Rodney Dieser
University of Northern Iowa, USA
Keynote: Clin Exp Psychol
Statement of Problem:
Although different counseling
models have acknowledged the
role of leisure in the counseling
process (e.g. acceptance
and commitment therapy,
cognitive behavioral activation,
developmental counseling and
therapy, existential therapy,
reality therapy) leisure is largely
an unknown and superficial
concept in the mental health
counseling literature. Within
positive psychology, Seligman
(2002, 2011) gives some voice
to leisure within authentic
happiness and well-being
theory, but this area of positive
psychology is still largely
underdeveloped, especially
as it relates to mental health
counseling services.
Purpose and Methodology:
The purpose of this study is
to define the serious leisure
perspective and flow theory
and to describe how these
two theories of leisure can
be integrated and used when
working with clients who
experience depression, and
other types of mental health
disorders. Through a case
study of a middle-aged man
who had stage four renal
disease, severe depression,
and mild anxiety, this paper will
explain how the serious leisure
perspective (SLP), which propel
the client to experience flow
and meaning, was used as a
treatment intervention. In order
to improve methodological
rigor, this case report will
follow the CARE (CAse REport)
guidelines that are a consensusbased
clinical case reporting
framework from the medical
profession.
Practical and Research
Implications: Four broad-based
pragmatic ideas regarding how
flow theory and the SLP can be
integrated into the counseling
process include mental health
counselors (1) understanding
the SLP, flow (enjoyment),
and hedonistic pleasure; (2)
becoming aware of various
assessment instruments that
measure flow and serious
leisure; (3) using the provision
characteristics of entering flow
into the counseling process;
and (4) empowering clients to
becoming community change
agents through serious leisure
pursuit, resulting in flow
experiences.
Rodney Dieser, Ph.D., tLMHC is a Professor at the University of Northern Iowa in the Department of Health, Recreation, and Community Services and an affiliate faculty member in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. He believes in a researcherpractitioner model. As a researcher, he has published over 100 articles and five textbooks, and his writings have appeared in Counseling Psychology Quarterly, International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, Journal of Leisure Research, Leisure/Loisir, Mayo Clinic Proceedings and the Therapeutic Recreation Journal. As a practitioner, he works 10-12 hours a week as a Licensed Mental Health Therapist at a community mental health agency in Waterloo (Iowa). His primary research focus is the connection between leisure and mental health, including leisure and wellness embedded in mental health counseling and leisure services at Mayo Clinic.Residency
E-mail: Rodney.Dieser@uni.edu
