College students often face overwhelming emotions, difficult relationships and adjustments, and academic problems for which a group may be the best support option – often being more beneficial than one-on-one counseling. Groups offer a unique setting in which peer interactions facilitate self-improvement and the alleviation of suffering. Participants often feel less alone in their struggles, with the group providing a sense of community.
Benefits of Group Counseling
- Connect with others who are experiencing similar emotions. You are not alone!
- Learn from others who have similar problems.
- Become more aware of yourself through genuine feedback from others.
- Pick up new interpersonal skills that you can use in your daily life.
- Gain multiple perspectives on your concerns from different group members.
What Types of Groups are Available?
The Student Counseling Center offers many group options and has 14 groups available for the spring 2025 semester.
You do have to be a client of the Student Counseling Center to participate in groups. If you are an existing client, talk to your provider. If you want to establish services, call 865-974-2196 to set up a triage appointment and ask to be placed in group services.
Skills Based Groups have a focus on teaching group members the skills needed to foster change and see improvement of symptoms. These groups are therapist-led and facilitated, and require a weekly commitment to the group for a set period of time.
Examples of Skills Based Groups:
- Dialectal Behavioral Therapy Skills
- ADHD Skills
Interpersonal Process Groups are therapist-led and focus on helping group members examine and process their current concerns in a therapeutic group setting.
All groups tend to be small, averaging no more than 8-10 people per group. Groups offered vary from semester to semester and availability changes from week to week.
You do have to be a client of the Student Counseling Center to participate in an interpersonal process group. These groups focus on allowing students to practice new ways of relating and interacting with others, cultivate a better understanding and acceptance of themselves, and receive support and feedback from others. These groups are therapist-led and facilitated, and require a weekly commitment to the group for a set period of time.
If you are interested in joining one of the Interpersonal Process Groups, your first step is to complete a Triage appointment at the Student Counseling Center, or talk with your provider if you are already a client.
Please call the Student Counseling Center at 865-974-2196 for next available Triage appointment.
Examples of Interpersonal Process Groups:
- Undergraduate Student Group
- Graduate Student Group
- Grief IP Group
Workshops
This is a 3-part workshop series that will discuss ways to engage in healthier stress management techniques, coping skills, time management for both undergraduate and graduate students. Anyone can join for a workshop, but you do need to register. If you have a provider, ask them about registering for a workshop. If you are not a client, email counselingcenter@utk.edu to register for a workshop.
Meets on Fridays, 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
If you are in urgent need or are in a mental health crisis, please call 865-974-2196 or walk into the Student Counseling Center M-F 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. If after business hours, then call 865-974-2196 and press option 2 to speak to a crisis counselor.