Student Health and Wellness Programs

Therapy Dogs

Therapy dogs will be on campus! Multiple studies demonstrate that students who engage with therapy dogs on campus have a more positive affect.

When: 5–6 p.m. and 7–8 p.m. on the Tuesdays below:

Feb. 10
Feb. 24
March 24
April 7
April 21
May 5

Where: Humanities and Social Studies Center, Atrium
Who: Any current student

Forest Bathing

Forest Bathing, or Shinrin-yoku, originates from the traditional Japanese practice of immersing oneself mindfully in nature. Forest Bathing has been shown to reduce stress, symptoms of depression and anxiety, and self-criticism.

When: 4:15–5:45 p.m. on the Tuesdays below:

March 31
April 14
April 28
May 12

Where: Meet on the east side of the Forum
Who: Any current student

Registration is required and can be sent to Tiffany Criswell.

Treadmill/Walking Desk

SHAW added a treadmill desk for students in the HSSC. It is positioned in the northwest area of the second floor in front of a window. It is important that all users read and follow the safety warnings posted with the treadmill and wear the safety lanyard when in use.

Multiple offices were consulted to ensure that it would not be disruptive to others, did not interrupt egress, and had a view of green space. While the deeper, more frequent, and lengthier periods you get into nature, the better for your mental health, even time spent looking at trees and lawns has an impact relative to looking at technological screens. Furthermore, movement while studying improves recall. Some studies indicate that movement as intense as walking reduces stress better than high intensity exercise due to the amount of added stress from the two types of exercise. And while moderate to vigorous exercise may enhance our cardiovascular health more, even gentle walking correlates to cardiovascular benefits.

Questions or concerns related to the treadmill desk can be sent to SHAW.

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

Movement can be a great tool for stress reduction for many people. This is why SHAW, in a longstanding co-sponsorship with Athletics, offers . This class, facilitated by UnityPoint instructors, focuses on boosting energy, building muscle, and finding joy in movement.

When: Tuesdays & Thursdays noon - 1 p.m.
Where: BRAC P103 - Multipurpose Dance Studio

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Drop-In: Grief Over the Lunch Hour with CRSSJ and SHAW

CRSSJ and SHAW will hold a supportive space for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one such as a parent, family member, partner, friend, or peer. This weekly event will provide a healing space for those who have experienced a significant loss and wish to connect with a community of grievers. This group supports connection, the exploration of feelings connected to loss, as well as the reflection on grief's continued impact on day-to-day life. This space is not a replacement for therapy or psychiatric care. Feel free to ask for referrals if needed.

No registration required.

Location: CRSSJ Garage, 913 8th Ave
When: Thursdays 12 noon–1 p.m. Light sandwiches will be provided
Who: Any currently enrolled student who is grieving the loss of a loved individual

Rabbi Sarah Brammer-Shlay and Rev. Cassandra Lawrence from the CRSSJ as well as Dr. Beth Perlman of SHAW will be present. Any questions can be directed to Sarah Brammer-Shlay.

Drop-In: Walk It Out!

Experience health benefits from exercising, including improving your mental health with this supportive group. It will help keep exercising on your schedule to make it regular and rewarding with weekly walks. Begins at JRC information desk. Please dress appropriately for the weather- we'll be outside.

When: Mondays 4:15

Drop-In: Write it Out!

Research shows that writing or journaling can be a powerful way to process emotions, reduce stress, and enhance self-awareness. SHAW invites you to a monthly journaling drop-in space where you can slow down and check in with yourself. We'll provide journal prompts (or feel free to write freely), a quiet atmosphere, and some snacks. Whether you stay to write or just stop by to pick up prompts for later, this is a space for self-exploration and care. Requests for themes can be made through email. This will be located in the JRC outside of D-hall.

When: First Friday of the month 12 noon – 1 p.m.
Who: Any currently enrolled student

Cultivating Healthy Emotions & Relationships

This weekly skills group uses principles of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), including mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. The skills taught in DBT are for anyone interested in improving their relationship to their emotions and managing conflict more effectively.

Registration needed. Contact SHAW to schedule an appointment for registration.

When: Tuesdays, 11 a.m.–12 noon
Who: Any currently enrolled student

Getting Acclimated

A weekly support space for first-year and transfer students to connect, build community, and share the successes and challenges of adjusting to Grinnell. First-year and transfer students experiencing a variety of stressors adjusting to Grinnell could benefit from this group.

Registration needed. Contact SHAW to schedule an appointment for registration.

When: Wednesdays 4:15–5:15 p.m.
Who: Any student new to Fulao2

Hopping off the ADHD Merry-Go-Round: Skills & Accountability

This group welcomes students with ADHD or who suspect they may have ADHD. We will focus on building skills to mitigate the challenges posed by ADHD and establish an accountability system within the group to support follow-through on tasks of students’ choice. Students may develop goals around academics, self-care, internship/job applications, and any other areas of life impacted by challenges associated with ADHD. On Wednesdays we will focus on learning about executive functioning skills and strategies to further develop them; on Fridays we will come together to establish and review goals, as well as to practice new strategies in a shared workspace.

Registration needed. Contact SHAW to schedule an appointment for registration.

When: Fridays 11a.m.–12 p.m.
Who: Any currently enrolled student with ADHD or who suspect they may have ADHD

Mindfully Understanding Yourself & Others

A weekly interpersonal processing group for students who wish to better understand themselves and their connections with others. The primary purpose of this group is to explore emotions, share experiences, develop awareness of interpersonal patterns through support and feedback, and further foster healthy vulnerability in relationships.

Registration needed. Contact SHAW to schedule an appointment for registration.

When: Thursdays 11 a.m.–noon | Fridays 11 a.m.– 2 noon
Who: Any currently enrolled student

SHAW offers various workshops to students and employees. Registration is required for these. Email SHAW with registration questions.

QPR — Question, Persuade, Refer

Each member of this community plays a critical role in suicide prevention. Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR) is a nationally-recognized suicide prevention training goal. QPR is designed for everyone, even non-mental health professionals. The goal of the program is to increase understanding of warning signs and behaviors for suicide as well as to build confidence in having conversations about suicide. This training workshop will offer direction on how to inquire about suicidal thoughts, persuade others to seek support, and refer the person for help.

SHAW will reach out about the location for this workshop.

Please if you are interested.

Sessions TBD. To schedule for a group, email SHAW.

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