Wellness coaching is here to help you achieve your personal goals!
Feeling overwhelmed by classes, work, and life? Wellness Coaching at Rec Well offers an opportunity for you to focus on wellbeing, develop personal goals, and work toward them in ways that meet your individual needs.
What is Wellness Coaching?
Wellness coaching offers free peer-to-peer support centered around the eight dimensions of wellbeing: social, emotional, physical, environmental, financial, spiritual, intellectual and occupational.
Wellness coaches create a supportive environment where you are the expert and can tailor your experience to improve your quality of life.
There are two wellness coaching options: one-on-one or group. One-on-one peer wellness coaching is an opportunity for you to meet individually with a wellness coach. At the first meeting, you will complete a self-assessment that will help you discover how the eight dimensions of wellbeing may impact your health and wellness. This helps you identify areas where you are doing well and areas where you would like to grow. After the initial meeting, you will create wellbeing goals and learn strategies to achieve them. Students often meet with their coach weekly but ultimately the frequency is up to you.
During group coaching, also known as our Wellbeing Community, you will have the opportunity to build connections with other students while learning and practicing new skills for improving personal wellbeing. You will gain the knowledge, skills, and tools to support your personal wellness journey during college and beyond. The wellbeing community is a five week group that is often offered once per semester.
All wellness coaching meetings occur in private meeting rooms at the Nicholas Recreation Center or Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center. Virtual wellness coaching is also available depending on student and coach preferences.
Why Wellness Coaching?
According to the 2022 Health Minds survey, 82 percent of UW-Madison students experienced at least one day in the last four weeks where emotional and mental difficulties hurt their academic performance. Wellness coaching offers an opportunity to to slow down, reflect, and can help you achieve your goals, build confidence, and develop healthy habits for the future.
Wellness Coaching is a free service available to all students. Whether you want to attend a few sessions or are looking for a way to support your wellbeing throughout your time at UW-Madison, wellness coaching has something for everyone.
Wellness coaching is flexible, and the topics can vary depending on student-specific needs. Our 12 wellness coaches are friendly, relatable and are trained in student wellbeing.
Is wellness coaching considered therapy?
No, wellness coaching is not a substitute for mental health therapy. Wellness coaches are extensively-trained students who have a passion for supporting student wellbeing, but they are not licensed therapists. If you would like professional mental health support, you can connect with University Health Services.
How do I sign up?
To request one-on-one coaching or join a wellbeing community, visit the Wellness Coaching page on the Rec Well website.