Mental Health Therapy Groups

Therapy groups are an excellent way to address common psychological issues such as depression, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and perfectionism. Research shows therapy groups are an effective form of counselling, and in some cases the preferred treatment over individual counselling.

Groups offer a semi-structured, safe environment to learn strategies and get support from the facilitators and other group participants. Meetings are scheduled regularly for a predetermined period of time (usually 4 to 8 weeks), and at the same time and day of the week. Participants and facilitators are the same throughout the duration of the group. Groups typically have an educational component, where the facilitators teach skills and strategies for participants to learn and practice. They also have opportunities to share experiences, give and receive social support, and build trust in a safe process guided by the facilitators.


Winter 2024 Therapy Groups

Emotion Regulation

The Emotion Regulation Group was created to help students manage or influence which emotions they have, when they have them, and how they experience and express emotions. As humans, we will never have complete control over what we feel, but we have a lot more influence over how we feel than we might think. When we manage or regulate our emotions, we can steer and direct how we feel and react.This 6-week group program will offer a mixture of psycho-educational support and skill building elements to help you understand and accept your emotions, reduce their emotional vulnerability and volatility, and decrease emotional suffering. Each week, skills are taught to help you manage emotions instead of being managed by them. As you learn each piece and practice it, you are putting another building block into the structure of your own emotion regulation, learning little by little how to handle negative emotions and how to build positive ones. Sharing your personal experiences and getting support and input from fellow group members and the facilitators is also a key part of this group experience.

  • In-person; Jan. 24, 31, Feb. 7, 14, 28, March 6
  • Wednesday afternoons from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
  • Information sessions (click to register):

International Student Support Group

The ISSG is a confidential place for international students to join together to help decrease isolation and increase social connections through a group setting, validate and navigate some of the challenges faced by international students, normalizing group members’ experiences, and fostering positive social support in a non-judgmental setting. Exploration of possible topics such as homesickness, stress management, holiday isolation, etc., alongside experiential exercises, and general support and/or discussion. This group runs twice a month throughout the Fall and Winter semesters.

  • Ongoing, bi-weekly, in-person
  • Wednesday afternoons, 2:30 - 4:00 p.m., Jan. 31 - July 31
  • Information session: Wednesday Jan. 24, 2024 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Register for the info session


Break-up Boot Camp

This group is designed for individuals who have experienced a difficult break up (recently or in the past) or those who are having difficulty moving on following a break up. The focus of this group will be on building coping skills for grief and loss, developing more helpful and adaptive perspectives, and reconnecting to yourself as an individual. This group is open to those who have ended their relationship in addition to those whose partners ended their relationship.

  • In-person; March 1 - 22, 2024 (4 weeks)
  • Fridays from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
  • Information session: Friday, Feb. 16, 1:30-2:30

Register for the info session


Grad Student Support Group

The GSSG is a confidential place for graduate students to join together to give and receive support, and strategize, about making their way through the challenges of graduate school. Mental health, supervisory relationships, imposter syndrome, juggling responsibilities at home and school, and the additional hurdles that BIPOC folks and women face, are all possible topics. We are also here to celebrate successes, too! Some group meetings will focus on a specific topic, others will provide more time for general support and discussion. This group runs twice a month throughout the Fall and Winter semesters.

  • In-person; Thursday afternoons, 2 - 4 p.m.
  • In-person; Monday afternoons, 2 - 4 p.m.

How to Register Your Interest

  1. Click the “Register for Group Information Session” link below the group you are interested in and complete the sign-up form. 
  2. Attend the Group Information Session.  Here, you will learn more about the content, structure, and expectations for the group and you will have a chance to meet the group facilitators. The facilitators will also explain the criteria for being in a therapy group and also answer questions you might have. *You must attend the info session to be eligible to sign up for the group.*
  3. Shortly after the Group Information Session,  you will receive an email with consent forms and demographic information to fill out. If you are still interested in attending the group, fill out these forms within two days of the info session. If you are no longer interested in the group, you don’t need to fill out the forms!
  4. Two days after the Group Information Session, students who have submitted their completed consent forms will be contacted by email and provided confirmation that they are enrolled in the group.
  5. If we have more people interested than we have space in the group, we will randomly draw names until the group is full. The remaining students will be put on a waitlist for the next group, and will get priority to attend should they want to.  These students will also be offered alternate means of support in the interim, including an Initial Consultation. 

Audience

Students

Category

Health Wellness

Provider
Provost Provost