; Jessor et al., 2006). Indeed, researchers have discovered a wealth of information on the sociodemographic, behavioral, historical, and attitudinal predictors of college student drinking; however, a comparatively limited explanation of drinking through theoretically grounded, empirically based models exists, and even fewer studies of effective interventions have been undertaken. Most of these studies have been multidimensional in nature and conducted on the basis of social norms research. For example, according to the social ecological model, "health-related behaviors are affected through multiple levels of influence: intrapersonal (individual) factors, interpersonal (group) processes, institutional factors, community factors and public policy" (DeJong & Langford, 2002, p. …

A study including measures of spirituality, religiosity, and wellness was conducted to identify coping strategies for the multiple challenges to wellness faced by low-income, rural women. Total spirituality and religiosity accounted for 39% of the variance in wellness, with purpose and meaning in life, unifying interconnectedness, and private religious practices composing the main contributions. Implications for counselors working with these women are discussed, as is the need for further research.

Adult women survivors of childhood sexual abuse may face numerous lifelong challenges. Recommended therapeutic interventions for survivors assume that the process of reliving and exploring the abuse experience leads to psychological healing. Yet such therapeutic approaches may be traumatizing for both client and counselor, and seem to be somewhat limited in affecting change in the numerous areas of concern of many survivors. Strength-based wellness counseling interventions may help survivors develop coping skills to enhance both overall quality of life and everyday functioning across multiple domains, while also providing a healthy foundation from which to explore and reframe their abuse experiences. A case example demonstrates this approach.

In recent decades, much of the focus on counseling with same-sex attracted clients has been on affirming their identity as a sexual minority. However, an overuse of gay-affirmative strategies may devalue clients' other multiple, and often conflicting, identities. Developmental counseling and therapy is presented as one approach for counselors that can effectively address sexual orientation conflicts with clients while exploring and valuing the various aspects of clients' selves.

Several studies have stressed the importance and relevance for understanding the impact of culture in shaping adolescents’ world and well-being. This study was undertaken as a preliminary cross-cultural examination of wellness in two samples including 629 children in the United States and 240 children in Israel. The Indivisible Self, an evidence-based, multidimensional, holistic wellness model by Myers and Sweeney was chosen as the conceptual foundation for the research. The two groups differed significantly on three of five second-order factors, with Israeli students scoring higher on Coping and Social Self factors and US students scoring higher on the Essential Self. Significant main effects were observed for differences in gender but not age. Follow-up analyses revealed age differences among the Israeli students on three factors (Creative, Essential, and Physical Self) plus Total Wellness, with younger students scoring higher, and gender differences among the US students on three factors. Implications for counseling services and for further research are discussed.

This study with 180 counselor educators showed that, overall, educators appeared to have high levels of wellness. However, differences related to academic rank, children in the home, gender, and marital status were found. Perceived stress and number of children were found to have a negative impact on wellness. Implications for wellness are discussed.

Developmental Counseling and Therapy (DCT), an integrative model for assessing client cognitive-emotional style and selecting interventions, has been presented as a meta-theory for increasing intentionality in mental health treatment planning. To examine the usefulness of DCT for training and practice, student and professional counselors (N = 203) completed the Preferred Helping Styles Inventory, the Theoretical Orientation Profile Scale-Revised, and the Intervention Strategies Questionnaire. Intervention styles were related to both cognitive styles and theoretical orientations; intervention style use was predicted by cognitive style and intervention style interests. Implications for mental health counselor training and practice are discussed.

Wellness conceptualized as the paradigm for counseling provides strength-based strategies for assessing clients, conceptualizing issues developmentally, and planning interventions to remediate dysfunction and optimize growth. Wellness counseling models have stimulated significant research that helps to form the evidence base for practice in the counseling field. The development of these models is explained, results of studies using the models are reviewed, and implications for research needed to further inform clinical practice and advocacy efforts are discussed.

Liking, love styles, and wellness were examined in an undergraduate sample (N = 168). Liking and the Mania love style were found to predict 15.8% of the variance in Total Wellness. In addition, within-group differences in love styles and wellness were found on the basis of gender and ethnicity.

A total of 203 African American male junior and senior college students participated in a study to determine the relationships among components of racial identity and wellness. Differences were found between students attending predominantly White institutions (PWIs) and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) on internalization racial identity attitudes, physical self-wellness, and social self-wellness. No relationships were found between racial identity and wellness. Implications for counseling and research are discussed.

Residents (N = 142) of a southeastern, upscale retirement community completed measures of wellness, perceived stress, and mattering. Participants scored higher than did a group of adults under age 60 on 4 of 5 second-order wellness factors and Total Wellness, with medium to large effect sizes. Implications for counselors are discussed.

Women (N = 224) between 35 and 65 years old participated in a study that examined the relationship among chronological age, subjective age, wellness, and life satisfaction. Women whose subjective age was less than or equal to their chronological age reported greater wellness; total wellness was a significant predictor of life satisfaction.

Adult gay males face significant social stigma, internalize negative societal messages related to their sexual orientation, and experience difficulties related to disclosing their sexual orientation to others, particularly to parents. Although the effects of these challenges in terms of pathology have been established, the relationship among internalized homophobia, self-disclosure, self-disclosure to parents, and wellness has not been examined. The results of a study of these variables among 217 gay males are presented and discussed.

A diverse sample of 224 women, aged 35 to 65, participated in a study to examine the relations among transitions, life satisfaction, and wellness. The Women's Midlife Transitions Survey, developed for this study, provided information on the timeliness, expectedness, and impact of common midlife transitions. Implications for mental health counselors include the need to help midlife women understand and cope with a variety of common life changes that individually and collectively help to define their midlife experience.

A study of 221 midlife women, 35 to 65 years of age, was conducted to explore the relationships among transitions, subjective age, wellness, and life satisfaction for lesbian (n = 81), bisexual (n = 14), and heterosexual women (n = 126). Although the sample of bisexual women was too small to permit valid statistical analyses for this group, it is note-worthy that experiencing physical signs of aging was the most frequently experienced transition by all groups. Entry into a committed relationship was the second most frequently experienced transition by the lesbian participants, and entry into perimenopause was the second most common for heterosexuals. Lesbians whose subjective age was less than or equal to their chronological age reported greater wellness, and total wellness was a significant predictor of their life satisfaction. These findings suggest that all women experience midlife as a time of change and development, and lesbian women face specific challenges that require coping to maintain a sense of well-being during the midlife years.

Cadets (N = 234) at The Citadel (a military college for males and females in the Southeast United States) completed measures of wellness, perceived stress, and mattering during their first semester of training. Overall, wellness scores were negatively skewed. Although there were no differences in perceived stress or mattering between The Citadel cadets and a comparison group of cadets at West Point, The Citadel cadets scored higher than available norm groups on both scales. Implications for wellness programs at military colleges and counseling for beginning cadets are explored. In addition, applicability of the results for nonmilitary college students is discussed.

In counseling sessions, clients often present dreams as material to use in making meaning of their experiences. Mental health counselors may benefit from using Ivey's Developmental Counseling and Therapy (DCT) approach to help clients process dreams, thereby promoting insight and change. A case example demonstrates the use of DCT in dream analysis.

An interview protocol based on V. Cass's (1979) sexual identity formation work was used with 13 self-identified lesbians. Data analysis yielded a sexual identity formation model similar to ]. E. Marcia's (1966, 1987) identity development model. Potential emotional and physical health risks for each phase of the model are discussed, and interventions are suggested.

Forty-five individuals (22 couples and 1 widowed person) living in arranged marriages in India completed questionnaires measuring marital satisfaction and wellness. The data were compared with existing data on individuals in the United States fiving in marriages of choice. Differences were found in importance 01 marital characteristics, but no differences in satisfaction were found. Differences were also found in 9 of 19 wellness scales between the 2 groups. Implications lor further research are considered.

An annual project involving students and faculty in a collaborative, 6-month planning process that culminates in a half-day program with both didactic and experiential components is presented as a model for creating powerful learning experiences external to the classroom.

Menopause a normal midlife transition for women, remains poorly understood, especially for minority women. A total of 226 African American midlife women completed the Menopause Symptoms List (J. M. Perz, 1997); Menopause Attitude Scale (C. Bowles, 1986); Attitudes Toward Menopause checklist (B. L. Neugarten, V. Wood, R. J. Kraines, & B. Loomes, 1963); and instruments to elicit information about health status, stressful life events, social support, and demographics. The results reveal strengths as well as areas of concern for African American women in responding to normative midlife changes. Implications for counselors are explored.

Seventy-one leaders in state, regional, and national professional and credentialing associations in counseling responded to a survey concerning professional advocacy efforts, resources. obstacles, and needs. The results Indicate a variety of ongoing advocacy initiatives, specific needs for resources and interprofessional collaboration. and agreement on the importance of advocacy for the future of the profession.

Oblectified body consciousness theory provides a framework for understanding young women's negative body experiences and their impact on well-being. This study examined the impact of body surveillance, body shame, and appearance control beliefs, the 3 components of objectified body consciousness, on wellness in college women. Data indicated a negative relationship between body surveillance and body shame and several components of wellness and a positive relationship between appearance control beliefs and aspects of wellness. Implications are examined.

The Wheel of Wellness, a theoretical model of well-being, incorporates 16 dimensions of healthy functioning that can be assessed using the Wellness Evaluation of Lifestyle (WEL: J. E. Myers. T J. Sweeney, & J. M. Witmer, 1998). A series of studies are reported concerning the development and validation of the WEL based on a large database. In the current study, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of the items and scales revealed 5 primary factors of well-being (Creative, Coping, Social. Essential, and Physical) and 1 superordinate factor identified as "Wellness."

This study was designed to provide information to assist in planning health promotion and wellness programs for military trainees. During their first semester at West Point, 179 cadets completed measures of holistic wellness, perceived stress, and mattering. The highest wellness scores were in areas of social support, physical wellness, and humor. Significant negative correlations were found between perceived stress and work, realistic beliefs, and stress management. Significant positive correlations resulted between 17 wellness scales and mattering. t tests revealed only one area, work wellness, where the norm group scores exceeded those of the cadets. Cadets' scores exceeded norm group scores for perceived wellness, mattering, and seven of the Wellness Evaluation of Lifestyle scales, including total self-direction. Within-group differences were identified based on gender, for four of the self-direction factors, and for age on the dimension of self-care. Implications for health promotion and wellness from the perspective of holistic wellness are considered.