Group Counseling

Group counseling is appropriate to help students cope and solve personal problems. Group counseling is seen by the counseling profession to be an important treatment alternative to individual counseling There are a variety of counseling groups that the UCC utilizes to help students:

• those that focus mainly on social interaction and sharing with low levels of structure;
• those that use a more educational format with interactive exercises and homework; and
• those that utilize discussion following a video or film lesson.

Topics for groups vary from semester to semester depending on student needs/interests and on leader availability/interest. Some of the skill development groups that have been offered are Healthy Thinking, Assertiveness Training, Social Anxiety, and Test Anxiety Management. Women’s Therapy, Men’s Therapy, Grief Support and Co-Educational process groups are some of the therapy groups that have been presented.

Groups are led or co-led by the Center staff. Since many presenting problems are interpersonal in nature it is often therapeutic to work on these concerns in an interpersonal environment of supportive challenge and feedback that is provided by group counseling.

FALL 2008 GROUPS

In order to join a group, a prospective member needs to set up a ½ hour time to meet with the group facilitators to discuss participation in the group and questions. Stop by the Counseling Center to set up an appointment.

Groups have not yet been finalized for Fall Semester 2008. Check back in late August to see which groups will be running. Below are groups that have run in the past so are likely candidates to continue in fall 2008.

Women's Self Esteem Group  

Self esteem is essential to having a healthy self-concept and developing positive ego strength. Without well developed self-esteem our everyday challenges can turn into self-criticism and can become self-defeating.

•      Do you constantly set high expectations and then criticize yourself for not reaching these goals?

•      Are you avoiding activities, or unable to follow through on personal plans out of fear you will be rejected, criticized or you might fail?

•      Do you look to others for praise and validation and when they don’t say the right thing do you doubt your abilities and efforts?

Learn how self-esteem comes from within.  Participation in this group will help you develop an attitude of self-acceptance and how to be less-judgmental toward yourself and others.

Recognize personal patterns of thoughts and behaviors that may contribute to low self-esteem.

Learn how to quiet your internal self-critic, set personal boundaries, and handle criticism.

Recognize that we are all unique capable individuals with special gifts and talents that can be nurtured and strengthened.

Facilitators: