Student Wellness

IWA is committed to caring for the whole person. We strive to meet the social, emotional, and developmental needs of all students.

This is accomplished through wellness education, short-term counseling with our licensed counselor, or referral to outside counseling services. Wellness education includes Freshman Flex, Sophomore Seminars, Junior Coffee, and Senior Launch as well as school wide events such as "Wellness Week", school-wide assemblies, and our partnership with the Council on Recovery. 

Student life at IWA includes organizations related to athletics, arts, government, spirituality, service, and world cultures.

Wellness Resources

School Counselor

Our Student Wellness Counselor, Ms. Emma Thompson (LMSW), is passionate about school based student support and creating a school climate where students feel known and cared for.

Emma Thompson

Degrees: B.S.W. University of Texas
M.S.W. University of North Carolina

Choices Program

Students participate in the Choices Prevention Program, a proactive partnership with the Council on Recovery Houston to educate students about making healthy choices to avoid high-risk behaviors.

Freshmen Flex

Freshmen are required to attend "Freshmen Flex", a formal study skills programs during Flex Time each Monday throughout the year.  Freshmen Flex focuses on learning styles, test-taking strategies, organizational skills, and health and wellness best practices.  Recent topics have included:

  • Technology: My Homework, Netclassroom, Grade Calculation, Digital Citizenship, Turnitin.com
  • Study Skills: Note Taking, Test Taking, Self Advocacy, Academic Integrity & Honor Code
  • Wellness: Friendships, Self-Compassion, and Community Building

Freshmen Fish Camp

Freshmen Fish Camp, provided by the Young Leaders Program, offers all freshmen the opportunity to learn and practice skills that will help them become confident, successful leaders. 

Sophomore Seminar

Sophomores participate in quarterly counseling seminars during Flex Time.  Sophomore Seminar is focused on school culture building and promoting the "3 Be's" (Be There, Be Positive, Be United). Each quarter is focused on a different "be" with the fourth quarter focusing on college application preparation and walking the girls through the next steps, giving them a timeline for taking the ACT/SAT, etc

Junior Coffee

Juniors are invited to attend small group sessions with our counselor, Emma Thompson, throughout their junior year. 

Senior Launch

Incarnate Word Academy hosts a "Senior Launch" for seniors and their parents. This event will be educational and helpful in preparing senior students and their parents for the changes that come with transitioning from high school to college. Additionally, there will be a roundtable discussion with questions about launching into young adulthood. 

Wellness Week

Students may choose to participate in Wellness Week activities prior to midterms and exams.  Wellness Week activities have included in the past: yoga, coloring mandalas, decorating Christmas cards for St. Dominic's with Campus Ministry, making stress balls, making weighted neck wraps, and serving hot tea.