The Art and Science of Facilitative and Supportive Design

The physical counseling environment may contain characteristics that affect a counselor’s well-being and ability to provide optimal care. The current study aims to discover, understand, and reveal the nature of these characteristics using a qualitative approach and phenomenological design. Videotaped interviews of five mental health professionals using a set of broad questions regarding their counseling environment reveal emerging patterns and themes from the counselors’ responses. Lighting, art and accessories, furniture and furniture arrangement, nature, sound, and wall color all may contribute to counselor well-being and ability to provide optimal care. Counselor well-being and efficacy may be greatly improved if counselors take into consideration their personal comfort in the physical setting.