At Lakeland College, hands-on learning is a critical component of the student experience.

Some human services students are using these opportunities as both a way to practice their new skills and to offer their fellow students an additional form of support with peer coaching.

Kara Mouly, a second-year child and youth care student and peer coach, says the new peer coaching program fits in with the other student wellness initiatives offered at Lakeland.

“It's important to have student coaching programs like this because there are a lot of students who might be nervous about talking to the counsellor and would rather just talk to another student,” Mouly explains. “Maybe they don't know where to start looking for services. We can help direct them to where they need to go and it gives us a chance to practice our skills.”

Mouly is one of three peer coaches. They meet in the library a few times each week for casual conversations with students looking for someone to talk to and are available through email. The peer coaches also host wellness activities and help Lakeland's student wellness advisor, Sarah Popil, with her programs. The coaches also have extensive information on various resources and are able to help students navigate them.

“We help with pretty much anything a student will go through,” Mouly says. “Stress, tests and homesickness, whatever they are going through, we are able to talk about it and to find the proper resources for them. They are pretty universal experiences. We all go through them at some point in the semester.”

The student-led peer coaching program launched last year by a group of human services students as an opportunity to practice their skills. They presented their idea to others in the human services program, which is how Mouly got involved.

This fall, the peer coaches held wellness walks along with their regular coaching and they are planning additional activities for the upcoming semester. Mouly explains how important it is for them to create an easy-going atmosphere for what they are trying to achieve.

“We're definitely casual all the time,” she says. “Even if we're in the library helping students. We're not sitting across the table having a difficult conversation with you. Some students might be intimidated by that. We make it super comfortable and it's really important.”

Students looking to contact a peer coach can do so by emailing Derek Collins, human services instructor, at derek.collins@lakelandcollege.ca or on Instagram. Those interested in becoming a coach themselves are welcome to reach out as well.

Photo: Peer coach Kara Mouly (right) helps out at the information booth on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.