Introduction to the Special Issue on Gender and Wellness

According to the American Mental Health Counselors Association (2021), one of the primary roles of clinical mental health counselors is to promote wellness in individuals and communities. Wellness models in counseling take on a holistic, biopsychosocial approach that emphasizes building strengths and enhancing health, in contrast to simply reducing psychological distress (Myers et al., 2000). Counselors can work toward wellness goals on various levels, ranging from the personal to the systemic. However, at any level, these efforts necessitate a critical analysis of the impact of one’s social context, specifically in how social context both facilitates and creates barriers to wellness (Gamby et al., 2021). Indeed, competencies for multicultural and social justice counseling put forth by Ratts et al. (2016) highlight counselors’ responsibility to practice in a culturally responsive way. These guidelines include continued reflection on the impact of social identities on mental health and wellness...