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
Winter 2019 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
Tuesdays
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Authentic Connections**
CONTACT: MELADEE GARST, PH.D.
Tuesdays, 1:00 – 2:30 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.
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Anxiety Toolbox
CONTACT: SAIMIR THANO, PH.D
Tuesdays, 1:00 - 2:00 PM, Weeks 5-7; Weeks 8-10
This 3 session workshop focuses on helping you understand anxiety symptoms and build skills to manage these symptoms. The content of each session builds upon itself, and in the end you will have your own individualized plan for managing anxiety.
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Estamos Unidas
Contact: JESSICA ORTEGA, PH.D.
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.
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Overcoming Social Anxiety**
CONTACT: KANWAR PAHWA, PH.D
Tuesdays, 3:00 - 4:30 PM (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 people, and initiating and maintaining conversations.
Wednesdays
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Men’s Group**
CONTACT: ZER ALON, PSY.D.
Wednesdays, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM (Pre-group meeting required)
Come receive support and learn about your interpersonal patterns with other male students. Both undergraduate and graduate students welcome.
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Finding Your Calm**
CONTACT: YULI LIU, PH.D.
Wednesdays, 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.
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Wellness Workshop Series
STAFF
Wednesdays, 1:00 - 1:50 PM Every Week
Week 1 (Jan. 9) – Stress Less with Mindfulness
o Week 2 (Jan. 16) – Overcoming Procrastination
o Week 3 (Jan. 23) – Beating Test Anxiety
o Week 4 (Jan. 30) – Achieving Restful Sleep
o Week 5 (Feb. 6) – Stress Less with Mindfulness
o Week 6 (Feb. 13) – Beating Test Anxiety
o Week 7 (Feb. 20) – Compassion for the Inner Critic
o Week 8 (Feb. 27) – Sex Positivity: Q & A
o Week 9 (Mar. 6) – Love Your Bodies, Not a Size
o Week 10 (Mar. 13) – Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Thursdays
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Wabruda
CONTACT: MILO DODSON, PH.D.
Thursdays, 5 – 6:30 PM Held in CBCRR
Wabruda (Swahili for Brotherhood) is a group for empowering and supporting African American/Black men.
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Overcoming Social Anxeity **
Debbie Liu, Ph.D.
Thursdays, 10:00-11:30 AM (Pre-group screening required)
This skills-focused group is designed to help students overcome anxiety in a variety of social situations including public speaking, meeting new people, initiating and maintaining conversations.
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What is Love?**
CONTACT: ANNIE AHN, PH.D.
Thursdays, 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.
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Academic Boot Camp
CONTACT: SHRUTI MUKKAMALA, PH.D.
Thursdays, 1:00 – 2:00 PM, Weeks 5-7, 9-10; Held in 3700 ALP
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:
Week 5 & 8: Increase Motivation
Weeks 6 & 9: Approach, not Avoid
Weeks 7 & 10: Timing My Priorities Effectively
**This group is held in ALP 3700 *Anteater Pavillion Building #605)
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Building Self Esteem **
Ylena Parks, Ph.D.
Thursdays, 3:00-4:30 PM (Pre-group screening required)
Discover how your self-esteem developed and what impact it has on your life now. Realize you have everything you need to become the person you want to be. Identify how you and others sabotage your best efforts to change. Join us in an interactive group to examine how our thoughts influence our behavior. Learn how to ask for what you want and deserve.
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Bye Bye Culture Shock
CONTACT: SHRUTI MUKKAMALA, PH.D., KANWAR PAHWA, PH.D. & XIAO HE., M.ED., CRC
Thursdays, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Drop-in discussions for international students in a comfortable environment:
Oct. 18: Adjusting to American Life
Oct. 25: Making Friends in the U.S.
Nov. 1: Dealing with Homesickness
Nov. 8: Living with Other People
Fridays
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Chronic Health Concerns Support Group **
Kathryn Dorsheimer, Ph.D. & Xiao He, M.Ed., CRC
Fridays, 9:30-11:00 AM (Pre-group screening required)
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.
Group Services