Well-being Coaching

In the news

Skorton Center’s Well-being Coaching pilot shows promising success (Cornell Chronicle, 5/1/24)

Well-being Coaching to expand

A generous gift from the Melissa and John V. Ceriale Family Foundation (announced in The Cornell Chronicle on October 17, 2024) will allow Cornell Health to hire — over the next 15 years — a full-time coordinator for the Well-being Coaching Program and up to 80 part-time Well-being Coaches, as well as an expanded number of CAPS Embedded Therapists to support Cornell’s Ithaca Campus.

What is Well-being Coaching?

Well-being Coaching is a free service available to Cornell undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to help them set and pursue their well-being goals.

Well-being coaches are trained to partner with students in one-on-one, evidence-based conversations structured around the changes they want to make in their lives. Coaches work to create a strengths-based and collaborative conversation space for students to self-identify ways to get unstuck, maximize their personal and professional potential, and become the best versions of themselves.

*Please note: Well-being Coaching is not a counseling, clinical, or mental health service. Students who would like to work on issues or concerns that are outside the scope of coaching will be referred to appropriate resources.

How can Well-being Coaching help?

Well-being Coaches partner with students in one-on-one meetings to help them:
•   Find and maximize their strengths, values, and motivation for change.
•   Create their own well-being vision and goals.
•   Navigate barriers.
•   Connected to additional support/resources.

Meet our Well-being Coaches on the Ithaca campus, and see information about Well-being Coaching at Cornell Tech.

What Well-being Coaching is & is not

Category	What coaching is	What coaching is not
Privacy/confidentiality	Private, not confidential	Is not confidential
Staff training & licensure	Well-being coaches are professional staff who have participated in training as coaches	Well-being coaches are not licensed mental health or health professionals in their coaching roles
Relationship with student	Collaborative partnership model, student-as-expert, and action-oriented	Not a provider-patient model, coach-as-expert, or coping/treatment-oriented
Scope	Provides support by enhancing holistic well-being, mental health promotion, and overall (self-defined) success	Does not provide counseling, therapy, assessment, consultation, or treatment for mental health concerns
Goals	Help students identify, strengthen, and utilize their unique strengths and values in the service of pursuing goals and directions that are aligned with their desired well-being outcomes Help students to explore, generate, and try out different strategies, approaches, and resources to support overall change and well-being Help students to develop their distinctive voice and identify what well-being means, looks, and feels like to them	Does not try to teach students what they should or should not do on their journey toward resolving or managing their concerns Does not try to help students identify, treat, or resolve specific "weaknesses," symptoms, or problems Does not provide/prescribe specific health, psychological, or medical advice
Focus	Emphasis on students' potential to move forward in meaningful directions and focus on the future	Does not emphasize helping students to resolve issues from the past
View of well-being	Responsive to students' unique identities, culture, and experiences of power and oppression and how this shapes their experience in the coaching alliance and understanding of well-being	Does not prescribe a "one size fits all" approach to well-being based on "normative" health and wellness practices

VIA character strengths

All coaching meetings will start with a review of your VIA character strengths. Character strengths are the positive parts of your personality that impact how you think, feel and behave. Scientists have identified 24 character strengths that you have the capacity to express. By taking the VIA Survey you will discover your unique character strengths profile. Knowing and applying your highest character strengths is the key to you being your best self.

You can see the full listing of strengths and virtues here.

Interested in signing up for Well-being Coaching?

If you’d like to sign up for coaching, please complete this initial form and our Well-being Coaching Lead will be in touch with more details. If you have any questions, please email asd44@cornell.edu.

Meet our Well-being Coaches on the Ithaca Campus!

	Amanda Carreiro House Assistant Dean West Campus House System (she/her)
Amanda's signature strengths: Perspective, Leadership, Teamwork, Hope, Kindness Ways Amanda supports her well-being: The primary ways I support my own well-being are through mindfulness meditation, playing with my dogs, spending time with family and friends, going to CrossFit regularly, getting out in nature and practicing gratitude. Personal interests: My personal interests include anything to do with Frisbee (I played Ultimate Frisbee for 23 years and coached the Cornell Women’s team for many years) but I’m also interested in Frisbee golf and other Frisbee sports. I love the Finger Lakes region, the Farmer’s Market, going antiquing, and fixing up old furniture. I am currently reading Louise Penny mysteries to relax at the end of the day. I love to spend time with my 19 year old son, traveling and being in the ocean (ideally, on a boogie board)!
	Perdita Das House Assistant Dean West Campus House System (she/her/hers)
Perdita's signature strengths: Humor, Leadership, Kindness, Fairness, Judgement Ways Perdita supports her well-being: Celebrating small and big milestones, setting boundaries and saying no, spending quality time with people who recharge me and my two cats Jasper and Rosemary, cooking and trying out new recipes, and asking for help (still a work in progress!). Personal interests: Exploring new cities, cooking, Doctor Who, Harry Potter, tattoos, and Taylor Swift!
	Foula Keagan Dimopoulos Senior Advisor for EOP, HEOP & Pre Professional Programs/First Gen Program Coordinator Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives (OADI) (ze/hir/hirs \| he/him/his)
Foula's signature strengths: Love of Learning, Bravery, Perspective, Curiosity, Justice Ways Foula supports hirs well-being: I support my well-being through writing, playing video and board games, spending time with people I love, especially my partner, Kay, and our sometimes feral feline, learning new things, and exploring NY State Parks and beyond. I’m working on sleeping better and meditating! Personal interests: Building LEGO sets, printmaking, reading, traveling and adventuring to old and new places, learning, and being involved in my communities whether based on geography, identities or causes.
	Amy Drumluk Assistant Director of Advising and Coordinator of First-Year Programming Office of Undergraduate Biology (she/her/hers)
Amy's signature strengths: Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence, Humor, Love of Learning, Honesty, Love Ways Amy supports her well-being: I support my well-being by going for walks and spending time outside, stopping to take pictures of sunsets any chance I get, listening to a variety of podcasts, and spending time with my dog – a goofy chocolate golden doodle. Personal interests: I love baking, cooking, reading, being on the lake, exploring local waterfalls, listening to music and spending time with my family.
	Jason Hecht Senior Research Associate Institutional Research and Planning (he/him/his)
Jason's signature strengths: Love, Perspective, Love of Learning, Judgment, Social Intelligence Ways Jason supports his well-being: Scheduling unstructured time just for me. Relaxing on the porch. Maintaining a regular sleep routine. Cooking for myself and loved ones. Investing in relationships with family, friends, and colleagues. Personal interests: Being a homebody with my family and dogs. Science fiction/fantasy literature/TV/movies. Supporting my favorite teams/sports (Arsenal, Knicks, Yankees, and F1 racing). Cooking. Music (I hosted a radio show in college and am a mediocre guitar player).
	Jamie Hom Associate Director of Student Programs Student and Young Alumni Programs Alumni Affairs & Development (she/her)
Jamie's signature strengths: Love of learning, Curiosity, Honesty, Kindness, Humor Ways Jamie supports her well-being: Well-being is about living a life well lived. It is about learning and exploring in who makes you…YOU, while having a curious, resilient, and growth mindset. Ways I support my well-being is ensuring I’m taking care of myself holistically and giving myself grace when I’m having a hard time. This includes, but is not limited to, making sure I am eating well-rounded nutrient food, moving my body with daily exercise, hanging out with my friends and family, trying new hobbies, or exploring the outdoors! Personal interests: For fun, I am a certified CliftonStrengths coach and MBTI Certified Practitioner along with being a spin instructor. Outside of work, you can find me running or on hiking adventures with my dog, Clara and checking off visiting all 63 United States national parks. I also volunteer at Farm Sanctuary and Cayuga Nature Center taking care of all the animal ambassadors at these two organizations.
	Suzanne Horning Associate Director The Cornell Commitment (she/her)
Suzanne's signature strengths: Humility, Perspective, Kindness, Prudence, Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence Ways Suzanne supports her well-being: Spending as much time outside as possible, getting a walk in at least once a day, spending time with my husband and rescue dog, Clyde, and staying connected to family and friends. Personal interests: I volunteer with the Cornell Raptor Program. I am huge hockey fan and have had season tickets to Cornell Men’s Ice Hockey for more than 15 years!
	Sophia Givre Associate Director, Inclusive Academic Advising College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (she/her)
Sophia's signature strengths: Love of Learning, Honesty, Kindness, Humor, Judgement Ways Sophia supports her well-being: Being outside on nice days, yoga, meditation, HIITS, listening to music, and prioritizing a balanced approach to work and personal life. Personal interests: Podcasts, hiking, trying local foods, travel, CliftonStrengths coaching, watching shows and movies.
	Sarah Janusz Assistant Director & Disability Access Consultant Student Disability Services Cornell Health (she/her)
Sarah's signature strengths: Honesty, Love of Learning, Gratitude, Hope and Kindness Ways Sarah supports her well-being: I support my well-being is by engaging in moments that ground me and allow me to embrace calmness. Listening to lofi music all day, watching the aquarium jellyfish cam to relax and taking pictures of the falling rain are some of my favorites. Personal interests: Exploring the Finger Lakes and Ithaca areas has become a daily adventure for me. I am passionate about food and love learning a new recipe or tasting a new dish. I am always looking for a movie recommendation or a new show suggestion to watch.
	Andrea Kiely Health Leaves Coordinator Student Disability Services Cornell Health (she/her)
Andrea's signature strengths: Honesty, Humor, Self-regulation, Perseverance, Hope Ways Andrea supports her well-being: I take care of my well-being by running, taking long walks with my husband and dogs, cuddling with my golden retrievers, and watching Ted Lasso. Personal interests: I love running, and I am actively involved in a local running club. I enjoy listening to audiobooks, particularly British romantic comedies. I spend a lot of time in the kitchen cooking healthy vegetarian meals and baking tasty treats with nutritious ingredients. You can often find me at rinks all over New York watching my 14-year-old daughter’s ice hockey games. I also enjoy trips to Philadelphia, where my 20-year-old daughter is currently studying. I am interested in history and exploring other countries and cultures.
	Lisanny Manzueta EOP Advisor Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives (OADI) (she/her)
Lisanny's signature strengths: Kindness, Humility, Prudence, Honesty, Social Intelligence Ways Lisanny supports her well-being: Some of the ways I support my wellbeing are going for runs, hiking, and journaling. Personal interests: I enjoy cooking, hiking, and traveling to different countries.
	Ben Martin Assistant Director Engineering Advising (he/him)
Ben's signature strengths: Fairness, Spirituality, Humility, Humor, Judgment Ways Ben supports his well-being: Silence / solitude in the morning, yoga, running, and reading. Personal interests: Enjoying time with my family: Sara, Asher, & Millie (and our dog Olive). I love games (Smash-up, Sushi Go, Pokémon TCG), movies, and coffee shops.
	Ethan Stephenson Director of Faculty Living-Learning Programs Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (he/him)
Ethan's signature strengths: Honesty, Fairness, Perspective, Judgment, Social Intelligence Ways Ethan supports his well-being: In addition to working out when I get the chance, I build exercise into my daily routine with dog walks and walking to work. I love to cook and bake so I end up preparing most of the food I eat. I work hard on creating a healthy work/life balance. I spend a lot of time with my family. I try to maintain regular sleep habits, something that was much harder when I was in college. Personal interests: Biking, baking, cooking, reading
	Sherry Wang Assistant Director of Career Management Brooks School of Public Policy (she/her)
Sherry's signature strengths: Perspective, Love, Love of Learning, Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence, Kindness Ways Sherry supports her well-being: I support my well-being by taking time to connect with my friends and family, cuddling with my cat, exploring the outdoors, listening to podcasts, and dancing! Personal interests: Outside of work, I enjoy kayaking on the lake, camping, eating delicious food from my favorite restaurants or new ones, and rock climbing.