SUNY Potsdam

The Wellness Advocate Internship is sponsored by the SUNY Potsdam Counseling Center. Students accepted into the program train to become peer counselors; they offer a kind ear for fellow students and can also refer them to other offices on campus.

Changes occur in the program each year but the purpose will remain the same: to give all students on campus an additional resource for maintaining their emotional health and well-being. 

Guidelines (a.k.a. the "Fine Print")

• No previous experience is necessary; all majors are welcome.
• Applicants must be SUNY Potsdam students with 12 or more credits and a 2.5 or greater GPA. Graduate students are welcome.
• Two upper division internship credits are awarded for training and for each semester in the Wellness Advocate (WA) program.
• Applications for Wellness Advocate Training can be picked up from the Counseling Center during advising time.  Note: training may not occur each semester depending on the demand.
• If you are accepted, you must commit to a semester-long training process in order to fulfill the internship requirements (visit Training Process for more info about what the training component entails).
• As a Wellness Advocate (a.k.a. WAs) commitment includes: being part of an on-call rotation where you can be reached from 4:30 p.m. – 8:00 a.m., programming, staff meetings and being a positive, active role model on campus.
• WAs do not need to live on campus.
  

To access a WA for assistance:

• Call (315) 261-8942 or (315) 261-8873 between 4:30 p.m. and 8 a.m. while classes are in session during the Fall and Spring semesters.
• The WAs will offer to meet you someplace open, yet private on campus, such as your residence hall, the Union, Library or University Police.
• Everything spoken remains confidential under the Counseling Center guidelines.