Counselor self-care and burnout prevention is an ethical mandate and national imperative. The 2014 ACA code of ethics states that counselors must monitor their own wellness and identify signs of impairment. Furthermore, counselor educators are called to expose students to opportunities to cultivate their own personal growth and wellness. Beginning students are at a critical point in their development where self-care strategies and wellness principles are needed for professional and personal growth. A potential method to support their development is a wellness-based student peer support group. This presentation will provide preliminary information from a study of first year graduate counseling students participating in a wellness peer support group. Future implications and potential strategies will be discussed.
