Embodiment Activities with Counselor Education Students: A Phenomenological Inquiry

ABSTRACT

This qualitative inquiry focused on exploring counseling students’ (N = 22) lived experiences with participating in an experiential workshop focused on creatively exploring messages within body language. The researchers identified six themes: (a) relational-cultural dynamics, (b) vulnerability, (c) authentic connection, (d) self-compassion, (e) embodied wisdom, and (f) feedback. Implications for counseling and counselor training, and recommendations for future research are discussed. The researchers concluded that experiential activities may have the potential to increase internal and interpersonal awareness and skills related to nonverbal communication and embodiment.

KEYWORDS:

• Embodied
• experiential learning
• multicultural
• connection
• relationship dynamics
• counselor
• creativity in counseling

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision.