Group counseling is more effective at helping students feel less alone and helps them build relationships more effectively, compared to individual therapy. The way I like to compare the two is that individual therapy is like lecture and groups are like lab. You get to practice the skills you want to learn!
Groups typically are open at the beginning of the quarter, and interested students can call 206-543-1240. Here are the groups with openings:
· Between Cultures
o Remote Therapy Group, facilitated by Ricardo Hidalgo and Sashya Clark
o "For students who lack sense of belonging to any cultures/identities with which they intersect. "
o This group is for Bi-cultural, bi-racial, multi-cultural, multiracial individuals with a number of intersecting identities and a sense of not really fitting in to/with any of them.
o This group is ongoing, 12:30pm-2:00pm Mondays
· BIPOC Grief Group
o Remote Outreach Peer Support Group, facilitated by Hsuan Hsuan Dai
o This is an ongoing group to hold space for BIPOC folx to talk about grief and loss. As BIPOC folx, we have unique perspectives on grief and loss from our experience of colonization and systematic oppression. We want to offer this space to honor our cultures and stories, as well as provide support to our communities.
o Start date and timing during the week TBD
· ACT for Anxiety-Unstuck
o Remote Therapy Group, facilitated by Heidi Li
o "Do you feel you overthink so much that you are stuck in your head? Do you feel that your anxiety is out of control? In this 7-week program, you will learn how to "unstuck" - learn how to stay in the present moment and handle your anxious thoughts and feelings, while focusing on the things you find important in your life. This program is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) model, a mindfulness-based therapy model focusing on how to embrace different emotions (instead of avoiding them) and live a value-based life. Attendance and participation for all 7 weekly sessions are required."
o Start TBD, Tuesdays 2:00-3:30pm.
· Beginning Mindfulness Meditation Group
o Remote Therapy Group, facilitated by Treg Isaacson
o "An 8 week practice and discussion oriented group that helps people calm and soothe their nervous systems, looking at different aspects of mindfulness and sharing thoughts about the practice. We look at groundedness, loving kindness, self-compassion, gratitude, and dealing with difficult emotions."
o Start date TBD Wednesdays 3:30-5:00pm
· Ongoing Noon Mindfulness Groups
o Remote Therapy Group, skills-based, facilitated by Treg Isaacson
o "Hour long sessions at noon on Wednesdays and Thursdays, where experienced mindfulness practitioners gather to practice mindfulness together, currently over zoom. Silent settling practice lasts about 20 minutes and is followed by guided meditation, and sharing of observations."
o This group is ongoing, 12:00-1:00pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays
· Doctoral Student Group: Sustainably Surviving Graduate School
o Remote Therapy Group, facilitated by Gitika Talwar
o "As a Doctoral Student, the challenges of juggling your responsibilities as a student, researcher, family member, friend, human being are particularly acute. This is a therapeutic support group for doctoral students across disciplines to connect with each other, experience support and center their own humanity. Through therapeutic facilitation, this support group is intended to help members develop a rest ethic alongside a work ethic. Topics of reflection may include recognizing the challenges of acculturating to academia, imposter syndrome, burnout, concerns about "productivity", intercultural communication, work-life harmony. The group facilitator (s) are psychotherapists and strive to center human experiences and needs that are frequently marginalized in academia."
o Start date TBD, meeting Thursdays 3:30pm-5:00pm
· Getting through Grief
o Remote Therapy Group, facilitated by Ricardo Hidalgo & Treg Isaacson
o "This support group is for group members to process with others the loss of loved ones in their lives and is open to any student affected by grief and loss in their life."
o This group is ongoing, Thursdays 9:00am-10:20am
· International Student Support Group
o Facilitated by Heidi Li and Gitika Talwar
o Start TBD, Tentatively Thursdays 10am-11:30am
o More details coming soon!
· Procrastination and Perfectionism Group
o Remote Therapy Group facilitated by Ricardo Hidalgo
o "A weekly group for individuals that struggle with procrastination and perfectionism, this group is open to anyone who feels badly about how much they procrastinate or struggles with perfectionism."
o 2 groups that are ongoing: Wednesdays 3:00pm-5:00pm, Fridays 10:00am-12:00pm
· Tired but Wired: CBT for Insomnia (CBT-i)
o Remote Therapy Group, Facilitated by Seiko Ryan and Wendy Lendrum
o "This group is for students who struggle with sleep, which is often experienced as feeling "tired but wired." Group members will together learn about sleep/insomnia, engage in self-assessments, learn behavioral and cognitive interventions, and prevent relapse of sleep issues. The group members are going to support each other to make a difference in each individual's quality of sleep. The group consists of a total of 6 weekly sessions, all members are expected to attend each session. Members are also expected to make a commitment to full participation in the group."
o Group start TBD Wednesdays 12:30pm-2:00pm
· Tabletop Therapy Group
o Remote Therapy Group, facilitated by Jamie Welch
o "This group is built on a tradition of tabletop gaming as therapy. This alternative format group therapy will allow participants to build a tabletop character with their individual presenting concerns in mind. Participants will role play their characters in a fantasy setting to develop strategies to cope with social anxiety, practice using social skills, and address other mental health concerns brought to the table by the group. No previous gaming experience necessary."
o Start date TBD, Mondays, 10:00am-12:00pm.
· Queer TTRPG Group
o IN-PERSON Therapy Group, facilitated by Jamie Welch
o "This group for participants who hold identities in the Queer community is built on a tradition of tabletop gaming as therapy. This alternative format group therapy will allow participants to build a tabletop character with their individual presenting concerns in mind. Participants will role play their characters in a fantasy setting to develop strategies to cope with social anxiety, practice using social skills, and address other mental health concerns brought to the table by the group. No previous gaming experience necessary."
o Start date TBD, Fridays, 1pm-3pm (IN PERSON, HOSTED IN SCHMITZ HALL)
· Understanding Self and Others
o Remote Therapy Group, facilitated by Sashya Clark
o "Understanding Self and Others (USO) group will provide a safe space to learn and practice effective interpersonal skills, to become more comfortable having conversations and social interactions with others, to learn how to develop more satisfying relationships, and to practice introspection and acceptance of self. We will seek to develop insights about personal patterns through giving and receiving support and honest feedback, and by discussing and exploring interpersonal challenges and concerns."
o Start Thursday 1/19, Thursdays 1:00pm-2:30pm