Volume 25, Issue 1 (2026) Spring

Adaptation, Engagement, and Wellbeing in Adult Development

Adult development is rarely defined by linear progression; instead, it reflects a dynamic process of adaptation shaped by changing roles, shifting identities, experiences of loss, opportunities for renewal, and evolving interactions with the social and physical environment. The contributions featured in this issue collectively invite readers to consider how counselors can support adult clients in navigating these transitions through approaches that are developmentally attuned, contextually responsive, and grounded in holistic understandings of wellbeing across the lifespan.

Several of the articles in this volume expand our understanding of adult wellbeing by foregrounding lived experience and the broader contexts in which development unfolds. In Gardening as a Psychosocial Wellbeing Activity for Adults: Integrating Eco-Wellness and Developmental Theory, readers are introduced to a conceptual framework that situates nature-based engagement as a meaningful pathway for psychosocial growth throughout adulthood. Attention to the importance of culturally responsive wellness practices is further explored in Supporting Latine Older Adults' Nutrition and Physical Health Goals in Counseling, which highlights the critical role counselors can play in addressing physical health and nutritional wellbeing as integral components of holistic care in later life.

Empirical inquiry into the nuanced counseling needs of specific adult populations is represented in The Counseling Experiences of Gifted Adults, which illuminates the complexity of identity development and help-seeking among a group whose experiences are often underrecognized in clinical discourse. Similarly, Grief Counseling Best Practices: A Delphi Study offers practitioner-informed guidance for supporting adults navigating bereavement, underscoring the need for developmentally informed and evidence-responsive approaches to loss across the lifespan.

The role of engagement and professional connection in fostering growth is further reflected in The Adultspan Journal Fellowship Program: A Structured Mentorship Experience, which highlights mentorship as a vehicle for professional development and community-building within counseling. Complementing this focus on relational support, Flow State as a Countermeasure Against Cognitive Decline: What Counselors Should Know encourages readers to consider how engagement in optimally challenging activities may serve as a protective factor in later adulthood, bridging clinical intervention with wellness-oriented prevention.

Taken together, the work presented in this issue reflects a shared commitment to advancing counseling practices that honor the complexity of adult development across contexts. These contributions remind us that adult wellbeing is shaped not only by individual coping strategies, but also by opportunities for connection, meaningful engagement, culturally responsive care, and participation in environments that promote growth across the lifespan.

As Editor-in-Chief, I extend my sincere gratitude to the authors who entrusted this journal with their scholarship and to the reviewers whose thoughtful and rigorous feedback strengthened each of these contributions. The peer review process remains foundational to the integrity of our work, and we are deeply appreciative of the time and expertise shared by our colleagues in service to the profession.

We hope that the insights presented in this issue not only inform your practice and scholarship, but also serve as a reminder that growth, adaptation, and wellbeing remain possible across adulthood. Thank you for your continued engagement with Adultspan Journal and for the work you do each day to support adults as they navigate the complexities of development, transition, and change.

Warmly,
Kaprea F. Johnson, PhD
Editor, Adultspan Journal