Navigating university life can be challenging. The UPTurn Wellness Program is here to help PHHP students thrive—mind, body, and spirit. We offer comprehensive and confidential wellness resources tailored for UF students.
UPTurn
A wellness initiative for PHHP students
UPTurn creates pathways to support the overall wellness of PHHP students.
How we can help
At UPTurn, our program’s mission is to promote the health and wellness of PHHP students so they can better manage academic, social, emotional and health-related stress and adjust to life’s demands and difficulties in a healthy and adaptive way.
We empower students to reach their full potential by supporting emotional well-being, resilience and personal growth through evidence-based strategies and caring support.
Undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and professional program students, as well as those taking courses in the college during the semester services are provided, are eligible for this no-cost program. Students meet with our program advisors, who are master’s-level doctoral students in the department of clinical and health psychology.
Our services
The UPTurn program offers students three levels of service with our trained program advisors, starting with an initial consultation.
Consultation
45-minute session
During this initial visit, our program advisors will curate an individualized plan for obtaining support and resources based upon the students’ concerns, stresses and goals. Program advisors will also provide recommendations for additional services as needed.
Skills-focused sessions
Up to four sessions
These sessions offer evidence-based and personalized guidance to help you focus on stress reduction, healthy habits and academic/life balance through a series of one-on-one visits with our program advisors.
New: Individual psychotherapy
Eight to 12 sessions
We’re excited to offer professional psychotherapy services, provided by our program advisors under the supervision of a licensed and board-certified psychologist. This evidence-based therapy offers a supportive environment for managing anxiety, depression, life transitions, trauma and other mental health concerns. Sessions are confidential and tailored to your needs—helping you find clarity, build coping skills, and foster resilience.
We encourage all students to have at least one “check up” visit with UPTurn advisors at some point across their academic training to touch base about how they are adjusting to academic and life demands.
How to connect
Getting started is easy! Students interested in meeting with an UPTurn advisor may request an appointment by filling out our appointment request form. Appointments are 45 minutes and can be conducted by phone, Microsoft Teams, Zoom or in person in the UF North Tower in offices G062 and G066.
Once you complete this form, you will receive information about your assigned advisor and be able to schedule an appointment.
Who we are
The program team is led by Dr. Deidre Pereira, an associate professor and associate chair in the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology. The program has two advisors: Jori Waner, M.S. and Lecsy González, MS, MPH, both of whom are doctoral students in the department of clinical and health psychology.
UPTurn advisors can be reached by email or by calling 352-273-6850.
Department:
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology
Deidre B Pereira Ph.D., ABPP
Associate Professor & Associate Chair for Postgraduate Programs
Additional resources
Are you or someone you know in need of extra support? Please visit U Matter, We Care and the Counseling and Wellness Center for valuable campus resources dedicated to personal wellness, mental health and counseling services.
University of Florida
U Matter, We Care
Many students are faced with stressors and challenges that begin to impact their success as a student. Our goal is to ensure that every Gator has the knowledge and path to connect to the appropriate resource on campus.
University of Florida
Counseling and Wellness Center
As primary providers of mental health counseling services at the University of Florida, we aspire for every UF student to have timely access to quality care, prevention, and education.
University of Florida
Crisis and Emergency Resource Center
CERC is a service of the Counseling and Wellness Center and provides emergency walk-in crisis stabilization and range of consultation and training services for UF faculty and staff.