Group therapy has been found to be an effective form of treatment and is as equivalent and sometimes more effective than individual therapy for certain concerns. Group therapy helps people talk about things in a more genuine way which helps them address the heart of their struggles and find improvements in their symptoms or concerns. Group therapy is a counseling service and a student must be a client at CAPS to participate in group, and student’s therapy goals must be align with the goals of that group to be accepted into a specific group.

If you are interested in participating in Group Therapy, make an appointment for an initial assessment at CAPS and let you counselor know that you are interested in group therapy as an option to address your particular counseling goals. Group therapy space is limited, so one is not guaranteed a spot in group.   The therapist will discussed what therapy groups align with your therapy goals and set you up for a group screening appointment.

Groups typically begin a few weeks into the semester and meet weekly. Your intake counselor will discuss group options and can refer you to a pre-screening with the group facilitator(s).

FAQ about joining a group

How to schedule a group appointment

 

Summer 2023 Therapy Groups

Groups are offered in-person and virtually.

Summer 2023 Group Flier here: Summer 2023 Groups

Mondays

Social Anxiety @10-11:30AM • This group will provide a space to explore aspects of life that may trigger social anxiety, as well as effective coping strategies. 

Understanding Self and Others (USO) @10:30-12PM • This group is for students wanting to better understand themselves and their relationships and will allow for the opportunity to provide and receive honest feedback in a therapeutic setting. Members guide session focus that may include relationships, communication, emotional support or expression, and social perceptions.

Anxiety Support @1-2:30PM  • This group will provide a space to explore aspects of life that may trigger anxiety (e.g., pandemic, family, relationships, school), as well as effective coping strategies. Participants will be encouraged to try new ways of relating to their anxiety.

Sister Circle @3-4:30PM  • An empowering and supportive group for Black female students. This safe, confidential group allows for exploration of issues such as family, relationships, self-esteem, beauty, body image, and academic difficulties.

Tuesdays

Health Concerns @10-11:30AM   • This is a support group to empower and enhance wellness for students with chronic health conditions. Goals include improving self-care, increasing coping skills, discussing body image concerns, and learning how to set healthy boundaries with others.

Building Social Confidence @10:30-12:00PM  • Anxiously avoiding can sometimes come at the price of meaningful connection. This group focuses on identifying and acknowledging fears related to social situations, reducing unhelpful thinking patterns, and strengthening effective social skills and behaviors.

Trans Empowerment @1-2:30PM  • This group is for persons who are seeking support in realization of one’s gender identity. Topics may include coming out, transitioning concerns, and other relevant issues.

Understanding Self and Others (USO) @1-2:30PM • This group is for students wanting to better understand themselves and their relationships and will allow for the opportunity to provide and receive honest feedback in a therapeutic setting. Members guide session focus that may include relationships, communication, emotional support or expression, and social perceptions.

Wednesdays

Creative Connections @10-11:30AM   • This group will use different forms of art and creative expression to help people learn the skills of self reflection and sharing, as well as help expand emotional intelligence, distress tolerance, and confidence, in order to cultivate positive connection to self and others. 

Grief & Loss @10-11:30AM • This group provides a safe and supportive space for students to learn about different responses to loss, to explore the grief process, and to share their own experiences.

Understanding Self and Others (USO) @10:30-12PM • This group is for students wanting to better understand themselves and their relationships and will allow for the opportunity to provide and receive honest feedback in a therapeutic setting. Members guide session focus that may include relationships, communication, emotional support or expression, and social perceptions.

Relationships @10:30-12:00PM  • This process group aimed at helping those interested in building healthy, strong, and stable romantic relationships.

Building Social Confidence @1-2:30PM  • Anxiously avoiding can sometimes come at the price of meaningful connection. This group focuses on identifying and acknowledging fears related to social situations, reducing unhelpful thinking patterns, and strengthening effective social skills and behaviors.

Women’s Empowerment @1-2:3oPM  • This group is designed to provide a safe space for women to feel empowered to heal from unwanted sexual experiences, abuse, and unhealthy relationships.

I Thought It Was Me @1-2:30PM  • This group explores how past experiences affect the present. This is a safe space where you can relate to feeling alone in a crowd, having difficulty belonging or maintaining relationships, and often guessing what “normal” is. You may identify as having been neglected, traumatized or even abused; you are welcome here.

Family Dynamics @3-4:30PM  • This group is aimed at helping students who have experienced significant distress or dysfunction within their family of origin which has impacted core beliefs about self and others, sense of self, and behaviors not limited to perfectionism, anger, withdrawal, avoidance, passive-aggressiveness, procrastination, and self-blame. The focus is on increasing self-awareness and building a cognitive framework to help understand the behavioral impact of family experiences and enhance interpersonal skills.

COPE (Challenging Obsessions by Practicing Exposure) @3-4:30PM  • This is a hybrid support/intervention group for anyone experiencing difficulty from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, phobias, compulsive hair pulling or skin picking, and related concerns. The goal of this group will be to provide a space for community support as members engage in treatment, while providing structured time to engage in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Habit Reversal Training (HRT) interventions.

Trans Empowerment @3-4:30PM  • This group is for persons who are seeking support in realization of one’s gender identity. Topics may include coming out, transitioning concerns, and other relevant issues.

Thursdays

Anxiety Support @10-11:30AM  • This group will provide a space to explore aspects of life that may trigger anxiety (e.g., pandemic, family, relationships, school), as well as effective coping strategies. Participants will be encouraged to try new ways of relating to their anxiety.

Autism @10-11:30AM •  For students with Autism and other related disorders who would like to work on improving interpersonal effectiveness skills, improve ways of connecting with others, and work on skills related to forming meaningful relationships

Understanding Self and Others (USO) @10:30-12PM  • This group is for students wanting to better understand themselves and their relationships and will allow for the opportunity to provide and receive honest feedback in a therapeutic setting. Members guide session focus that may include relationships, communication, emotional support or expression, and social perceptions.

ADHD Connection @1-2:30PM  • This group provides a safe space for those living with ADHD to gain support, deepen understanding of symptomatology, and explore coping strategies in order to improve overall life satisfaction. Formal diagnosis not necessary. 

Body Wellness @1-2:30PM  • This group is for students struggling with low self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, mild disordered eating behaviors, and related issues. Students will learn to view their bodies, abilities, and emotions from a more balanced and nurturing perspective. This is NOT an eating disorder group.

Finding Balance in Life (DBT) @1-2:30pm • This is a DBT skills building group for developing self-insight and coping tools.  Members will learn skills for improving self-awareness, regulating intense emotions, improving distress tolerance, and enhancing interpersonal relationships.

Safety & Self Care @1-2:30PM  • This group is dedicated to women early in their healing journey. It is especially designed for those presenting with complex trauma, and it emphasizes healthy self-care and uses psycho-education to build insight and a cognitive framework to understand the challenges associated with traumatic stress and healing. 

Q Support @2-3:30PM  • A positive space to connect with social support as well as unpack topics related to the LGBTQIA+ community including identity exploration, stigma, media representation, relationships, family values, coming out, and more.

I Thought It Was Me @3-4:30PM  • This group explores how past experiences affect the present. This is a safe space where you can relate to feeling alone in a crowd, having difficulty belonging or maintaining relationships, and often guessing what “normal” is. You may identify as having been neglected, traumatized or even abused; you are welcome here.

Self-Compassion @3-4:30PM  • This group is for students who struggle with a harsh inner critic. Students will learn to set kind and realistic expectations of themselves, eliminate self-judgment, and learn to treat themselves with the same warmth, compassion, and kindness they would offer a close friend.

 

DBT Group resources:

DBT Group Homework  Click Here

DBT Diary Card  Click Here