Written By: Ally Wolk, Peer Wellness Coach
At Penn, students are surrounded by classmates, teammates, peers, and professors, yet many still struggle to feel they truly belong. In a high-achieving, bustling environment, it can be challenging to find spaces that feel grounded, welcoming, and genuinely supportive. Dr. Zihui Lu created Peer Wellness Coaching, a program of Wellness at Penn, to offer students not just guidance, but connection.
For one Penn student, the decision to begin coaching nearly a year ago came from a desire to feel more connected on campus. When prompted to reflect on what was occurring before trying coaching, the student shared, “At the time I was thinking, 'it’s hard for me to find a sense of belonging here.’” The student continued, “I wanted to find a way to express myself, find someone to communicate with, and to understand what I was thinking.” The student shares even more about their experience with the program below.
Belonging Through Peer Discussion
A key factor in the sense of belonging that came from peer wellness coaching for this specific student was the equal nature of talking to a student of a similar age who “gets it.” There are no rules or regulations about the range of topics up for discussion in each session. Like a friend, “I feel more comfortable,” but unlike a friend, “I don’t feel the guilt of wanting to return the favor or to give it back,” making the coaching relationship especially unique.
For this student, the relationship with a coach is much more “long-term” and doesn't feel as “serious” as that with a boss, therapist, or colleague. “Coaching, especially when you have developed a stronger or deeper relationship, can give me power, can give me energy.”
This student emphasized the unique offerings at Penn, describing the options as “a gradient where you can decide what you want and need for your mental health” and choose which resource works best for them.
A Nonjudgmental Space to Be Yourself
After consistent coaching, this student reflected on the changes she has noticed in herself since starting. She shares, “I think it has helped me to love myself more and be more confident in myself. She continued, “I am more self-aware.”
Coaching provides a safe space to share whatever is on your mind. The student went on, “There is no judgment in the coaching sessions. A coaching session for me feels like a safe place to talk and share my ideas without being judged. My coach is always there to listen to me and go with the flow. This gives me a sense of belonging and safety, making me feel like I can freely share my mind in session.”
What Peer Wellness Coaching Looks Like
Penn’s Peer Wellness Coaching sessions are free, private, preventive, and non-therapeutic, focusing on the Eight Domains of Wellness: physical, emotional, social, intellectual, environmental, financial, occupational, and spiritual.
In a typical session, “We could talk about one, two, or three topics and focus in on them, going deeper to explore motivation, discuss underlying feelings, and identify manageable goals and action items,” the student shares. She tends to discuss career, academics, and relationships, but emphasizes that these things “are always changing.” Just as life is constantly evolving and changing, the experiences, goals, and actions discussed in coaching sessions can change as well.
Reflection Beyond the Session
The first Peer Wellness Coaching session is 60 minutes. After that, follow-up sessions can last anytime between 15 and 45 minutes and occur at varying frequencies. This student highlights the power of reflection beyond the session. During the session, the coach “helps me to summarize what I am thinking, which gives me new ideas, allowing me to learn and understand myself much more.” However, this learning, understanding, and growth doesn’t stop after the 45-minute meeting. “It is a starting point. If I don’t finish it in the session, I will reflect on it after.” Coaching reminds this student, “I have the ability to take action in my life.”
The empowerment this student gained from coaching highlights the power of YOU in the session. Our coaches are here to provide a nonjudgmental, curious, and encouraging space for students to decide what works best for their life and goals. The student is the expert on their life, and therefore, the session is just the beginning.
Encouragement to Try
This student encourages other Penn students to take the leap. “If you feel there is something on your mind, but you don’t know what it is, you want a safe place to talk with someone who is a similar age, or you just want to find someone to accompany you, you should try coaching.”
Students interested in trying coaching can learn more and sign up for their first session on the Peer Wellness Coaching webpage.