The Wheel of Wellness

I believe in treating the whole client and research indicates holistic approaches have been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.  The "Wheel of Wellness" is one such approach to counseling.  Wellness can be 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 more fully within the human and natural community" (Myers, Sweeny, & Witmer, 2000).  According to this approach, there are several wellness areas and there is evidence to support that one area of wellness affects the other areas, in both positive and negative ways.  The areas of wellness include the following: 

• Spirituality
• Occupational/Educational 
• Social
• Leisure
• Intellectual
• Emotional
• Physical
• Psychological