Transcript Gannon University Student Counseling Services’ Relaxation Room Meet the staff… Dr. Steve Large Dr.

Gannon University Student
Counseling Services’
Relaxation Room
Meet the staff…
Dr. Steve Large
Dr. Jodi Giacomelli
Students have described the
relaxation room as:
- an escape
- “me time”
- a moment of quiet
- a place to slow down
- a spa-like atmosphere
- a peaceful place to rejuvenate
We encourage students to incorporate
what they learn in the relaxation room
into their daily lives
Purposes of the room…
- An adjunct to individual counseling
(particularly helpful during busy periods of
the semester, when students cannot be seen
on a weekly basis)
- Can be used by clients and non-clients
- Potentially less stigmatic or threatening
than counseling
- An opportunity to provide psychoeducational materials related to
relaxation, stress, mindfulness
Procedure…
- Students are scheduled for 30 minute
appointments
- Non-clients complete very brief paperwork,
primarily assessing for medical conditions that
may be contraindicated
- A practicum student or intern can coordinate
the use of the Relaxation Room, including
scheduling appointments and orienting
students to the room
Themes of the room…
- Décor includes:
stones, water, nature, earth-tones
- Focus on the five senses:
sight, touch, smell, taste, sound
Sense One: Sight
- Décor aimed at creating a
calming and reflective
atmosphere
- Students may watch DVD’s
of serene visual scenes
(beaches, forests, etc.)
Sense Two: Touch
- Heated, reclining
chair with built-in
massage capabilities
- Area rug adds to
the décor and
gives the room a
textural element
Sense Three: Smell
-Electric aromatherapy diffuser in which
students can choose the essential oil that they
would like diffused during their session
-Essential oils include: Peppermint, lavender,
rosemary, eucalyptus, geranium and tea tree
-Each oil has different benefits/ purposes, such
as: refreshing, relaxing or stimulating
Sense Four: Taste
- We have not yet incorporated this sense into
our room; however, we are exploring the
idea of including a “tea station”
- Students would be able to sip an herbal tea
of their choice as they enjoy the room
Sense Five: Sound
-Students may listen to DVD’s
and CD’s that play soothing,
peaceful music or guided
relaxation exercises
- Sound machine that plays
simple nature sounds, such as:
crickets, rainfall, the ocean
- Trickling water sounds from
our fountain
Practical Considerations…
- Heated/reclining /massage chair(La-Z-Boy brand):
$1,000
- Décor, such as: wall art, candles, stones, bamboo, fabric,
fountain, lighting, plants (mostly from Ikea):
$500
- TV, CD player, CD’s & DVD’s:
$500
-Aromatherapy diffuser & oils:
$50
Estimated total cost of the
room…
$2000 +
By the way…
In addition to the aforementioned furniture
& accessories, you must also secure the room
itself! We “got” our room by including it in the
architect’s plans for our new office space when
the university decided that Student Health
Services and Counseling Services would merge.
Our relaxation room…
The focal point of the room is
“the chair”…
The view from the chair…flat screen TV to
watch calming visualization DVD’s
The
heated,
reclining
massage chair
Soft lighting…
Décor with themes of nature, stones,
water…
Soothing sounds of water & nature…
sound machine
water fountain
An opportunity to learn & practice new skills…
CD player
to practice
guided
relaxation
exercises &
various
handouts
&
resources
on
relaxation
for
students to
take
One of
our
favorite
book/ CD
combos
Aromatherapy diffuser with various
essential oils…
Conclusion…
We hope you enjoyed a glimpse into our relaxation
room! Feel free to contact us at
[email protected] (Steve) or
[email protected] (Jodi) if you have any
further questions.
Enjoy the rest of your time at the
conference!