Katelynn Singleton, news editor
Becca Smith, director of the Counseling Center and Carley Price, a counselor at the center are leading a new program for the fall 2022 semester called Peer Wellness Coaches at the Berry College Counseling Center. The coaches will work as an additional on-campus resource for students and will meet one-on-one with students who may otherwise see a counselor.
After a busy fall semester, Smith said that the spring semester had a slow start, although it’s already beginning to pick up. Many colleges experience this slow start in January, with appointments generally picking back up after the first round of tests and major assignments.
Price has recently joined the Counseling Center full-time, which allows for more hours for the center to see students. However, a member of the Counseling Center recently resigned, meaning that the center is back to where they were last fall in terms of how many hours they are able to offer counseling services.
“We’re anticipating having more help in different ways next semester that may make it a lot better to access services and get in a little sooner,” Smith said.
One of the ways the center hopes to have more help is via the Peer Wellness Coaches. Other schools such as Boston College, University of Washington and Kennesaw State University offer similar programs.
Smith said that occasionally the effort to start the program is peer-driven. In other cases, such as at Berry, counseling centers request the program if they’re in need of extra help. The program helps students who may be training to become counselors, social workers or psychologists. Smith strayed away from using the term ‘counselor’ in the position, in order to prevent confusion as to what the student’s role was.
“Yes, they’re doing some counseling, but it isn’t super-duper high mental health, it’s more low level,” Smith said.
Students who utilize the program will be able to discuss issues such as academic stress, relationship issues or difficult decisions. Where counselors may only be able to see students every two to three weeks, the hope is that coaches will be able to see them weekly. While students are welcome to go to the counselors to discuss these issues, Smith hopes that they feel comfortable talking to the coaches as well.
“I feel like a senior psychology major under my supervision or Carley’s supervision, can do those things,” Smith said. “It’s a lot of active listening, some tips and tricks, that I think they’re qualified to do.”
Price said in an email that she hopes students and coaches both benefit from the program.
“The students will have an increased opportunity and access to counseling-like services to assist in dealing with issues that require support, but might not necessitate therapy or counseling from a licensed professional,” Price said. “It will give [coaches] an opportunity to gain counseling skills and experience in the field.”
The Peer Wellness Coaches will work separately from the Peer Educators, although they’re welcome to collaborate with the Peer Educators on events.
Coaches will begin training at the end of this semester and have an intensive five-day training the week before classes start in the fall. Coaches are expected to attend a weekly meeting once training is complete and they begin seeing students. Smith and Price will work with the coaches so that they are equipped with all the training they may need.
“They’re going to grow in their skill level throughout the year,” Smith said. “What they might have felt nervous to do in September or October, they may feel really confident to do. So when they go get their master’s degree and go into an internship, they’re going to feel way more equipped.”
The Counseling Center is currently accepting applications from juniors who are pursuing either a major or minor in psychology. Smith said that the grade requirement is so that students are eligible for a Level 4 LifeWorks job, and that the psychology major or minor is so that they have some knowledge in what they would be working with students on. Students who are interested in the position should complete a cover letter, resume and reference from a psychology professor. Applications should be sent to rsmith@berry.edu by Feb. 25