Peer Coaching

Overview

Welcome to the College of Letters and Science Peer Coaching Drop-In. Peer Coaching is here to support you with thoughtful listening, meaningful questions and collaborative problem-solving -- whether that is academic stress, personal challenges, or feeling a bit "stuck" somewhere else in life. Sometimes, just having a skilled thought partner can give you the needed clarity to carve a new path forward. That's what our coaches are here to help with.

Peer Coaches are trained in alignment with the International Coaching Federation (ICF) guidelines. The ICF defines coaching as "a partnership with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential." This means coaches are equipped to create a safe, supportive space for you to reflect, process, and grow.

You can meet with a Peer Coach by visiting our Virtual Front Desk, where you'll find up-to-date availability and can see when someone is ready to meet. We look forward to connecting with you!

Meet with a Peer Coach

What Coaching is

• A co-creative, collaborative process where you work with someone trained to listen deeply, ask thoughtful questions, and help you reflect
• An opportunity for anyone who feels “stuck” or unsure to move forward toward the best version of themselves through guided reflection
• A candid conversation with someone who sees you as capable and powerful; we think you probably hold the answers you're looking for, but might need help accessing them.

What Coaching is NOT

• Therapy or counseling – Coaching is forward-focused. It's about creating movement toward your goals and exploring possibilities, not revisiting or processing your past.
• About "fixing" you – Coaches operate from the belief that you are not broken. You're simply facing a moment of feeling stuck -- and that's something we can work through.
• Advice-giving – Your coach won't tell you what to do. Instead, they'll guide your reflection and when helpful, point you towards resources that might be better suited to your needs, but coaches are trained specifically not to give you advice, their opinion, or prescriptions for things you should do

What Can You Talk About in Coaching?

Coaching is a supportive space where you can explore a wide range of topics related to your personal, academic, and social experiences. Peer Coaches are trained as general life coaches, which means you're welcome to bring whatever is on your mind. Many coaches also specialize in leadership development, career exploration, academic planning, and interpersonal relationships. 

Some examples of common coaching topics include:

• Navigating roommate or interpersonal challenges
• Feeling uncertain about your direction in college
• Worries about grades, academic performance, or your social life
• Seeking clarity about your values, purpose, or next steps
• Managing family expectations and relationships
• Looking for a community and a sense of belonging at UC Davis

Whatever you're navigating, if it matters to you, it's worth discussing in coaching.