CALM: caring action leadership mindfulness: a college counseling practice-based education model

Abstract

ABSTRACT College is a phase in life where many young people experience freedom to make decisions as they have never had before. They are living in a community where their education, work, professional, social, and living environment are all very closely entwined. In order to be successful, college students need to feel connected to the college campus, especially at larger public universities. In 2021 the authors surveyed public university social work programs located within the United States and found that many graduate social work students complete internships with the campus counseling center. Advanced social work students are engaged in the majority of these practice education placements. Over three-quarters of the graduate social work students in these internships facilitate student support groups and/or psycho-educational classes and groups on campus. However, just over one-third teach college students mindfulness practice and/or meditation. We suggest a practice-based education model [CALM: Caring Action Leadership Mindfulness] for designing a collaborative Social Work Internship at the campus counseling center that supports the promotion of student mental and physical health, mindfulness and persistence to achieve a college degree.