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SEWANEE'S HOME FOR STUDENT WELLBEING

Sewanee Wellness consists of of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), University Health Services (UHS), and FitWell. Our holistic and intentional approach recognizes that physical fitness, outdoor activity, fun, basic needs, and spirituality are essential components of mental and physical wellbeing. We offer comprehensive health services, individual and group counseling, group exercise classes, and outreach programs. 

²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Us at Sewanee Wellness

Sewanee Wellness is located in the Wellness Commons at 604 University Avenue, right next to McClurg Dining Hall. FitWell is on the top floor, while CAPS and UHS are on the ground floor.

Counseling and Psychological Services

The CAPS staff works to promote the mental health and wellbeing of our students and our community. Students are invited to make an appointment to meet with a CAPS clinician to discuss any mental health concerns.

University Health Services

Our dedicated team of healthcare professionals offers a range of services from routine checkups and preventative care to evaluation and treatment of illnesses and injuries. 

FitWell

The gym at FitWell is inclusive of all fitness levels, body types, and abilities. We offer strength and cardio rooms, as well as group exercise classes.Ìý

Core Values of Sewanee Wellness

We are INCLUSIVE.

We believe strongly in the value of all people. We welcome students of all cultures, all races, all sexual orientations, all gender identities, and all spiritual beliefs. We are firmly committed to ensuring that our center is a safe space for ALL. 

 

We are STRENGTHS-FOCUSED. 

We believe that all people have the capacity to grow and to change. We understand that each of our students has abilities, assets, and resources which they can tap into to assist with their problems and goals. We also see the social environment of Sewanee as a place rich with resources and opportunities, and we help students connect with these resources to increase psychological well-being.

 

We are STUDENT-CENTERED. 

We recognize that our students are the experts in their own lives, and we are committed to collaborative models of wellness. We strive to recognize, accept, and address the full spectrum of our students' individual and collective lives and mental health needs. 

 

Outreach

Sewanee Wellness offers a variety of outreach programs designed to promote mental and physical health. We often partner with student organizations and other departments. Students are welcome to contact us to plan an outreach event. Email us at caps@sewanee.edu.

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Prevention

Prevention is at the heart of wellness. By providing education, outreach, screening, and early intervention, Sewanee Wellness helps students make informed decisions that support their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Prevention efforts focus on identifying concerns before they become larger challenges, building healthy habits, and connecting students with resources that promote long-term success.

 

Through outreach initiatives such as our “Educate Yourself” program that addresses substance misuse, and collaborative prevention programming, such as our monthly mocktail events in FitWell promoting our harm reduction approach, students are encouraged to reflect on their health, reduce risk, and develop skills that support lifelong well-being. By investing in prevention today, we help create a healthier, safer, and more resilient campus community. To learn more about our programs or to schedule a prevention event for your organization, please contact us at caps@sewanee.edu. 

 

Another resource we offer is ScreenU, a free and anonymous screening tool to assess substance use and is available to all Sewanee students.

Newsletter

Subscribe to the Sewanee Wellness newsletter to stay informed about campus wellness initiatives, upcoming outreach programs, health and wellbeing tips from our staff, special events, and resources designed to support student success. Explore current and past issues by clicking the button below.

Resources for Faculty and Staff

Knowing how to recognize signs of distress, how to respond, and how to access resources will equip faculty and staff with the tools to support a student who needs help. Our staff has created this Purple Folder as a resource for employees to help students in distress. 

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Wellness Leadership

Leigh Collins, LCSW

Executive Director, wellness / Director, Counseling & Psychological Services

Leigh has more than two decades of experience as a therapist, administrator, and speaker. She is certified by the American Association of Suicidology as a College and University Suicide Prevention Specialist and by the Mindfulness Institute for Emerging Adults as a meditation instructor. She is also a biofeedback practitioner and certified yoga and barre instructor with a strong commitment to holistic health and wellbeing. Leigh received her MSW from Tulane University and has experience working with students in higher education, secondary schools, and outpatient clinical settings. She specializes in cognitive therapies, including CBT, I-CBT, ACT, and DBT, and she primarily works with anxiety disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder. She is the author of Parenting Through Illness: Help for Families when a Parent is Seriously Ill (2016, Hohm Press). She enjoys hiking, yoga, and playing with her two dogs.

Flora Walker, APRN, WHNP-BC

ASSOCIATE Director, UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICES

Flora has been working as a nurse practitioner since 2015, specializing primarily in women’s health. Flora grew up in Sewanee and earned her bachelor’s degree from Millsaps College and her master’s degree from Vanderbilt University. Before returning to the mountain, Flora spent ten years practicing in the Chattanooga area. She also helped found a medical spa, which strengthened her interest in leadership, teamwork, and building collaborative, patient-centered care. Flora is grateful to be serving the community that helped shape her. Outside of work, she enjoys being physically active and spending time in the woods and with her family.

Alena Kochinski

Director, FitWell

A proud alumna of The University of the ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ, Alena graduated in 2018 with a major in Theatre and a minor in Biology. Her experience as a Production and Design Intern from 2020 to 2024 in Sewanee's Theatre and Dance Department sparked her love for student mentorship and community engagement. She brings a blend of creativity, leadership, and a genuine passion for wellness to her role in FitWell. With a black belt in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Alena is dedicated to fitness and personal growth. In her free time, she enjoys painting portraits, kayaking, and exploring feng shui.

Elise Tarhan, LCSW

Director of Operations, wellness / Associate Director, Counseling & Psychological Services

A Saint-Andrew's-Sewanee School and University of the ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ graduate, Elise returned to the Mountain in 2020 after completing a 2-year Post-Master's Clinical Fellowship at NC State University Counseling Center. Prior to her fellowship, Elise earned her master's degree in Social Work, Social Policy, and Social Administration from the University of Chicago. Her areas of interest include anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, identity exploration (particularly with the LGBTQIA+ community), grief, and self-esteem. Drawing from mindfulness-based approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Elise cultivates a person-centered, eclectic therapeutic approach. She is committed to creating spaces that are strengths-based, inclusive, and trauma-informed. Elise has extensive training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. She has also completed EMDR Basic Training. In addition to her clinical practice as a therapist, she is passionate about suicide prevention and positive systemic change. In her spare time, Elise enjoys long walks on campus and spending time with her family and friends. 

Wellness Administrative Staff

Anna Palmer-Hosch

Wellness Commons Administrator

Anna is a University of the ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ graduate (C'17) with an immense love of the community here on the mountain. As a student at Sewanee, she was a Carey Fellow and a psychology major. As a Carey Fellow, Anna interned at Walrus, a boutique advertising agency in NYC, working on new business development. She previously served as the Sustainability Coordinator at Sewanee and as an Admission Counselor at St. Andrew's-Sewanee School. When Anna is not snuggled up with her two dogs reading a book, she can be found hiking the Sewanee trails or attempting to keep her many plants alive.

Evelyn Patton

MEDICAL OFFICE SENIOR PATIENT COORDINATOR

Evelyn joined the Wellness Center staff in 2017. She previously worked for Grundy and Franklin County 911 EMS services. She attended the University of the ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ EMT program and has been certified as an AEMT since 2005. She has also completed the Business Systems Technology program at the Tennessee Technology Center in McMinville. Evelyn is a long-time resident of Sewanee. She graduated high school from the Sewanee Academy and was even born in the old Emerald Hodgson Hospital, which is now a residence hall on campus!

 

Donate Today

Invest in the health and wellbeing of our students by donating to Sewanee Wellness. Contributions help provide innovative programs, educational outreach, and wellness resources that empower students to thrive throughout their college experience.

Your gift supports initiatives such as:

  • MindBody Lab

  • MindBody Lab for Athletes

  • Substance Misuse Outreach and Safety

  • Men’s Mental Health Initiatives

  • Health Education Outreach

  • FitWell Programming

Join us in fostering a culture of wellness that helps students build resilience, make informed choices, and thrive, both on campus and beyond.

Follow us on social media to stay up to date on Sewanee Wellness!