As we continue our commitment to supporting your well-being, we’re excited to delve deeper into one of the valuable resources available to you on campus: Well-Being Coaching. You may have noticed that in the resource section of articles in The Flourish, you will often find information about Well-Being Coaching at Stanford. This month, I interviewed one of Stanford's Well-Being Coaches to give you insight into what it is, what you can expect from it, and how to engage with it, particularly for students who identify as FLI (first-generation and/or low-income).
An Interview with a Well-Being Coach
I had the pleasure of interviewing Sheralynn Magallanes, a Well-Being Coach who primarily supports FLI (first-generation and/or low-income) students. Sheralynn was pivotal in helping me navigate my Stanford journey, and I was so excited to interview her to provide an introduction to Well-Being Coaching for our readers.
I started by asking Sheralynn to speak about what Well-Being Coaching is. As someone who has participated in this service, I thought her response was spot on.
“Well-being coaching is a non-clinical source of mental health and well-being support. It is suited to treat the whole student and whatever they may be going through across different sectors of their lives. Coaching is about re-centering to the present and looking forward to the future.”
As a FLI college student herself, Sherralyn taps into her perspective and knowledge to address how the coaching needs of FLI students at Stanford differ from the general student population. Many come from first-generation and/or low-income backgrounds, which are often drastically different from the environments in which they grew up, whether academically, demographically, wealth-wise, or in terms of access to resources.
Some of the common topics that FLI students explore with a Sheralynn include: dealing with survivor’s guilt as being the sole person in their family, school, or even community to have the opportunity to get a higher education, honoring both struggle and gratitude, difficulty connecting with traditional support systems, imposter syndrome, managing family dynamics back home, financial concerns, or “feeling the pressure of uplifting their families and trying to create a better world all while being a student.”
Sheralynn believes Well-Being Coaching can help FLI students thrive in their Stanford journeys by meeting them where they are, in a co-created space that empowers them to reorient themselves as the “experts of their own experiences.”
“Coaching is a soft place to land. It is an emotionally safe space where they do not have to apologize for taking up space or getting emotional. It is a space to deepen their experience of themselves. I am here to help them find their own way. I will always ask them how they are arriving, and we focus on what’s really present.”
Well-Being Coaching is not one-size-fits-all. Students arrive as they are, and they do not need to have an agenda of what they are seeking help with. It is important to note that while Well-Being Coaching is a confidential service, coaches are mandated reporters.
To schedule a Well-Being Coaching appointment, visit wellbeing.stanford.edu. Click on Sheralynn’s profile to make an appointment with her. You can also meet with Sheralynn at Wellness Wednesdays at the FLI Office, which will begin Week 4. kashi, who does drop-in hours at several community centers and can also be found on the well-being website.
If you are unsure if well-being coaching is right for you, you can also schedule a 15-minute “Well-Being Wayfinding” session, which is a consultation about the service itself to see if it’s a good fit for you!
Sheralynn concluded our interview with the following:
“FLI students are incredibly special and very high-achieving. Sometimes, our pursuits can come at the expense of ourselves. Well-being coaching is really about protecting your mental health and well-being so that you can do everything you've set out to do. To be a co-author of your own story and take up the pen there. And I extend this care to all students as well.”
Written by: Ryan Esquivel, Class of 2026
Resources
Stanford Resources
- Well-Being Coaching: Work with a supportive partner to design your own vision for well-being. Figure out what you want and need at this phase of your life. Move through uncertainty with a trusted guide. Sign Up for a Coaching Session
- Counseling & Psychological Services: CAPS' diverse staff are committed to clinical excellence and culturally responsive care. CAPS offers clinical services, groups and workshops, Let's Talk in Community sessions, and options for care outside of CAPS.