Wellness and Health Promotion Services

What Is Wellness?

Wellness is a positive approach to living. It is the active process of becoming aware and making choices toward a healthier, happier and more fulfilling Stanford experience.

Wellness is positive and affirming, encompassing physical, mental and spiritual well-being, for self, for others and for the environment.

Dimensions of Wellness

Wellness is more than being free from illness. Wellness is a dynamic process of change and growth. There are many interrelated dimensions of wellness: physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, social, environmental, and life meaning. Each dimension is equally vital in the pursuit of optimum health.

Vaden and other campus wellness resources offer students the opportunity to engage in activities that encourage them to be:

• Balanced: Giving the intellectual, physical, mental, and social dimensions of one’s life significant attention has clear health and academic benefits.
• Proactive: Intentional purposeful activities are well documented to be the most promising determinant of long-term success and happiness.
• Positive: Educational programs teach the “how” of wellness via three core elements:
  • Pleasures: Increase well-being by engaging in and savoring positive experiences.
  • Engagement: Use one’s strengths to pursue “flow” activities that often result in heightened states of awareness, confidence and performance.
  • Meaning: Meaning is deeply personal. Purpose and meaning emerge from personal commitments to make a positive difference such as pursuing constructive goals, joining others in community contribution, and taking compassionate action.

About Wellness and Health Promotion Services

Our services include individual counseling and broad-based educational courses and programs designed to educate and empower students to make informed, healthy decisions about lifestyle, wellness, and health behaviors. Most of our services are available without additional charge for students who have paid the Campus Health Service Fee.

Staff:  Professional health educators and student health educators and interns

Phone:  650-723-0821