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 three different types of group therapy services.
Skills-Based Groups
Skills-Based Groups are therapist-led and focus on psychoeducation and teaching tools for symptom management and fostering change.
You do have to be a client of the Student Counseling Center to participate in a skills-based group. These groups 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.
Dialectal Behavioral Therapy Skills
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Tuesdays 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. in person
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Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. in person
Mindfulness Group
- Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. in person
Interpersonal Process Groups
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 Brief Assessment appointment at the Student Counseling Center.
Please call the Student Counseling Center at 865-974-2196 for next available Brief Assessment appointments.
Undergraduate Student Group
- Meets Wednesdays, 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., in-person
- Meets Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., in-person
Graduate Student Group
- Meets Wednesdays 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., in-person
- Meets Thursdays 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Zoom
Men’s IP Group
- Meets Wednesdays 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., in-person
Women’s IP Group
- Meets Thursdays 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., in-person
Queer IP Group
- Meets Thursdays 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., in-person
Grief IP Group
- Meets Thursdays 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., in-person
BIPOC Group
- Meets Tuesdays 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., in-person
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.
Meets on Fridays, 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Session 1: February 16, February 23, March 1
Session 2: March 22, April 5, April 12
Session 3: April 19, April 26, May 3
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.