Counseling Center Groups


Interpersonal Group

There are two primary areas of focus for this group, depending on the needs of the group and the style of group leadership. Personal growth is often addressed in group, with individual group members bringing their concerns to the group for feedback and support. Balancing personal needs with the needs of others is one of the important aspects of group. Relationship development is the other dimension of group process and provides first hand experience with effective communication and emotional intimacy. Often, group members address setting boundaries, listening, appropriate disclosure and problem solving. Group members will give and receive feedback about initial impressions, positive and negative patterns of interaction and stages of personal and group growth/development.


Skills Training Group

Educational in nature, the skills training group consists of mini lectures followed by class discussions, and requires active participation, including completion of simple homework assignments. Group members must concurrently participate in individual therapy to attend. Individual therapists sign up clients for this group. The group is divided into 5 modules of various lengths. Each participant can choose to attend any number of modules depending on their needs, although it is highly recommended that all participants attend the first module, if at all possible. Following is a brief description of each module:

  • Core Mindfulness Skills (4 sessions) - Participants learn skills that enhance their ability to be in the moment and use their mind effectively.
  • Emotion Regulation Skills (6 sessions) - Participants learn skills to decrease emotional reactivity to life situations and events. They learn to identify emotions, reduce vulnerability to negative emotions, and increase frequency of positive emotions in daily life.
  • Distress Tolerance Skills (6 sessions) - Participants learn to increase their ability to handle mental distress when faced with situations they cannot change.
  • Interpersonal Effectiveness (6 sessions) - This module is similar to an assertiveness course. It gives participants tools to meet their needs in social interactions, including when to increase the intensity of requests and when to back off.
  • Chain Analysis (2 sessions) - For those participants who have attended all segments of the group, these final two sessions teach chain analysis of behavior, a practical tool to conquer impulsivity, emotional distress and cognitive dysregulation.

Men's Identity Group

This group is designed to explore the concept of masculinity. Constructive and destructive assumptions will be examined. Of importance will be a focus on real intimacy. Roadblocks to healthy male/male and male/female relationships will be addressed. Common issues will include:

  • Compulsive Behaviors (Pornography-Internet Use)
  • Patterns of Sexual Attraction
  • Communication Strengths and Weaknesses
  • Gender Role/Identity Stereotypes

Group members will be encouraged to maintain journals, read works by Patrick Carne's and consider workbook exercises as well as in-group experience.


Body Image-Eating Issues Group

This is a 10-week, semi-structured group providing opportunities to explore body image and eating issues via experiential and didactic formats. The preferred structure is twice a week for 1 hour each time; but may vary depending on participant availability.


Stress & Anxiety Management Group

This experiential group will meet weekly for six, 90-minute sessions. These sessions will focus on helping students learn and practice a variety of skills that will help them to decrease stress and manage their anxiety.


Diversity Support/Discussion Groups

These groups will consist of four to eight students and meet weekly. The groups will provide a confidential and supportive place for members to discuss issues that they feel are having an impact on their lives. These groups will be held depending on client interest and therapist availability.

  • Multicultural Students Group
  • International Students Group
  • Deaf & Hard of Hearing Students Group
  • Gay Bi & Questioning Group
  • Lesbian Bi & Questioning Group

Particiipation in any of the groups may require meeting with a group leader to disucss what you can expect from group and what is expected of you in group.

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