Wellness Ambassadors are Concordia students like you, trained in peer support and active listening. Connect with them for resources, support and more!
Active listening sessions with Peer Wellness Ambassadors will resume in Fall 2022.
In the meantime, consult this page to find a range of resources, including short-term counselling and peer support and active listening.
“You did your best with the information available to you at the time. Be kind to yourself, have a study plan that fits your lifestyle and be consistent!”
“Nourishing yourself in a way that helps you blossom in the direction you want to go is attainable, and you are worth the effort.”
"Accept no one's definition of your life, define yourself."
“It’s hard not to feel rushed and on-the-go all the time as a student. Reach out to us if you just need to take a breather and talk about what’s going on!”
"I believe a strong component of achieving success is having a strong sense of self-reliance, self-resilience, and internal locus of control in relation to being the best possible version of myself. You have what it takes to be your best self!"
"Life is a process: it’s not the boxes we tick, it’s the quality in between. Make space for what fills you up, whether that’s art, music, playing with your dog, doing a puzzle, talking to a friend... what helps nourish you?"
"Life is a story with its ups and downs. If you are lost, confused, or in a place that's not your favorite, there will be a next chapter! Over time, you will create your own life story in the best way you can.”
"There are ‘n’ number of things everyone would suggest for you to do - but all five fingers are different. Set and follow your own rules and enjoy your life to the fullest!"
Jillian Ritchie
Wellness Coordinator
Jillian started at Concordia in 2018 as the Wellness Coordinator and manages the Peer Wellness Ambassador team, coordinates Zen Den programming, runs mental health events and develops partnerships both on- and off-campus. Working with a diverse team of students and colleagues is an incredibly rewarding experience, and promoting wellness on campus is truly a passion.
We look forward to seeing you online or in one of the Zen Dens!
Camila Velez (MA, c.o., Psychotherapist, OPQ)
Wellness Counsellor
Camila is a Counsellor and Registered Psychotherapist at Concordia's Counselling and Psychological Services and Zen Dens. Camila’s role involves developing and providing psychoeducational and skills-based programming and workshops, wellness outreach and promotion, connecting students to relevant resources, and individual short-term counselling.
Camila holds a master’s degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Ottawa. Prior to joining Concordia, she worked as a Wellness Consultant and Academic Associate in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at McGill University. She has participated in the design and implementation of academic wellness curriculums for diverse programs in the health professions, with the aim of helping students develop self-awareness, self-care, and holistic well-being. In addition, she enjoys outreach work, with previous initiatives including co-hosting a Wellness Podcast, creating a learner art online exhibit, implementing mindfulness-based programs, and launching support groups for BIPOC learners. Given her interest in scholarly work, she has also conducted, published, and presented qualitative research in the areas of counselling, wellness programming, and client outcomes.
As a counsellor, Camila has supported students from diverse backgrounds dealing with a range of presenting concerns. Her integrative approach is collaborative, nurturing, strength-based, and empowering. She is also committed to infusing her counselling work with social justice practices. For example, she advocated for and inaugurated the anti-oppression and anti-racism strategy of The WELL Office at McGill. Prior to working in academia, Camila completed her clinical internship at a rape crisis center, where she developed a passion for supporting survivors of sexual violence using individual and advocacy-based efforts. Lastly, she has coordinated a drop-in support service for sex workers and published research on strategies to better support sex workers who seek counselling services.
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