Supporting Student Mental Wellness: Lessons from the Learning to Bounce and Thriving in Action programs

Melissa Beacom is an occupational therapist who practices psychotherapy with more than 20 years of experience as an accessibility advisor at the University of Guelph with a specialty in mental health. Melissa uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and her occupational therapy lens to provide practical tools to help learners tackle perfectionism, avoidance and improve motivation. In 2022, Melissa co-created Learning to Bounce, an evidence-based program that helps students explore and manage the hidden emotional demands of learning to help them flourish as learners.

Tara Embrey is an occupational therapist who practices psychotherapy within the context of academia; turning her many years of experience in mental health to helping students thrive. As an accessibility advisor at University of Guelph, she saw students struggling with perfectionism, shame and procrastination that accommodations couldn't address. In response, she and Melissa created Learning to Bounce. Tara uses an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) lens and is guided by her belief in the inherent worth of each individual.

Victoria Fritz (she/her) is a Learning Specialist, helping to support students with all things academic; from time management, effective studying, and goal setting to presentations and effective academic communication. Victoria is also a PhD candidate in Family Relations and Human Development exploring students' experiences of academic failure. Victoria is a Registered Social Worker and has a passion for supporting and encouraging wellbeing and mindfulness in everyday life. Outside of her work and PhD, Victoria is a self-identified pizza and cat enthusiast and is always up for a chat about failure over local craft beers.

Rebecca Skelhorn (she/her) is a Wellness Educator in the Wellness Education & Promotion Centre, part of Student Wellness Services. As a Guelph alum, Rebecca loves being able to support the well-being of students on campus by working with her Peer Helpers to create events, workshops, resources, and more. Rebecca innovated programming in ways that supported U of G students including coordinating both the SHINE podcast and the Housecalls program for graduate students while also focusing her interests around mental health and healthy eating/active living.