Abstract:
The counseling clinic waiting room is unique: unlike many waiting rooms, counseling
client visits are often recurring and anxiety levels—already present in most healthcare waiting
rooms—may be heightened by depression, stress, nervousness, frustration, fear, etc. as well as
what is about to be experienced and discussed in the therapy session. The study consists of two
forms of data collection: observations and surveys. Observations are used to study client
behavior and activity in the waiting room and the surveys are to gather client perceptions about
the built environment. Findings from this study reveal the highest frequency of behaviors of
counseling clients (unable to relax/fidgety) and activity (use of phone/tablet) to reveal helpful
changes to the design of counseling clinic waiting rooms. Based on the knowledge gained from
this study, the researcher recommends several design changes and inclusions such as limiting cell
phone use, providing beverage stations, and creating an environment conducive to private
meditation and self-care.
