Centered around the seven aspects of wellbeing (health, meaning, safety, connection, growth, achievement, and resiliency), wellness coaching is an opportunity to reflect on your wellbeing and go after your goals in a collaborative, supportive environment. The program is based on the belief that each person is an expert on their own wellbeing and that when coached, you will be able to determine what is best for you.
Our wellness coaches are all NASPA-certified Peer Educators and have completed extensive training in wellness coaching principles, motivational interviewing, campus resources, suicide prevention, and mindfulness. We offer group and one-on-one settings, all free for UW-Madison students. Wellness coaching is available to students via self-referral or through referral from a campus partner.
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Receive free Rec Well swag of your choice at your first session.
I'm InWHAT IS WELLNESS COACHING?
Wellness coaching is…
- Centered around a holistic approach to health
- Based on your strengths and interests
- Designed to give you the autonomy to create and choose goals for yourself
- Based on the Samaritan Family Wellness Foundation’s internationally-renowned and sought-after curriculum
Wellness coaching is not…
- Intended to address severe mental health concerns
- Built to assess, diagnose, or treat mental health conditions
- If you are looking for clinical mental health support, please visit University Health Services
ONE-ON-ONE WELLNESS COACHING
One-on-one wellness coaching provides an opportunity for you to meet individually with a wellness coach, as needed, about wellness goals. One-on-one meetings are approximately 30-45 minutes depending on your needs. These meeting locations include the Nicholas Recreation Center, the Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center, the Engineering Campus, at a participant’s residence hall, or virtually on Zoom.
One-on-one wellness coaching is offered in the fall, spring, and summer. A summer Rec Well membership is not required to access summer wellness coaching.
After completing the interest form below, you will be matched with a wellness coach based on your preferences, interests, and goals.
As an added bonus, you will receive a free Rec Well swag item of your choice (t-shirt, journal, etc.) during your first session!
GROUP WELLNESS COACHING
Wellness Circles meet once a week for four weeks at various times and spaces around campus. Locations include the Nicholas Recreation Center, the Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center, and the Engineering Campus. Each meeting will include mindfulness practice, a mini-lesson on wellbeing, reflection time, discussion, wellness coaching, and goal setting for the following week. As an added bonus, you will receive a free Rec Well swag item of your choice (t-shirt, journal, etc.) during your first session!
Group wellness coaching is only offered during the academic year (fall and spring semesters).
GROUND RULES
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Signing up
One-on-One Wellness Coaching
Please fill out the one-on-one wellness coaching interest form. After completing the interest form, you will be matched with a wellness coach based on your preferences, interests, and goals. Your wellness coach will reach out to you within two business days of your form submission.
Group Wellness Coaching
You must pre-register for small group wellness coaching on services.recwell.wisc.edu. Use the menu on the left side of the page to choose Wellbeing > Group Wellness Coaching to choose the session that you’d like to join.
Registration will open three weeks in advance of the start of each session.
Registration will close two days prior to the start of each session.
For group wellness coaching sessions, you may cancel your registration online up until the time that registration closes (two days prior to the start of each session).
How to cancel your registration
- Go to services.recwell.wisc.edu
- Click Log In in the top right corner of the page and log in using your NetID or Guest credentials.
- Once logged in, click your name in the top right corner of the page and select Profile from the drop-down menu.
- From the menu on the left side of the page, click Wellbeing.
- Find the group wellness coaching session registration you’d like to cancel. Click the three dots on the right side of the class listing, select Cancel Registration, and follow the on-screen prompts.
Attendance and Cancellation Policy
Spots in the wellness coaching program are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Because there are limited spots available in this program, we ask that you put in a sincere effort to attend all of the wellness coaching meetings that you have signed up for. Although wellness coaching is a free service at UW-Madison, if you miss meetings without advanced notice, you may incur a $10 no-show/late cancellation fee that will be applied to your Rec Well student account. Exceptions will be made for extenuating circumstances; those exceptions will be made and evaluated by Rec Well staff on a case-by-case basis.
One-on-One Wellness Coaching
If you expect to miss a meeting, you should contact your wellness coach to cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours before the meeting time or you may risk incurring a $10 no-show/late cancellation fee.
Group Wellness Coaching
If you expect to miss a meeting, you should contact your wellness coach at least 1 hour before the meeting time or you may risk incurring a $10 no-show/late cancellation fee. At minimum, you should attend three of the four meetings in your session.
In order to protect all students’ privacy and to keep group dynamics consistent, you can only attend the wellness coaching meetings within the session you originally signed up for. If you have any questions on discussion material due to a missed meeting, you are encouraged to speak to your wellness coach in-person at the following meeting.
Inclusive spaces
All are welcome in this space, and discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated.
We offer opportunities for all people to exchange ideas, share experiences, and achieve personal fulfillment. This pursuit of wellness is a right afforded to everyone, regardless of identity or ability. We have a collective responsibility to foster a culture of mutual respect, courteous interactions, and equal opportunities. Through our programs, services, facilities, and staff, we are committed to cultivating and upholding an inclusive environment in which we celebrate the differences of every member of our community.
BECOME A COACH
Applications for the peer wellness coach position open each spring semester and students are hired for the next fall. The next round of applications will open spring of 2024 on the Student Jobs website. Undergraduate, graduate, and professional students preparing for or pursuing professions in any type of healthcare or health sector are encouraged to apply, but students from all educational backgrounds are welcome.
