Joining a Group

Groups can be especially beneficial for students who learn from others or feel isolated, depressed, or anxious, or who are concerned about how they relate to other people.

During your initial appointment, your therapist will help you explore the options for group work. Even though some students are nervous at first about joining a group, many soon discover that it is the best approach for their particular concerns. Group counseling is often an effective way to experience growth and change in one’s life. In groups one can share common problems, safely interact with others, learn about oneself, and help others learn about themselves.

Some groups focus on specific concerns such as stress management, relationships, and depression. Other groups are designed to provide support for students with shared identities. Groups meet once weekly for approximately 1 to 1½ hours. A variety of group formats including psychotherapy, psychoeducational, support, and outreach groups are offered.

For some of our groups, prospective group members are required to attend a pre-group meeting. A pre-group meeting is a brief individual meeting with group leader(s) before the group begins. The pre-group meeting provides you with specific information about the group, and helps you and the group leaders determine if group therapy is the best way to work on your concerns.

Additional Group Information

Learn more about group therapy in university counseling centers:

American Group Psychology Association

For additional information about group therapy in general, as well as the ability to locate group therapists in the U.S., you can visit www.AGPA.org

Spring 2018 Groups

Groups marked with an ** require a pre-group meeting with the group leaders. For more information about Counseling Center groups, please contact: specific group leaders at (949) 824-6457

Mondays

  • Overcoming Social Anxiety **

    Contact: MILO DODSON, PH.D.

    Mondays, 1:00 – 2:30 PM

    This skills focused group is desinged to help students overcome anxiety in a variey of social situations including: public pseaking, meeting new people, and initiating and maintaining conversations.

  • Making Peace with My Body**

    Contact: JESSICA ORTEGA, PH.D.

    Mondays, 3:30 - 5:00 PM

    Develop an active and satisfying relationship with yourself, body image and food.

  • What’s Going On

    Contact: MILO DODSON PH.D.

    Monday of Week 5 (April 30 at 5:00 PM) @ Cross-Cultural Center

    A forum for African American and other students interested in discussing issues that are of importance to the African American community.

  • Choices and Voices

    Contact: UCI CARE AT CARE@UCI.EDU, OR CALL MANDY MOUNT, PH.D at 949-824-7273

    Mondays, 3:30 – 5:00 PM

    This group, for students who have experienced unwanted sexual contact, is a safe and secure environment to build support and discuss ongoing concerns.

Tuesdays

  • Finding Your Calm**

    Contact: YULI LIU, PH.D. & LISETTE SANCHEZ, M.A., M.ED., M.S.

    Tuesdays, 1:00 - 2:30 PM (Pre-group meeting required)

    The goal of this group is to help students increase awareness of their personal reactions to stressors, learn anxiety management techniques, practice breathing and relaxation exercises, and gain support from others.

  • Wellness Workshop Series

    STAFF

    Tuesdays, 1:00 - 2:00 PM

    Learn about, and practice, different skills to enhance your well-being in this drop-in series.  Weekly topics range from practicing mindfullness and gaining self-compassion, to managing test anxiety.

    • Week 1 (April 3) – Stress Less with Mindfulness

    • Week 2 (April 10) – No More Procrastination

    • Week 3 (April 17) – Mindful Art

    • Week 4 (April 24) – Practicing Gratitude

    • Week 5 (May 1) – Beating Test Anxiety

    • Week 6 (May 8) – Compassion for the Inner Critic

    • Week 7 (May 15) – Mindful Art

    • Week 8 (May 22) – Assertiveness

    • Week 9 (May 29) – Progressive Muscle Relaxation
    • Week 10 (June 5) - Stress Less with Mindfulness

  • Estamos Unidas

    Contact: JESSICA ORTEGA, PH.D. & LISETTE SANCHEZ, M.A., M.ED., M.S.

    Tuesdays, 4:00 – 5:00 PM on Weeks 3, 5, 7, 9

    Estamos Unidas is a supportive drop-in group for Chican/Latina students. The group provides space for Chicanas/Latinas to share their cultural concerns and triumphs in a unverisity environment, build community, address transitional issues between family and university life, empower on another to succeed academically and socially, and engage in peer mentoring.

Wednesdays

  • What is Love?**

    Contact: SAIMIR THANO, PH.D.

    Wednesdays, 1:00 - 2:30 PM (Pre-group meeting required)

    This is an interactive and supportive group for individuals who are interested in talking about the subject of love and romantic relationships. Common topics include: how to find love, maintain love, and/or recover from a lost love.  Members do not have to be in a relationship to join this group.

  • Beat the Academic Blues

    Contact: SHRUTI MUKKAMALA, PH.D.

    Wednesdays, 1:00 – 2:30 PM, Weeks 5-7, 8-10

    This drop-in group will focus on increasing motivation to start and work towards completing academic tasks, reducing avoidance or difficult projects/assignments, and developing better time management and prioritization skills.

    Topics:

    Weeks 5 & 8: Increase Motivation

    Weeks 6 & 9: Approach, not Avoid

    Weeks 7 & 10: Timing My Priorities Effectively

  • Wind Down Wednesdays

    Contact: UYEN BUI, PH.D.

    Wednesdays. 3:00 - 4:00 PM

    Take a mid-week break by learning how to wind down and manage your stress. This group is a drop-in workshop series where you learn and practice relaxtation skills to help you manage stress and succeed.

  • Wabruda

    CONTACT: MILO DODSON, PH.D.

    TBD

    Wabruda (Swahili for Brotherhood) is a group for empowering and supporting African American/Black men.

Thursdays

  • Overcoming Social Anxiety**

    Contact: DIANNA GONZALEZ, PH.D.

    Thursdays, 10:00 - 11:30 AM (Pre-group meeting required)

    This skills-focused group is designed to help students overcome anxiety in a variety of social situations including: public speaking, meeting new poeple,and intitiating and maintaining conversations.

  • Men’s Group**

    Contact: ZER ALON, PSY.D. & RICKY POPE, M.A.

    Thursdays, 12:30 – 2:00 PM (Pre-group meeting required)

    Come receive support and learn about your interpersonal patterns with other male students.  Both undergraduate and graduate students welcome.  

  • Authentic Connections**

    Contact: JESSICA ELDRIDGE, PH.D. & LAURA PRECIADO, M.A.

    Thursdays, 3:00 – 4:30 PM (Pre-group meeting required)

    Develop insights about interpersonal patterns through support and feedback.  Experiment with new ways of relating to others in a safe environment.  

Fridays

  • Chronic Health Concerns Support Group**

    Contact: KATHRYN DORSHEIMER, PH.D.

    Fridays, 9:30 – 11:00 AM

    This group is for students living with a chronic health concern (e.g. fibromyalgia, IBS) and/or chronic pain.  Connect with other students in a safe space to address such topics as maintaining balance, advocating for yourself with medical professionals, dealing with others who minimize or misunderstand your health concern, managing pain, and cultivating hope, gratitude and acceptance. 

  • International Coffee Hour

    Contact: SHRUTI MUKKAMALA, PH.D. & SHAWNDEEIA DRINKARD, M.A.

    Fridays, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

    New Location: Center for Excellence in Writing & Communication (Ayala Science Library 193)

    Come and meet interesting students from all over the world.  Relax and enjoy lively conversations and refreshments.  New members are always welcome!!