Counseling department hosts a Parent U on wellness
On Tuesday, Jan. 23, the counseling department hosted a Parent U on wellness, defined as the active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. More than absence of illness, wellness is a state of complete well-being. The seven dimensions of wellness covered in the Parent U class are environmental, occupational, social, emotional, physical, intellectual, and, most importantly, spiritual wellness, which is the anchor for all the wellness types.
Various members of the six-person counseling team touched on each of the seven dimensions explaining why each dimension matters and giving practical tips to achieve that dimension of wellness. For example, spiritual wellness can be improved by reading the Bible, praying, forgiving, being involved with a like-minded community, engaging in service, and practicing gratitude. Social wellness can be improved by having regular family dinners or participating in team-building activities at work.
“Our goal was to get parents thinking about the seven kinds of wellness, reflect on where they are in each of the areas, and then set some goals for themselves in one or more areas,” explains Nancy Jones, dean of counseling and student services. “We could have talked about any of these areas for a long time, but we tried to cover a lot of ground and leave them with lots of resources.”
Thank you to everyone who attended the Parent U on wellness, and thank you to the counseling department for being such an incredible resource to our Wesleyan families. Save the date for upcoming Parent U events on growing through mistakes, which will be held on Feb. 6 and Feb. 15.
