New eCornell program offers wellness counseling skills

Wellness – defined by the World Health Organization as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being” – is essential not only in the health care industry but in every profession and everyday life. However, creating a culture or achieving an optimal state of well-being can be challenging.


Beth McKinney

Beth McKinney

To better equip helping professionals, the Cornell Institute for Healthy Futures (CIHF) has developed a Wellness Counseling certificate program, offered through eCornell. Ideal for any human resource or wellness professional, this program offers best-in-practice, demonstrated counseling techniques and steps for achieving and creating a culture of wellness.

“Whatever industry a helping professional is in, the ability to effectively lead and curate a culture of wellness is integral,” said program author Beth McKinney, lecturer in nutritional sciences in the College of Human Ecology and CIHF faculty fellow. “This program develops those skills, enabling professionals with the tools to create rapport, elicit behavior change, have open and empathetic communication and enhance their overall effectiveness.”

This program consists of four two-week classes:

  • Understanding the Person;
  • Understanding the Deeper Need;
  • Eliciting New Behaviors; and
  • Promoting Organizational Wellness.

Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate from the College of Human Ecology and 40 professional development hours.

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