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Well-Being Academy

What is the Well-Being Academy? 
The Academy provides a multi-level framework to support student wellness, which includes 1:1 and group coaching for undergraduate and graduate students and trainings on how to have respectful and helpful conversations about well-being issues. 

Who are we?
Wolverine Wellness is a unit whose purpose is to foster personal and community well-being for U-M students. 

Why is our Well-Being Academy “powered by motivational interviewing”? 
Motivational interviewing (MI) is foundational to the work of the Well-Being Academy. It's about arranging conversations so people talk themselves into change based on their own values and interests. (Miller and Rollnick, 2013) This philosophy includes MI spirit, the component of which are:

  • Compassion: have the best interest of your client at heart
  • Acceptance
    • Absolute worth
    • Autonomy support
    • Accurate empathy
    • Affirmations
  • Partnership: Collaboration instead of prescriptive
  • Evocation: Pulling out student wisdom on themselves

MI also focuses on what seems a paradox: When a [student] feels accepted for who they are and what they do–no matter how unhealthy– it allows them the freedom to consider change rather than needing to defend against it. (Bill Miller)
We do our best to meet students where they are behaviorally, find out what their values and goals are, and should they want it, offer respectful assistance. 

What trainings do we offer? 
We provide a variety of trainings for student leaders, staff and faculty, as well as drop in sessions and supervision. Students are welcome to view pictures and read profiles of wellness coaches here at the bottom of the Wellness Coaching page. 

Starting in January 2022, we'll partner with the School of Social Work and Dr. Daphne Watkins to offer the Young Black Men (YBMen) project.

Current trainings include:

  • Level 1: Introduction to Well-Being Discussions and Resources (1-hour): This quick primer fits well into a department staff meeting for advisors, faculty and staff who see students for issues other than wellness, but well-being comes up in conversations. Free for UM employees.
  • Level 2: Compassionate Conversations (2 hours): This session supports student well-being through respectful conversations that draw on student wisdom about themselves based on MI spirit.  Free for UM employees.
  • Level 3: Wellness Ambassador Training (8 hours over 2 days): A more in depth review that supports student well-being through knowledge of well-being resources on campus and comprehensive MI practice. Training objectives are to provide strategies to have helpful conversations with students to mobilize them move toward their goals. Free for UM Employees.  Virtual Winter 2023 dates are February 10th and February 17th 9:30 am - 2 pm. Registration available on Sessions. 
  • Level 4: Introduction to Motivational Interviewing (20 hours over 4 weeks) offered in fall and winter: A comprehensive practice using MI spirit and foundational skills and strategies to help guide students through behavior change. Note that this training can be helpful to a variety of Student Life staff including counselors, organization advisors, medical staff, health educators, supervisors and more. Free to Student Life Employees. Cost for UM staff outside of UM Student Life is $200 per person for the 20-hours of training. Departmental trainings can be requested by emailing marshua@umich.edu for a fee.
  • Level 5: Wellness Coaching Training (12 hours over 4 weeks): Offered in the fall and requires prior approval of UHS- Wolverine Wellness staff and submitted agreement signed by supervisor and person being trained. 
  • Level 6: Motivational Interviewing for people who have already completed the 20 hour Introduction to MI training: Free drop in sessions for those who have been to the 20-hour Introduction to MI training (1 hour monthly, call Wolverine Wellness @ 734-763-1320 to be added or removed from the monthly invitation). 
  • Supervision for those who have been to Introduction to MI training for a fee. Contact marshua@umich.edu.
  • Who conducts trainings:

Not sure which training would be most helpful? Contact the Well-Being Academy staff to consult on your needs: Amanda Reis (reisam@umich.edu), Jevon Moore (jsmoore@umich.edu), Marsha Benz (marshua@umich.edu).