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The counseling wellness space will operate as an extension of the Multicultural Wellness Research lab. Within this space, students will have the opportunity to engage in wellness practices. Lab members will be responsible for running Mindful Mondays which will consist of guided meditation practice for students within the wellness lab space. The lab will also host a program in conjunction with Chi Sigma Iota entitled “Wellness Matters”. The program is designed for 8 weeks. Each week a professional will present on various wellness domains. These topics include: Burnout, mindfulness and meditation, Mind-body practices, and self-care. Lab members will have the opportunity to design research projects involving the wellness space. This project will considerably expand the conceptual, and methodological skills and expertise of lab participants through research engagement, while also fostering a space to cultivate student wellness. The creation of a wellness space can provide students with opportunities to engage in self-care activities and develop skills and strategies to combat increased stress levels.

This project will focus on a research practice partnership with community members in Norcross Georgia. Norcross is a diverse community with a high Hispanic/Latinx population located within the Atlanta metropolitan area within Gwinnett County. There are limited resources available with regards to mental and behavioral health services in the area. The utilization of counseling interns will help aid a critical gap in the community while strengthening community partnerships. 

Goals 

• Foster community engagement between university, organizations, and local community 

• Provide behavioral health services to specialized populations 

• Strengthen access and remove barriers for community members seeking mental health and wellness treatment 

This program focuses on supporting student health and well-being through behavior, stress management, and health and nutrition awareness utilizing mind body practices. This program implements a whole child framework aimed at addressing various aspects of mental, emotional, and behavioral health and well-being. Mind body practices are particularly useful for students who may suffer from adverse childhood experiences or traumatic life events. While students in urban settings face a unique set of challenges, they also encompass invaluable strengths and skills. This program will help build on those skills. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated traumatic experience that students encounter and it has