Group Therapy

Group Support

Group Therapy Available - Spring Semester

Referring for a Group?

If you are self-referring for a group, please contact the SHCS front desk to schedule a brief screening to confirm eligibility. All groups will require a group screening, and will be held via Zoom.

If interested, please sign up for a group.

Download a PDF copy of all our Group Therapy handout and SHCS Coping Skills Series. (Groups subject to change)

Academic Support Group (Zoom)

This is s a support group open to all students looking for a space to disucss, receive support, and learn skills to manage their academic challenges. Topics can range from time management, imposter syndrome, test taking anxiety and beyond.

Who: Marcy Ryan, LMFT
When: Tuesdays at 12:00 pm -12:50 pm

Asian Student Collective (In-Person)

This support group is for all domestic and international students who identify as Asian, Pacific Islander, and/or Desi. This group offers a space for community building, mutual support, healing, and empowerment.

Who: Dr. Leah Tappero
When: Mondays at 3:00 pm -4:00 pm

Body Wisdom (Hybrid)

Body Trust is a support and process group for all folx who are wanting a safe space to build a healthier relationship with their body and exploring ways to move towards healing and liberation. Topics in group may include processing body image struggles, systems connecting food and weight to worthiness/value, influence of diet culture, fatphobia & healthism, impact of shame and perfectionism, and ways to reclaim embodiment and rebuild trust with body/self.

Who: Naomi Wu, M.A.
When: Tuesdays at 12:00 pm -12:50 pm

Chronic Medical Condition (Hybrid)

This group is for individuals who have been diagnosed with a chronic medical condition or illness. This group is designed to be a supportive space where individuals can connect with others living with chronic health conditions to reduce isolation, find validation and support, learn new tools and process any feelings that may come up along the way. Some of these feelings may include grief, anger, sadness, anxiety, and/or hopelessness. Individuals will be able to share their experiences and gain coping skills. The group is designed to be flexible to help support the group needs that may come up from week to week.

Who: Jenna Zusman, M.A.
When: Thursdays at 3:30 pm -5:00 pm

Conscious Connecting (In-Person)

This group provides a safe place for students to practice new ways of connecting with others as they learn new ways to view themselves through feedback and group support. They can also address fears, problems, or patterns that can get in the way of fulfilling relationships. Through the process of connecting with other people in this format, members often find they can navigate relationships with more satisfaction, leading to more fulfillment in their lives.

Who: Dr. Jay Howell
When: Wednesdays at 10:00 am -11:30 am

DBT-Based Skills Forum (Zoom)

This group helps students learn and practice skills drawn from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) including distress tolerance, mindfulness, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness skills.

Who: Dr. Juan Alvarez and Ashley Wright
When: Tuesdays at 1:00 pm -2:30 pm or Fridays at 3:00 pm -4:30 pm

Entre Familia (Zoom)

This group provides Latinx/Latine students a space to share, learn, and explore issues relat-ed to their culture, identity, family, academics, and any other issues affecting them. The group also focuses on building community, mutual support, and empowerment. This group is conducted in English and Spanish.

Who: Dr. Lissa Lim
When: Mondays at 4:00pm -5:00 pm

Expressive Arts: Healing from Interpersonal Harm (In-Person)

Using expressive arts, students will explore feelings, healthy boundaries, create meaning, cultivate awareness, increase relaxation, foster social connection, stress reduction and self-care. Students will have the opportunity to learn about the complexities of interpersonal harm, such as dating violence, domestic violence, sexual harm, and identify healthy relationship patters and coping skills. Open to all genders. To register email: advocates@csusm.edu

Who: Gricelda Alva Brito
When: Tuesdays at 3:00 pm -4:00 pm (Jan 30th -April 30th)

First Year Support Group (In-Person)

This group supports students as they adjust to their first year at college. Students will learn how to identify feelings, develop coping strategies to regulate emotions, build relation-ships, and improve sense of self. We will examine how our mental health impacts academic performance while strengthening skills to better manage stress, time, and motivation.

Who: Marcy Ryan, LMFT
When: Wednesdays at 10:00 am -11:00 am

Flutter (Hybrid)

This is a support group for undocumented and mixed status students. The group creates a safe and confidential space to give and receive support around the experiences of being undocunmented or mixed status.

Who: Dr. Lissa Lim and Mel Walker, M.A.
When: Tuesdays at 12:00 - 1:00 pm

Gathering Compassion (Zoom)

This group is a safe space to practice self-care and learn about the different ways compassion and mindfulness can help you cope with everyday stress. The goal of the group is to learn to manage painful emotions and life's difficulties through the daily cultivation and practice of self-compassion.

Who: Dr. Juan Alvarez
When: Thursdays at 4:00 pm -5:00 pm

Get Focused (Zoom)

This is a support group open to all students who are struggling with attention, concentration, and focus in classes and/or home life. Topics discussed are time management, monitoring distractions, and completion of tasks. Learn great tips and tricks for navigating a distracting environment.

Who: Dr. Sara Heinemann
When: Tuesdays at 2:00 pm -2:50 pm

Grief and Loss (In-Person)

This group will provide a framework for understanding grief, processing, receiving support, and most importantly to understand your own grief in context. This group is for those who are 6+ weeks post loss.

Who: Dr. Alli Peters
When: Thursdays at 12:00 pm -1:00 pm,

Healing Hearts (In-Person)

This group is designed for people affected by seuxal trauma, and is open to people of all genders. The group provides a safe and empowering space space for students to gain support, connect with each other, and learn coping skills that can help them move toward healing.

Who: Dr. Lissa Lim and Naomi Wu, M.A.
When: Fridays at 3:00-4:30 pm

LGBTQIA Safer Space (Hybrid)

This group provides a safe and supportive environment for persons who identify as LGBTQIA, those who might be questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity, and those who would like support as they navigate the coming out process. Come join us to meet new peo-ple, build a sense of community, and to share your experiences (both the benefits and chal-lenges) of being LGBTQIA.

Who: Dr. Jay Howell
When: Tuesdays at 12:00-1:00 pm

Mindfulness for Depression (Zoom)

This group helps students learn and use Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) skills to manage depression.

Who: Dr. Ryan Stevenson and Medina Azim
When: Tuesdays at 3:00 pm -4:00 pm

Social Anxiety Toolbox (Zoom)

This weekly workshop will help provide participants with a better understanding of social anxiety. It will also teach skills to manage it, including cognitive, behavioral, and mindful self-compassion approaches.

Who: Dr. Ryan Stevenson
When: Thursdays at 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

The Relationship Group (Hybrid)

The Relationship Group is a support group for exploring difficult romantic relationships, confusing situation-ships, or break-ups. This group will offer a space to process and seek support surrounding the challenges of relationships and break-ups while in college.

Who: Polly Merk, M.A.
When: Fridays at 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Opportunity Givers (In-Person)

Underground Cougars is the first ever support group to provide a confidential and safe space for students who identify as formerly incarcerated, justice-involved, and/or systems-impacted. This group will allow students to give and receive support around the previously mentioned identi-ties and common college experiences.

Who: Mel Walker, M.A.
When: Fridays at 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Women of Color Connection (In-Person)

This support group is for cis and trans women of color students to explore, share, and learn how their multiple identities impact their personal and interpersonal experiences. Members choose topics which can include cultural identity, family, gender roles, academic stress, romantic relationships, friendships, social justice concerns, and mental health and well-being.

Who: Dr. Leah Tappero
When: Fridays at 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm