Anthony Elizondo, assistant professor of educational counseling, spoke about “Impact of Spaces on Those Within Them: How Design and Decor can Impact the Therapeutic Environment,” Tuesday in the Lewis Center Classroom for an audience of about 20 La Verne community members.
Elizondo’s presentation considered how a proper, more personalized environment, can be essential for the therapeutic setting, and conducive for the work being done in that environment.
In relation to therapy and the potency of a counselor’s work, Elizondo said that the environment can play a part in ensuring the quality of sessions. Though he added that while the research finds environment to be important, it does not pinpoint the precise reason why environment is so important.
“We don’t know if the changes in that space are changing the impressions of the counselor, or if perhaps the changes in that space are making the counselor more comfortable,’ Elizondo said. “And so they’re actually better, they’re just delivering better services because they’re more comfortable.”
Elizondo suggested that school counselors should be queried about how the spaces where they work affect their performance.
“The idea of space, how we navigate space, is so much part of who we are and how we function,” said Kenneth Marcus, professor of history. “It has an impact on how we feel about what we do … whether it’s counseling or teaching or functioning.”
“I love sharing this idea with people because it really allows me to get a new perspective,” Elizondo said. It’s such a broad topic that speaks to a lot of people.”
—Bryce Anthony Edwards, Jordan Alcasas
Bryce Anthony Edwards is a sophomore journalism major with a concentration in broadcast journalism, and a staff writer for the Campus Times. He is a member of the University of La Verne football and track teams, as well as the Black Student Union club.
Jordan Alcasas is a sophomore journalism major with a concentration in print and online journalism. He is the news editor for the Campus Times, and previously served as social media editor and a staff writer.
Camille C.Nan is a senior photography major and art history minor who specializes in portraiture. She is a staff photographer for Campus Times and La Verne Magazine.
