Group Wellness Coaching
Columbia Health offers group wellness coaching. If you’re interested in receiving group wellness coaching through Columbia Health, begin by completing the Group Wellness Coaching Intake Form or attending Health Education drop-in hours.
Group Wellness Coaching at Columbia Health
Group Wellness Coaching is an evidence-based practice that takes a positive approach to personal and group development. Group Wellness Coaching spaces are topic-specific to fit the diverse needs of Columbia University students.
In each space, we bring together small groups of students with similar experiences and goals to create peer support and social connectedness. Together, the Coach and participants work together to build a non-judgmental space that supports each student’s vision of what living well means to them and helps them create a plan to help make that vision a sustainable reality.
Due to the nature of virtual groups, we can’t guarantee group member privacy and confidentiality. However, we strongly encourage everyone to be respectful and practice discretion while in and out of the group space.
You can expect a few things of all groups:
- Each group has a unique topic, eligibility criteria, and format.
- All groups have an enrollment period and are closed after all spots have been filled. Drop-ins are not permitted.
- Groups may vary in size but will have no more than 12 participants.
- All groups consist of 6 to 8 sessions with varying session lengths.
- Most groups will be held virtually, but some may be in person.
Current Group Offerings
Thank you for your interest in Group Wellness Coaching at Columbia Health! Our groups are at capacity and registration is closed. However, you can sign up for individual Wellness Coaching with a Certified Wellness and Health Coach by completing our Wellness Coaching Intake Form. Please keep an eye out for updates as more Group Wellness Coaching sessions open.
Eligibility: Open to any graduate student at the Morningside and Manhattanville campuses, Teachers College, Jewish Theological Seminary, and Union Theological Seminary
Facilitator: Wendy McLaughlin (she/her), MS, MCHES, NBC-HWC
Intentional Well-being focuses on developing new pathways and resources within a supportive community. The group uses a strength-based coaching approach grounded in positive psychology to leverage the best of self and others, experiment with new ideas and strategies, and process experiences with a focus on learning and insight.
Relevant topics might include procrastination, stress/overwhelm, imposter phenomenon, and restful sleep, but will be group dependent.
Who is eligible?
Services are available to all students on the Morningside and Manhattanville campuses. This includes those at Teachers College, Union Theological Seminary, and Jewish Theological Seminary. Additionally, each group has its own eligibility criteria based on the topic.
How do I attend Group Wellness Coaching?
To get started with Group Wellness Coaching:
- Complete the Group Wellness Coaching Intake Form. On the form, you’ll be asked to select the group you want to participate in.
- When you start the intake form, you'll be prompted to log-in with your UNI and password. This is to ensure confidentiality and that you're a student enrolled at the University.
- After submitting the intake form, you will be prompted to schedule a 30-minute discovery session with the Certified Group Wellness Coach on Zoom. This discovery session confirms your eligibility, provides additional details about the Group, answers questions, and connects you to additional resources, if needed. You will not be officially enrolled in the Group until you complete the screening session.
If you have concerns about sharing your UNI or additional questions, come to our Health Education drop-in hours or call our office at 212-854-5453 during business hours.
How much will it cost?
Group Wellness Coaching is free of charge and is available to any Morningside/Manhattanville student with a valid UNI. There is no payment, health fee, or insurance needed.
What else do I need to know?
Group offerings vary each semester. If you’re not interested in the offerings this semester, please check back at the start of next semester to see current group offerings.
If you’re unsure if group wellness coaching is right for you, please come to Alice! Virtual Drop-in Hours and connect with a specialist who can assist you in identifying which service is the best fit for your specific needs.
Where can I learn more about these topics?
If you want to learn more about well-being at Columbia, please check out the Columbia Health topic page for Well-being and the different Well-being Workshops and Events that we host each semester:
Frequently Asked Questions
Due to the limited space of individual groups, we kindly ask that students participate in only one group.
Wellness Coaching is a person-centered approach that encourages students to take charge of their health and well-being. Together with your coach, you will lay out a vision of what living well means to you and co-create a plan to help make that vision a sustainable reality. Although it’s important to acknowledge one’s lived experiences in Wellness Coaching, it’s not a space to process deep emotions, trauma, or receive a mental health diagnosis.
If you are a staff member interested in collaborating with Alice! Health Promotion to offer a closed group to students at your school or program, please email your request to [email protected]. In your email, please include the group topic*, preferred start date, and any additional information that will be helpful for planning. Please note that sending the request email is not a guarantee or confirmation of your collaboration request. A member of our staff will follow up to confirm the details.
*This can be a current or previous group offering or a brand-new topic you would like to propose. Please note that we cannot guarantee a new topic will be approved; however, we will work with you to identify what will be most helpful for your students.