Health center gets hands-on stress reliever
Every college student is familiar with stress. From keeping up on studies to finding a good job, stress seems like it’s always there. Now there is one more way to relieve that stress and get a chance to relax.
The Student Health and Wellness Center at Utah State University recently hired a fully certified massage therapist.
“Our job is to keep the students in their classes,” Student Health and Wellness Center Director Jim Davis said.
The new therapist is licensed and experienced massage therapist Carrie Cook.
Cook, who specializes in pain management, said she is excited to be part of the staff and hopes to get started right away helping students relax and de-stress. Davis said he expects the new therapist to be a success that he hopes everyone will utilize.
This position was put in place after many requests from a student advisory board and competition from other schools. USU was one of few schools across the West that didn’t have a massage therapist, but upon seeing the success of other schools, employees at the Health and Wellness Center decided it was worth a try. Cook said she hopes being at USU will allow her to “utilize her experience” and help the center recharge.
She said she hopes that students’ visits to her will be similar to any other visit to the doctor’s office. When they arrive, she said there will be a few forms to fill out and a few things to read. Cook said she will make sure each student is aware of what will be expected out of her and of them by asking why they are there so she can target the first concerns on their minds.
“I don’t want to put people through torture,” she said. “I want them leaving feeling very relaxed and having enjoyed their experience with me.”
Having a full schedule and working at several places throughout Cache Valley, Cook would seem to have some of her own stress, but she said was more than happy to open up a location easily accessible for students on campus. Cook said she loves to hear the success stories from people she has helped and says that it is truly where her heart lies.
The center is available to USU students and their spouses and children.