Training
The Counseling and Wellness Center offers a variety of training programs to the campus community on topics related to mental health and well-being.
Custom trainings are always available! Work with our staff to design a presentation that meets your needs.
Training Topics
- Suicide prevention
- Mental health topics
- Healthy relationships
- Substance use harm reduction
- Managing stress and anxiety
- ... and more!
You Can Help A Student
Created by the JED Foundation, this training includes a general overview of mental health issues in college and the importance of staff and faculty reaching out to students who may be in crisis. Participants will learn techniques for having difficult conversations, how to create a supportive environment for students, and learn what resources are available for students and staff at WWU in a crisis.
LEARN Suicide Prevention
We are excited to announce that we are now offering LEARN® , a suicide prevention training created by the Forefront Suicide Prevention Center at University of Washington. This training helps educate people on how to recognize when someone may be at risk for suicide and how to connect them with immediate help, with a unique focus on means safety. LEARN is an acronym for the topics covered: Look for signs, Empathize and listen, Ask directly, Remove the dangers, Next steps.
Mental Wellness Resources at WWU
A comprehensive “tour” of mental health and wellness resources at WWU. Participants will be shown websites of resources for students at WWU in detail and hopefully will find new resources that are available to them, even through services they may be aware of. Participants will also be shown resources at WWU specifically for supporting staff and faculty in supporting their students.
How to Support Others
Appropriate for students who want to help a friend, partner, or family member who might be struggling, or who might want to address substance use or other concerning behaviors. The presentation covers how to be supportive, help others to get help, and looks at a model of how change happens.
Healthy Minds
This workshop offers tools for building resilience. Students learn about how to keep their minds balanced by engaging in different types of mental activities each day. This workshop also includes a brief overview of WWU resources for mental wellness.
Be Kind to Your Mind
This workshop explores the importance of self talk to mental wellness, as well as exploring strategies for increasing positive self talk habits. Students learn strategies to identify their self talk patterns and increase their positive self talk. This workshop also includes a brief overview of WWU resources for mental wellness.
You Can Help a Friend
Created by the JED Foundation, this training includes a general overview of mental health issues in college and the importance of peers reaching out to other students who may be in crisis. Students learn techniques for having difficult conversations and learn what resources are available for themselves or their peers at WWU in a crisis.
Safe Messaging
This workshop explains the importance of using safe messaging practices when covering suicide and suicide prevention topics in the media. Students will learn about best practices for safe messaging. This workshop includes a case study about the YA novel and Netflix series “13 Reasons Why” to illustrate the importance of using safe messaging practices and the possible dangerous outcomes that can happen when they are not used.
Considerations for Presenting on Sensitive Topics
This workshop talks about the unique aspects of presenting or advocating about traditionally sensitive topics, such as mental health, suicide prevention, substance abuse, sexual health, and violence prevention. Students will discuss what makes this experience unique and things to consider before presenting. Students will participate in role play scenarios to strengthen their skills and gain confidence.
Substance Use Overview
Appropriate for Health Education majors and those who plan to enter similar fields. The presentation will cover difficulties in substance use prevention as well as what is and is not effective. Problematic substance use will be defined and the best way to approach someone we are concerned about will be discussed. The Stages of Change will be covered as well as various treatment options available, including local resources. This presentation has a shorter one-hour option and a longer, more detailed, two-hour option, split into two parts.
Mental Wellness Resources at WWU
A comprehensive “tour” of mental health and wellness resources at WWU. Students will be shown websites of resources at WWU in detail and hopefully will find new resources that are available to them, even through services they may be aware of.
Get Better Sleep
Having trouble sleeping? Check out this workshop to learn specific tools and strategies around sleep hygiene to help you wake up feeling rested.
Anxiety and Athletics
A presentation designed specifically for student athletes about anxiety. Anxiety is defined, and symptoms and impact are explored. Students learn about techniques that can be helpful, as well as how to support others who struggle with anxiety symptoms.
LEARN Suicide Prevention
We are excited to announce that we are now offering LEARN® , a suicide prevention training created by the Forefront Suicide Prevention Center at University of Washington. This training helps educate people on how to recognize when someone may be at risk for suicide and how to connect them with immediate help, with a unique focus on means safety. LEARN is an acronym for the topics covered: Look for signs, Empathize and listen, Ask directly, Remove the dangers, Next steps.
Consent 101
Lots of college students are interested in exploring sex and relationships. But how do we make sure everyone is having a good time? Every person is in charge of their body, and we all need to work with our partners to create physical and sexual experiences that feel great for everyone. This workshop will help students learn how to figure out what they like, what their boundaries are, and how to communicate desires and preferences with your partner or partners.
Healthy Relationships
There’s a lot of talk about red and green flags in relationships—but healthy relationships are not just a list of things to look for or avoid. They are a practice! Let’s talk about how to cultivate satisfying, mutually beneficial relationships of all kinds: romantic, platonic, or sexual. Relationships should feel mostly fun, but let’s talk about what healthy conflict looks like, and how to be a good partner, roommate, and friend. Topics covered include: power, communication, consent, conflict strategies, and data specific to the experiences of students at WWU.
Sexual Wellness
How can we tend to our sexual wellness as an aspect of our general wellness? What is considered “normal” and “not normal” when it comes to sexual health during early adulthood? What resources or practices do our bodies need in order to maintain sexual health? How can we be good partners and engage in our sexual lives and experiences in ways that are ethical and feel good for everyone? This interactive workshop will cover the concept of “sexual citizenship,” and help students think about their sexual projects and setting goals and expectations for what they need to communicate with their partners. Data specific to the sexual landscape at WWU, consent, information about pregnancy and STI prevention, media literacy and expectations around sex, and resources for sexual wellness will also be included.