Current Groups and Workshops

Begins: Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Time: 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Griffith Hall
Duration: 6 weeks
Group type: Closed
Closing Date: March 15, 2023
Ends: April 12, 2023

This group will focus on learning about grief, sharing experiences and connecting with others through storytelling as a way to move forward in the grieving process. To join or for more information, please contact Student Counseling Services.

Begins: Thursday, March 9, 2023
Time: 1 - 2 p.m.
Location: Griffith Hall
Duration: 6 weeks
Group type: Closed
Closing Date: March 16, 2023
Ends: April 13, 2023

Do you struggle with managing stress and self-care? Do you want to learn how to become more resilient? Each week this group will cover a healthy coping skill category and practice ways to use these coping strategies on your own. To join or for more information, please contact Student Counseling Services.

Begins: Thursday, March 9, 2023
Time: 2:30 - 4 p.m.
Location: Griffith Hall
Duration: 6 weeks
Group type: Closed
Closing Date: March 16, 2023
Ends: April 13, 2023

This group is great for anyone looking to have support and learn about coping skills regarding self-esteem and body image concerns. We will explore various methods for coping and making peace with our bodies. To join or for more information, please contact Student Counseling Services.

Begins: Thursday, March 9, 2023
Time: 3 - 4 p.m.
Location: Cross-Cultural Center
Duration: 6 weeks
Group type: Open
Ends: April 13, 2023

Individuals who identify as Black are invited to connect and learn in a supportive group environment. The intention of the support group is to hold space for Black-identifying peers. To join or for more information, please contact Student Counseling Services or the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

If you are interested in joining a particular group, contact us and our administrative specialist will let you know how to join the group. All groups require a pre-group screening appointment for you with the group's facilitator(s). During either of these meetings, you will meet the facilitator(s), learn about the group and have the opportunity to discuss any concerns, ask questions and determine whether or not the group is a good fit for you and your needs.

Groups of 6 to 10 individuals regularly meet to discuss and/or work on concerns regarding a specific concern or set of concerns. Groups will meet weekly and should be viewed as equivalent to individual counseling. There are generally four types of groups offered:

• Counseling/Process Group - beneficial for those who would like to share personal experiences, give/receive feedback and try new behaviors/skills in a safe environment
• Psychoeducational Group - beneficial for those who would like to learn more about a particular topic, gain additional resources and/or build particular skills
• Support Group - beneficial for those who would like to give/receive support with others who are currently having, or have had, similar experiences
• Workshops/Wellness Group - beneficial for those who would like to improve and/or learn new skills to enhance their personal wellness

Groups can be open (always open to any interested individuals) or closed (available only to a select number of individuals for the duration of the group program).

All groups will be facilitated by one or more counselors from Student Counseling Services. The facilitator's top priority is to encourage a safe and supportive environment for the group members. In doing so, the facilitator(s) will provide enough structure to keep the group moving forward, but ensure enough freedom to encourage member participation and ownership. Some of the roles of the facilitator(s) are to ensure that the group expectations are set, understood and upheld, facilitate the group discussion, provide feedback/observations and assist group members as appropriate.

Often, individual concerns pertain to relationships or other skills that may be well-suited for a group setting. Groups can provide a welcoming and supportive atmosphere in which students may connect with others who may be experiencing similar concerns. Groups also provide the opportunity for new insights to be gleaned from others and/or new behaviors that to be "tested" with these supportive individuals.

During the group pre-screening and first group session, expectations, including confidentiality, are clearly communicated. Due to the nature of groups, the group members must agree to maintain the confidentiality of the group discussions and process. In other words, all members are expected to agree that "what's happens in the group stays in the group," assuring the other group members that they will not divulge anything related to the group, including identifying information about its members, in any way outside of the group setting.

Students are expected to commit to upholding group standards and expectations. These general standards/expectations include, but are not limited to:

• Upholding the confidentiality of the group
• Respecting the facilitators and members of the group
• Attending each group session for the duration of the program (if it is a closed group)
• Arriving on-time
• Contacting the group facilitator(s), in a timely fashion, in the event that the student cannot attend a group session
• Participating openly and honestly and to the student's comfort level

Additional expectations may be created, agreed upon and set by the members of each individual group.

Given the group design, group members will be sharing personal information with other individuals that they may or may not know; this can make anyone feel uneasy. It is important to recognize that you likely are not the only person feeling this way and that it is okay to share that! To help with this, the facilitator(s) will hold a discussion early in the group process about group members' uneasiness and what can be done to help the group members feel more comfortable.