The Spatial Qualities of
Counselling Rooms Why the Spatial Environment Matters
Although we aren’t always consciously aware of it, our physical environment constantly influences our emotions and behaviours.1 In the context of counselling rooms, their spatial qualities can influence the effectiveness of the therapeutic interaction.2 Poor spatial qualities that are cold, clinical, and non-intimate can exacerbate feelings of discomfort and limit self-disclosure.3 Good spatial qualities can influence the clients’ sense of comfort, intimacy, and agency.4 This document summarises evidence based research related to spatial qualities that should be incorporated when (re)creating counselling rooms to maximise their effectiveness.
Room Location
ЁЁ Room with view •• The view allows clients to seek escape and respite5 •• Views of greenery reduces stress6 •• Avoid windowless spaces, as they can be perceived as confining and reduce feelings of free-will and agency7 •• Prevent clients being seen or watched by others including staff members ЁЁ Provide discrete entry ЁЁ Locate room close to bathroom and waiting room
Wait
Counseling Room
WC
Privacy
ЁЁ Minimise views into counselling room including obvious surveillance panels and cameras ЁЁ Install adjustable blinds on windows •• To control privacy and light ЁЁ Install acoustic door seals ЁЁ Use soft furnishings and/or surfaces •• Soft surfaces absorb sound, hard surfaces reflect it ЁЁ Install acoustic panels •• This can be on walls or ceilings and either be discrete or decorative
Layout
ЁЁ Position chairs perpendicular to clients’ chairs facing the window •• A perpendicular layout allows the client to look away without turning their head •• Avoid face to face seating as this can be seen as confrontational and forced eye contact can feel threatening8 ЁЁ Provide formal and informal seating options •• Formal seating (C1/T1) is preferred when the situation is unfamiliar but as the therapeutic relationship develops clients may want to become more informal (C2/T2)9 ЁЁ Position clients’ chair so they can see the door •• This maintains their sense of free-will and agency10 ЁЁ 127cm is the ideal distance between clients and therapist •• It was found to be a suitable distance for intimacy and conducive for communication and self-disclosure11 Janai Lemar ia-naj@live.com | 0413 999 882
T2 C1 T1
C2
1
Furniture
ЁЁ Comfortable seating •• Soft, cushioned seating with adequate back support ЁЁ Movable seating •• This allows clients to exercise autonomy in the space •• If clients are violent, light-weight seating will not be appropriate ЁЁ Ensure an equal quality and height of the therapists’ and clients’ chairs12 •• This minimises the perception of a power imbalance ЁЁ Honest, real materials only •• No veneers or fake materials to limit sensory confusion, this is particularly important for clients with perceptual abnormalities •• Provide a low table for tissues and water •• Avoid high tables as they can be perceived as barriers
Light and Air
ЁЁ Maximise natural lighting ЁЁ Provide dimmable lights •• Dim lighting decreases arousal and increases relaxation and the perception of privacy and intimacy13 •• This also allows clients to exercise autonomy in the space ЁЁ Use warm lighting to create a relaxed and intimate atmosphere14 •• Cool light is perceived as being clinical and sterile ЁЁ Provide lamps •• Avoid overhead fluorescent lighting15 ЁЁ Maximise natural ventilation ЁЁ Maintain neutral or slightly warm room temperature •• Warm, compared to hot or cold room temperatures promotes trust16 ЁЁ Maintain neutral or pleasant aromas that aren’t overpowering •• There are positive calming effects associated with scents such as lavender and jasmine17
Decoration
ЁЁ Soft, cool colours such as blues and greens are calming18 ЁЁ Soft, home-like furnishings such as rugs, throws and cushions •• These items add to the sense of intimacy and welcoming19 ЁЁ Indoor plants •• Greenery provides a calming effect that reduces stress20 ЁЁ Non-abstract art of nature, people or animals21 •• Allows clients opportunities for escape and respite •• Adds to the spaces’ coziness and warmth •• Avoid art that depicts sadness, violence or death ЁЁ Ensure space is kept tidy •• This adds to the sense of orderliness and calm •• Avoid clutter •• Reset space after each visit so there is no trace of previous clients22
Janai Lemar ia-naj@live.com | 0413 999 882
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References 1. 2.
3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.
Pressley, Page K., and Martin Heesacker. “The Physical Environment and Counseling: A Review of Theory and Research.” Journal of Counseling & Development 79, no. 2 (2001): 148–60. Gross, Raz, Sasson Yehuda, Moshe Zarhy, and Joseph Zohar. “Healing Environment in Psychiatric Hospital Design.” General Hospital Psychiatry 20, no. 2 (1998): 108–14. Ulrich, Roger S., Robert F. Simons, Barbara D. Losito, Evelyn Fiorito, Mark A. Miles, and Michael Zelson. “Stress Recovery during Exposure to Natural and Urban Environments.” Journal of Environmental Psychology 11, no. 3 (1991): 201–30. Phelps, Ceri, Debra Horrigan, Liwsi Kim Protheroe, Janina Hopkin, Wendy Jones, and Alexandra Murray. “‘I Wouldn’t Classify Myself as a Patient’: The Importance of a ‘Well-Being’ Environment for Individuals Receiving Counseling about Familial Cancer Risk.” Journal of Genetic Counseling 17, no. 4 (August 2008): 394–405. Ibid. Chaikin, Alan L., Valerian J. Derlega, and Sarah J. Miller. “Effects of Room Environment on Self-Disclosure in a Counseling Analogue.” Journal of Counseling Psychology 23, no. 5 (1976): 479–81. Liddicoat, Stephanie. “Architecture and the Design of Therapeutic Environments: the Case of Self Harm,” 2017. Urich et al., “Stress Recovery during Exposure to Natural and Ubran Environments” Liddicoat, “Architecture and the Design of Therapeutic Environments” Ibid Broekmann, Neil C., and Andre T. Moller. “Preferred Seating Position and Distance in Various Situations.” Journal of Counseling Psychology 20, no. 6 (1973): 504–8. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0035103 Liddicoat, “Architecture and the Design of Therapeutic Environments” Lecomte, Conrad, Bianca L. Bernstein, and Florent Dumont. “Counseling Interactions as a Function of Spatial-Environmental Conditions.” Journal of Counseling Psychology 28, no. 6 (1981): 536–39. Liddicoat, “Architecture and the Design of Therapeutic Environments” Gifford, Robert. “Light, Decor, Arousal, Comfort and Communication.” Journal of Environmental Psychology 8, no. 3 (n.d.): 177–89. Pressley, “The Physical Environment and Counseling” Miwa, Yoshiko, and Kazunori Hanyu. “The Effects of Interior Design on Communication and Impressions of a Counselor in a Counseling Room.” Environment and Behavior 38, no. 4 (July 4, 2006): Chaikin, “Effects of Room Enviornment” Lorenza S. Colzato, Christina Trepkowski, Roberta Sellaro, Bernhard Hommel. “Temperature.” Theory-Driven Approaches to Cognitive Enhancement, September 7, 2017, 257-267. Sellaro, Roberta, and Lorenza S. Colzato. “Aromas.” Theory-Driven Approaches to Cognitive Enhancement, September 7, 2017, 243–55. Tofle, Ruth Brent, Benyamin Schwarz, So-Yeon Yoon, and Andrea Max-Royale. “Color in Healthcare Environments: A Critical Review of the Research Literature.” Coalition for Health Environments Research., 2004. Liddicoat, “Architecture and the Design of Therapeutic Environments” Urich et al., “Stress Recovery during Exposure to Natural and Ubran Environments” Liddicoat, “Architecture and the Design of Therapeutic Environments” Ibid.
Bibliography
Anthony, Kathyrn H, and Nicholas J Watkins. “Exploring Pathology: Relationships between Clinical and Environmental Psychology.” In Handbook of Environmental Psychology, 129–46. New York: John Wiley, 2002. Broekmann, Neil C., and Andre T. Moller. “Preferred Seating Position and Distance in Various Situations.” Journal of Counseling Psychology 20, no. 6 (1973): 504–8. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0035103. Chaikin, Alan L., Valerian J. Derlega, and Sarah J. Miller. “Effects of Room Environment on Self-Disclosure in a Counseling Analogue.” Journal of Counseling Psychology 23, no. 5 (1976): 479–81. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.23.5.479. Gifford, Robert. “Light, Decor, Arousal, Comfort and Communication.” Journal of Environmental Psychology 8, no. 3 (n.d.): 177–89. Gross, Raz, Sasson Yehuda, Moshe Zarhy, and Joseph Zohar. “Healing Environment in Psychiatric Hospital Design.” General Hospital Psychiatry 20, no. 2 (1998): 108–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0163-8343(98)00007-3. Lecomte, Conrad, Bianca L. Bernstein, and Florent Dumont. “Counseling Interactions as a Function of Spatial-Environmental Conditions.” Journal of Counseling Psychology 28, no. 6 (1981): 536–39. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.28.6.536. Lee, Sophie Helen, and Tristan Helen Snell. “Improving Counselling Room Environments: A Systematic Review.” Melbourne, Vic: Monash University, 2016. Liddicoat, Stephanie. “Architecture and the Design of Therapeutic Environments: the Case of Self Harm,” 2017. Lorenza S. Colzato, Christina Trepkowski, Roberta Sellaro, Bernhard Hommel. “Temperature.” Theory-Driven Approaches to Cognitive Enhancement, September 7, 2017, 257-267. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57505-6_17. Mazuch, Richard, and Rona Stephen. “Creating Healing Environments: Humanistic Architecture and Therapeutic Design.” Journal of Public Mental Health 4, no. 4 (2005): 48–52. https://doi.org/10.1108/17465729200500031 Miwa, Yoshiko, and Kazunori Hanyu. “The Effects of Interior Design on Communication and Impressions of a Counselor in a Counseling Room.” Environment and Behavior 38, no. 4 (July 4, 2006): 484–502. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916505280084. Pearson, Mark & Wilson, Helen. “Soothing spaces and healing spaces: Is there an ideal counselling room?”. Psychology in Australia, vol 18 no. 3 (September, 2012): 46-53 Phelps, Ceri, Debra Horrigan, Liwsi Kim Protheroe, Janina Hopkin, Wendy Jones, and Alexandra Murray. “‘I Wouldn’t Classify Myself as a Patient’: The Importance of a ‘Well-Being’ Environment for Individuals Receiving Counseling about Familial Cancer Risk.” Journal of Genetic Counseling 17, no. 4 (August 2008): 394–405. Pressley, Page K., and Martin Heesacker. “The Physical Environment and Counseling: A Review of Theory and Research.” Journal of Counseling & Development 79, no. 2 (2001): 148–60. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.2001.tb01954.x. Reilly, Graham. “Designing the Right Headspace.” Pursuit. The University of Melbourne, June 10, 2020. https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/ designing-the-right-headspace. Sellaro, Roberta, and Lorenza S. Colzato. “Aromas.” Theory-Driven Approaches to Cognitive Enhancement, September 7, 2017, 243–55. Tofle, Ruth Brent, Benyamin Schwarz, So-Yeon Yoon, and Andrea Max-Royale. “Color in Healthcare Environments: A Critical Review of the Research Literature.” Coalition for Health Environments Research., 2004. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57505-6_17. Ulrich, Roger S. “Effects of Interior Design on Wellness: Theory and Recent Scientific Research.” Journal of Health Care Interior Design 4 (1991): 97–109. Ulrich, Roger S., Robert F. Simons, Barbara D. Losito, Evelyn Fiorito, Mark A. Miles, and Michael Zelson. “Stress Recovery during Exposure to Natural and Urban Environments.” Journal of Environmental Psychology 11, no. 3 (1991): 201–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0272-4944(05)80184-7. Janai Lemar ia-naj@live.com | 0413 999 882
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