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The thesis attempts to make an integrative and healing therapy center, employing a salutogenic approach to health and wellness. Salutogenesis is an approach that focuses on promoting a healthy lifestyle and prevention of disease through the creation of supportive environments. The project is based on the proposition that architectural and environmental elements can influence mental and physical well-being. The research explores how elements like light, water, structure and material can be employed to promote the energy flow in space, thus enhancing the healing quality of the environment. It dives into the concept of energy states within spaces and humans influenced by natural and architectural elements. The need for such a therapeutic center is derived from the increasing emphasis of the impact of healthy living and focus on mental health and as growing interest in preventive health measures. The thesis aims to study the role of architecture, and its influence on the harmony and holistic well being. It also dwells on the design choices like lighting, material selection, use of water features and structure can lead to creation of healing and therapeutic environments. It also emphasizes on open areas which could help in self reflection and relaxation. / Master of Architecture / The thesis attempts to make an integrative and healing therapy center, employing a salutogenic approach to health and wellness. Salutogenesis is an approach that focuses on promoting a healthy lifestyle and prevention of disease through the creation of supportive environments. The project is based on the proposition that architectural and environmental elements can influence mental and physical well-being. The research explores how elements like light, water, structure and material can be employed to promote the energy flow in space, thus enhancing the healing quality of the environment. It dives into the concept of energy states within spaces and humans influenced by natural and architectural elements. The need for such a therapeutic center is derived from the increasing emphasis of the impact of healthy living and focus on mental health and as growing interest in preventive health measures.

Adolescents face many challenges at home and at school which impact various areas of their lives, including their academics. Schools have worked to ensure better student mental health outcomes by hiring school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers. School wellness centers can be an additional resource that students utilize to address mental health challenges during their school day. The purpose of this study is to understand adolescent perceptions of a school-based wellness center. Perceptions of populations who utilize the wellness center and those who do not utilize the wellness center were studied within one high school to understand how schools can better meet the mental health needs of students. This qualitative study employed the use of Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) focus groups. IPA card sorting questions were used during the focus groups to facilitate discussion. Results suggest that students across the four focus groups see benefits of the wellness center, notice barriers to using the wellness center, and have advice for how to improve the wellness center. Within all four focus groups, the following implications were addressed. In terms of benefits, students felt that the wellness center helped individuals feel better and that the center was a safe space. In terms of barriers, students reported that fear of missing class and stigma were obstacles to attending. Finally, in terms of advice, students hoped there would be more awareness of the wellness center and that teachers would make it easier to visit the wellness center.

The purpose of this study was (a) to determine which student support service resources should be included in an Online Wellness Resource Center (OWRC) available within an online course and (b) to create a paper-based schematic for such a prototype. To address these research questions, a needs assessment was conducted to determine whether learners perceived a need for access to wellness resources. Finding that they did express this need, the assessment then identified the specific wellness resources to include in the OWRC. A schematic was then created for OWRC development, incorporating the results of the needs assessment. The specific contribution of this study is its ability to provide a model that other institutions can follow to establish their own OWRC / Ph. D.

The purpose of this study was to examine a sample of employed individuals who participated in credit counseling through a non-profit consumer credit counseling agency in the Mid-Atlantic. Using data collected at two points in time, this sample was examined to measure changes in personal financial variables, health status, and work outcomes. The sample respondents were also examined to determine the extent to which they instituted positive financial behaviors following participation in credit counseling. In addition, this research assessed differences in the demographics among the clients. Also studied was the extent to which individual and family characteristics, health status, financial concerns and related stress, and financial wellness accounted for the variance in work outcomes of productivity, presenteeism, and worktime used for personal financial matters. Significant changes in personal financial outcomes, health status, and work outcomes were found between the initial and follow-up study. One year following credit counseling, respondents had decreased levels of financial concerns and financial stress, experienced fewer workloss days, and spent less time using work hours to handle personal financial matters. They also indicated improvements in their level of financial wellness, health status, and job productivity. Respondents had instituted a number of positive financial behaviors since receiving credit counseling one year earlier. Most had reduced some of their personal debts and cut down on living expenses. A model of work and personal financial outcomes was presented in this study. Hierarchical regression analyses using both data sets revealed that health status and financial concerns explained a significant amount of the variance in four work outcomes: (1) productivity, (2) presenteeism, (3) work time used for personal financial matters, and (4) workloss days. Adding financial wellness as the final step in the analysis, did not explain any additional variance in each of the work outcomes. This research assessed only the demographic and personal financial variables explanatory relationships to work outcomes. Therefore, life events beyond these variables may offer additional explanation of the work outcomes. Of importance is that this research provides documentation of positive changes in personal finances and work outcomes of employed individuals who participated in credit counseling one year earlier. In addition, the research presented a model of personal financial and work outcomes that can be advanced through further research. / Ph. D.

The breadth of interpersonal violence is continuously expanding. According to Broman-Fulks et al. (2006), current epidemiological studies estimate that between 50% and 70% of individuals in the United States have experienced some form of interpersonal violence during their lifetime. The occurrence of "traumatic incidents may create powerful affective responses in those who rescue, care for, and counsel the individuals directly affected" (Wilson & Lindy, 1994, p. 333). This emotional reactivity is especially prevalent among those that work with survivors of violent traumatic events (McCann & Pearlman, 1990). The variety of issues that mental health professionals encounter are multidimensional and include their work context, characteristics of their clients, and therapist variables. Due to such complexity, it is critical to consider the broad ramifications and scope of professional quality of life when addressing the outcomes of trauma work on mental health professionals. The purpose of this study was to analyze, through qualitative methodology, the professional quality of life of mental health professionals directly involved in the recovery efforts after the campus shootings that occurred at Virginia Tech on April 16th, 2007. A phenomenological research design was used to gather information regarding the experiences and perceptions of various mental health professionals. Two in-depth interviews were conducted to examine therapists' experiences regarding the vicarious exposure and growth potential involved in this work. Analysis from the data revealed two primary themes; changed perception due to shared traumatic exposure and the costs and benefits derived from trauma work. These themes depicted the professional consequences for mental health workers who have been directly affected by traumatic events and serve clients exposed to the same event. Findings indicate that self-awareness is a critical component to enhancing therapeutic lenses and professional and personal wellness. Further research considering the influence of shared exposure to trauma on mental health professionals could further our understanding of the professional and personal consequences of such work. This research could provide a guide for preparing current and future counselors and supervisors when working during times of crisis. / Ph. D.

In response to the dramatic increase in the prevalence of childhood overweight, a provision of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 required school divisions participating in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs to adopt local school wellness policies (LWP) by the fall of 2006. The local school wellness policies were to include guidelines for nutrition education, physical education (PE) and physical activity, and foods offered on campus. The purpose of this study was two-fold: 1) compare and contrast proposed goals versus adopted policies in Virginia; and 2) analyze the rigor of LWPs in Virginia. All LWPs in Virginia were reviewed with each item scored as required or recommended and specific or broad. Chi-square analyses were used to compare policies that were proposed and adopted. Eighty-one local wellness policies were matched to goals. In general, school divisions did not adopt as many policies as proposed. LWPs met only the minimum requirements mandated. Only 56 (69.1%) had policy language for more than one category in each of the three areas studied with nutrition education policies more popular than physical education/physical activity and nutrition guidelines. For example, 60 schools adopted policies to promote classroom nutrition education, whereas no LWPs contained policy language to improve PE teacher-student ratio. Further, specificity proved to be a concern. The results suggest that while schools may be meeting the minimum requirements, the LWPs may not be promoting school health to the degree intended. / Master of Science