Feeling overwhelmed by choices? Curious about your future? Ignore that psychic in your life. Do not pay for that therapist. UB has the answer.
You may have heard of the Wellness Coaching program, but have you used it? Do. It is a free service for all undergraduate and graduate students who pay the student health fee. And it helps a lot. You can work one-on-one with a wellness coach to manage stressors and focus on personal goals, habits and social intercourse. It may even delay the inevitable stress lines in the skin and the greying, whitening or loss of hair.
What is Wellness Coaching? Coach Kayla Hill, a stress management specialist at UB, says to think of it as a “mix” of “counseling and academic advising” or anything “that falls under the umbrella of what makes a person well.”
The program provides an affirmative, inclusive and non-judgmental setting to support students. There, students can address important issues in their lives, including, as listed on the website, “academic, physical, social, emotional, relational or spiritual wellness.” The program aims to provide every student with personalized guidance to help them reach their desired goals.
An essential component of this program is Financial Wellness, otherwise known as the “how to survive” advisors for those of us incurring debt. This truly essential resource equips students with the knowledge they need to engage in healthy spending habits, manage that ever-looming student loan debt, and maybe save enough for a meal so they can skip that “free pizza” flyer for the club you have no interest in. By incorporating education on finances into wellness coaching, UB ensures that students will be prepared for the struggles of financial stress.
Keep in mind that wellness coaches are not mental health experts and do not engage in mental health interventions. They partner with and assist students who seek to improve their well-being, providing direction as needed. If the issue presented requires unrelated attention, the wellness coaches can assist with referrals. Also, documentation produced during the sessions becomes part of the student’s education record, as protected by the Family Educational Rights Protection Act.
Try it. The one-on-one consultation session can take place in person at the Student Union, Office of Health Promotion, via Zoom or by phone. The intake appointment lasts about an hour. During that hour, the coach and student work together to identify causes of agitation, to discuss methods as chosen by the student, how to manage them and how to turn students’ loose ideas of self-improvement into concrete action plans. In 30-minute follow-up sessions, the coach reviews the student’s progress and recommends necessary adjustments to reach the student’s goal.
The Wellness Coaching program offers a supportive space for students to focus on personal, academic and social development. Whether you are struggling with your studies or stress, trying to fix unhealthy habits, or just looking for guidance, the program is there to help solve the issue.
For more information or to make an appointment, visit their website.
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