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For many concerns that undergraduate and graduate students face – like overwhelming stress, anxiety, difficult relationships, depression, academic difficulties, and more – group therapy is the best option for support and healing. Facilitated by Student Health and Wellness (SHaW) counselors, our therapy groups encourage peer support, promote emotional wellbeing, and increase a felt sense of connection. Participants often find that they feel less alone in their struggles, and walk away with newfound support and ideas for coping.
SHaW offers numerous therapy groups throughout the year, including the summer months. Groups are led by SHaW counselors, and consist of 6-10 student members.
Group therapy offers unique benefits to students including:
Allowing students to find more clarity about current challenges with the help of a support system and a knowledgeable counselor.
Providing the opportunity for students to share and listen to the experiences of other group members.
Creating a safe space where members can give and receive feedback, support, and validation from others who have had similar experiences.
Allowing students to have their own journey in the group, which is enriched by the support and experience of others.
To join a group therapy session, please contact SHaW at 860-486-4700, select option 1, then option 2.
Group Therapy during the Summer:
Interpersonal Group for Graduate Students
Graduate Students Interpersonal Groups focuses on promoting emotional wellbeing as you balance academics, relationships, family, and personal responsibilities.
Groups offer a supportive confidential space to share your concerns, practice skills and get feedback.
This therapy group provides a supportive and confidential space for Mandarin-speaking graduate students to explore challenges related to academic stress, cultural adjustment, relationships, and personal growth. Conducted in Mandarin, the group fosters connection and understanding among peers who share similar experiences.
https://events.uconn.edu/live/json/v2/events/response_fields/location,image/date_format/%25F%20%25j,%20%25Y/group/Student Health and Wellness/tag/group therapy/start_date/today/end_date/6 months/
Group therapy provides clinical support to foster healing for students managing mental health concerns while supporting their academic success. Facilitated by Mental Health providers, groups are designed to promote emotional well-being and increase connection and belonging.
For a full list of current group therapy options, please see below.
Drop-in Support Groups
Drop-in Support Groups are facilitated by professional staff as a non-clinical meeting of students who establish a safe environment to provide peer support and a sense of community to one another. Support groups are designed to be utilized on a “drop-in” basis to allow flexibility and the opportunity to attend as needed.
For a full list of drop-in support groups, please see below.
Groups will resume for the Fall 2025 semester. We look forward to seeing you then!
Group Therapy
Interpersonal Group for Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate Students Interpersonal Groups focuses on promoting emotional wellbeing as you balance academics, relationships, family, and personal responsibilities.
Groups offer a supportive confidential space to share your concerns, practice skills and get feedback.
This group session runs year-round, including winter and summer breaks.
Maritza Lugo-Stalker, PsyD
All undergraduate students.
Interpersonal Group for Graduate Students
Graduate Students Interpersonal Groups focuses on promoting emotional wellbeing as you balance academics, relationships, family, and personal responsibilities.
Groups offer a supportive confidential space to share your concerns, practice skills and get feedback.
This group session runs year-round, including winter and summer breaks.
Carlos Gonzalez-Martinez, LCSW
All graduate students.
BLOOM: Undergraduate Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
This group is a space created for female Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) - identifying students to cultivate vulnerability, safety, trust, connection, and growth. Bloom provides a place for group members to discuss issues unique to their experience at a predominantly white institution (PWI), including academic stress, relationships, race/ethnicity related stress, familial pressures and navigating cultural expectations. There will be an emphasis on healing, maintaining healthy relationships and setting boundaries. Bloom means to be open, blossom and to maintain flourishing conditions that help us grow. It’s time to Bloom.
This group session only runs during the academic semester.
Chauntal Ojo, LMFT
Undergraduate students.
Families with Addiction
This group is for students who are or have been deeply affected by having parent(s) or sibling(s) struggling with addictions. May also consider situations where the family member's primary issue is a severe psychiatric disorder, but that substance use is also present.
This group session only runs during the academic semester.
Al students.
Barbershop
The “Barbershop Group” is a therapy group for men who have had past traumatic experiences and would like to learn new ways of coping and managing the effects of that trauma. The group recognizes the need for men to develop different skills that will effectively improve how we express our emotions and build relationships in a safe space. What better place to do that than the barbershop? The Barbershop model is derived from the “Men’s Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model”- (M-TREM.) The Barbershop Group uses a Psycho-educational and skills-oriented approach that is person-centered. Over the years The Barbershop has provided men with a safe, non-judgmental setting where they can speak freely and be themselves. Unfortunately, we will not be providing haircuts, but we will be providing open discussion where honest responses in group discussions are encouraged, and we will engage in several exercises that are used to introduce you to and try new coping skills. I look forward to seeing you all at “The Shop”.
This group session only runs during the academic semester.
Greg Davis, LPC
Male students.
Huskies on Track: Navigating ADHD at UConn
This group provides a space to discuss the ways ADHD can show up in your life. We’ll focus on understanding how ADHD functions in the brain, navigating common challenges people with ADHD face, and talking about the emotional experience of living in a world designed for neurotypical people. The goal of this group is to help create a sense of community and understanding for students with ADHD at UConn. Example topics that the group will cover include time management, task prioritizing, and emotional regulation. All individuals who feel the group would be beneficial to them are welcome, regardless of whether they have a formal ADHD diagnosis.
This group session only runs during the academic semester.
Alyson Faires, Psy.D.
All students.
The Round Table
Our Mandarin-speaking Group is a confidential, supportive space for undergraduate students who seek a compassionate, non-judgmental environment to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in Mandarin. Through open and mindful conversation, we’ll navigate the challenges you may be facing, including academic stress, cultural adjustments, familial pressure, race/ethnicity-related stress, language barriers, and relationship dynamics. This group offers a unique opportunity for self-discovery, emotional healing, and personal growth, as we create a space where you can feel heard, supported, and understood.
This group session only runs during the academic semester.
Michelle Chen, LPC
Undergraduate students.
Drop-in Support Groups
Mind and Body Support Group: support and empowerment for students with chronic health conditions.
This weekly support group is for students adjusting to coping with chronic health conditions in a university setting. This is a safe space for students to share their experiences and support each other in managing their health while also managing the challenges of college life. This group is a joint effort between medical and mental health services to ensure that students are cared for in a complete and holistic manner.
This group session only runs during the academic semester.
Jennifer Fox, PhD
Ryan Grade BSN, RN
All students.
Growth Through Grief
This weekly clinical group supports students grieving the death of a loved one and students coming together to support and empower each other during times of grief.
This group session only runs during the academic semester.
Jennifer Fox, PhD
All students.
Neurodivergent Support Group
Do you identify as neurodivergent? Or do you think you are neurodiverse? Come and meet others who also identify this way. Build new connections in a supportive space, while learning from one another how to deal with college life and all that comes with it. Celebrate your uniqueness and connect to new friends and bring your neurofabulousness with you!
Expecting and Parenting Students Peer Support Group
This support group for pregnant and parenting students is designed to provide education and support around the transition to parenthood and navigating the stress of higher education. This group will be co-facilitated by a licensed clinical social worker and an APRN. Specific topics to be discussed include exploring transitions to parenthood, discussing mental health concerns, promoting healthy sleep habits, attachment and bonding, creating healthy work/school/life balance, and many others. Students are encouraged to come as they are and should feel comfortable to bring their babies/children along!
This group session only runs during the academic semester.
Natasha Welz, LCSW
Carly Odesina, APRN
Pregnant and parenting students.
Group FAQ’s
When are groups held?
Groups typically meet weekly and run between 60-90 minutes. Numerous groups are offered at various times to best meet student schedules. Groups run throughout the year, including the summer months.
Where are groups held?
Groups are held at SHaW’s mental health services located in Arjona on the 4th floor.
Who can attend?
Groups are open to all UConn students eligible for SHaW services.
How big are groups?
Groups are generally led by 2 SHaW counselors and consist of 4-12 student members.
Will I feel welcome in a group?
Consistent with our International Accreditation of Counseling Services (IACS), we provide services responsive to our culturally diverse student population, with providers with the appropriate training, and multicultural competence.
Are groups confidential?
Yes, therapy groups at SHaW Mental Health are confidential.
What sort of topics are discussed in groups?
Our offerings include topics such as trauma, anxiety, relationship stress, depression, academic struggles, grief & loss, and more.
What are the benefits to group therapy?
For many, concerns that undergraduate and graduate students face – like overwhelming stress, anxiety, difficult relationships, depression, academic difficulties, and more – group therapy is the best option for support and healing. Therapy groups encourage peer support, promote emotional wellbeing, and increase a felt sense of connection. Participants often find that they feel less alone in their struggles and walk away with newfound support and ideas for coping.
Specifically, experiences and benefits may include:
gain clarity about current challenges with the help of a support system and a knowledgeable counselor,
providing the opportunity to share and listen to the experiences of others
being in a safe space where members can give and receive feedback, support, and validation from others who have had similar experiences.
learning and practicing specific skills and strategies
Is there a cost to attend group?
Drop-in support groups are included in the SHaW fee. There are several options for group therapy fees such as billing your health insurance, working with a trainee for a $15 co-pay. There are several options to make sure that there is not a financial barrier to attending one of our groups. To find out more about this, call us at (860) 486-4700 to discuss your options.
Dungeon's and Therapy
Role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and Quest allow participants to take on the persona of fictional characters and to complete daring adventures across mysterious worlds. This therapy group takes the core elements of these games but also challenges you to set goals that will help change your behavior, attitude, and mindset in the real world.
In Dungeons & Therapy, you will work with a mental health clinician to create a fantasy character that is personalized to you and your goals. This character might excel at something with which you struggle, be the complete opposite of who you are, or be designed to help you emphasize any given attribute. Within sessions of Dungeons & Therapy, you will interact with other players not only to find treasures, solve puzzles, and converse with enigmatic individuals - but also to express meaningful parts of yourself.
No previous experience with Dungeons & Dragons or any other RPG is required.
This group session only runs during the academic semester.
Alyson Faires, Psy.D
All students.
Every Body Welcome
The Every Body Welcome group is a semi structured therapy group dedicated to improving the relationships students have with food, eating, and exercise. It will focus on practicing body neutrality, developing self-compassion, and coping skills relating to eating and body image concerns.
This group session only runs during the academic semester.
Amy Parent, MSW
All students.
My New Home: Adjusting to College Life
How to manage the challenges of adjusting to college and campus life. Learn about resources and practice new coping skills with each other while getting support from your peers in a confidential. Clinician-led group for incoming first year students.
This virtual group is available to all resident hall assistants on a drop-in basis. This group creates a space every RA can gain consultation from a licensed Mental Health clinician on how to handle difficult student situations on their floor and get support from other RAs.
Attendees will benefit from exploring challenges such as:
Identifying students in distress
Responding to disruptive behaviors
Effective ways to intervene
Enhancing self-care
Satisfaction in your role
This is a drop in group and no referral is needed.
Virtual
Third Friday of the month
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
An email with the Webex Link will be sent to all Resident Assistants at the start of the third week each month.