Fostering Connection and Growth Through Youth Counseling at Gonzaga Family Haven
Gonzaga counseling students are putting classroom learning into practice through a Lunch & Learn series with residents at Gonzaga Family Haven. Following a successful spring series focused on wellness, connection and personal growth, the program will return this academic year with new opportunities for students and residents to learn from one another.
Community-engaged learning (CEL) is an important aspect of counselor education at Gonzaga University, providing students with opportunities to connect classroom learning with meaningful service. Through partnerships with organizations such as local schools and Gonzaga Family Haven, counseling students develop professional skills while learning the importance of prevention, community outreach and relationship-building.
This past spring, students in Gonzaga’s Marriage and Family Counseling program partnered with residents at Gonzaga Family Haven to create and facilitate a three-part Lunch & Learn series designed to foster connection, reflection and personal growth. The program was developed and led entirely by counseling students as part of their community-engaged learning experience.
Each Lunch & Learn brought residents and students together for roundtable discussions that incorporated art, interactive activities and opportunities for meaningful conversation. The sessions focused on topics selected and designed by the students, including identifying personal and family strengths, establishing healthy boundaries, practicing self-care and setting goals for the future. Rather than relying on a lecture format, the program emphasized collaboration, allowing participants to share experiences, learn from one another and engage in hands-on activities.
The impact of the Lunch & Learn series extended beyond the students who facilitated the sessions. Peggy E. Haun-McEwen, director of Community Engagement at Gonzaga Family Haven & Housing Social Services, said the sessions provided residents with an opportunity to connect with one another and engage with future therapists.
“The Lunch & Learn sessions hosted by the Gonzaga Counseling Education program at Gonzaga Family Haven have allowed our residents to enter into dialogue with other residents as well as future therapists. It has been a great opportunity for our residents to explore a variety of topics ranging from family dynamics to parenting to personal wellness,” Haun-McEwen said.
The goals of the Lunch & Learn series were twofold. For Family Haven residents, the program provided a supportive space to reflect on strengths, build practical wellness skills and strengthen connections within the community. For counseling students, the experience offered an opportunity to apply counseling knowledge in a community setting, develop facilitation skills and expand their understanding of the counselor’s role beyond traditional counseling.
Following the success of the spring series, the Lunch & Learn program will return during the 2026-27 academic year. Counseling students will once again partner with Gonzaga Family Haven residents to create opportunities for connection, conversation and community-engaged learning.
