July 8, 2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
University life can be an exciting and challenging time. In\nan environment of change and new responsibilities, students often struggle to\nbalance academic, financial, social and personal priorities\u2014including health and\nwellness. That\u2019s why Dawn Clifford<\/strong>,\nassociate professor and graduate coordinator in health sciences, began the\nUniversity Coaching for Activity and Nutrition (UCAN) program last fall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The program is built on the idea of coaches guiding clients\nthrough developing life changes that lead to a healthier, more balanced\nlifestyle by providing encouragement and accountability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI wanted to provide support for NAU students so that as\nthey attempt to make positive changes, they have someone to check in with and\nbe part of their journey,\u201d Clifford said. \u201cCollege students are often\nstressed-out, sleep-deprived, eat minimal fruits and vegetables and have a hard\ntime fitting in physical activity. I wanted to create a program that can help\nLumberjacks take better care of themselves and receive the individual attention\nthey need to be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Seeing the progress students have made with the help of UCAN\ncoaches inspired Clifford to expand the program to the wider NAU community. This\nfall, the same services will be available to faculty and staff. Appointments\nare available in HLC 4011B for Lumberjacks on the Flagstaff mountain campus or\nvirtually via video chat for online students and faculty and staff at satellite\ncampuses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The rates for all clients are the same: The first session is\nfree, and additional single sessions are $5. Clients also can sign up for a\nseries of six sessions for $20. Clients plan sessions around their schedules,\nfinding a time up that\u2019s convenient for them. Sessions are arranged to last up\nto 50 minutes but can be shortened to accommodate busy client schedules.\nSign-up is available on the UCAN webpage<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n From scheduling to setting goals, UCAN is designed with clients\nin mind. Each client receives personalized health coaching to fit their individual\nneeds, goals and behavioral challenges or health obstacles. Whether it\u2019s\nfinding ways to have more energy, sleep better at night, eat more healthfully or\ngain a more comfortable perspective on body image, UCAN coaches are there to\nhelp. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Coaches are students, most of whom major in nutrition, fitness and wellness, public health or allied health professions. They receive a minimum of 45 hours of health coach training including in-depth knowledge and skill-building in motivational interviewing. The behavior-change coaching technique is highly effective in helping others adopt health-supportive behaviors, Clifford said. Additionally, training emphasizes practicing compassion and confidentiality with clients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur health coaches are trained to help each client navigate a change in a way that provides the biggest payoff for the client with the smallest disruption in the client\u2019s life,\u201d Clifford said. \u201cPeople are successful with health and wellness changes when the benefits of changing outweigh the costs or drawbacks of changing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sarah Neville<\/strong>, a\nmaster\u2019s student studying public health and nutrition, successfully completed\nher training and has been a UCAN coach since January. She joined the program to\nhelp clients feel more comfortable with their bodies and develop habits that\nwork for them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUCAN is a judgment-free zone, and we\u2019re all about breaking\ndown the societal norms revolving around body image and diet culture,\u201d Neville\nsaid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The entire UCAN program, in fact, is built around a more\nholistic approach to health and wellness. Rather than leading clients to make\nextreme changes to diet and exercise that can be difficult to maintain and\nmentally unhealthy, UCAN coaches help them make sustainable changes that nurture\ntheir physical, mental and emotional needs. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n This philosophy extends to body image, nutrition and\nphysical activity. Clients are encouraged to choose goals that focus less on\nachieving a desired body type and more on becoming an overall healthier person.\nEating more whole grains, fruits and vegetables and finding fun physical\nactivities are the types of changes coaches support clients incorporating into\ntheir lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur clients have enough to stress about. They don\u2019t need to\nalso be stressed about health choices,\u201d Clifford said. \u201cWe want the changes\nthat clients make through UCAN to bring them joy, not pain. Behavior changes\nthat cultivate joy are the ones that people stick to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information about the UCAN program or becoming a\nstudent health coach, email Dawn.Clifford@nau.edu<\/a> or call (928) 523-2566.\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"