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Counseling Services
Student Health & Counseling Services(760) 750-4915shcs@csusm.edu333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd San Marcos, CA 92096-0001 Monday-Friday @ 8:30 am-4:30 pm

Group Therapy

Group Support

Group Therapy Available  

Asian Student Collective | Conscious Connecting | Coping with COVID | Dating/Domestic Violence Support Group | DBT-Based Skills Forum | Entre Familia | Flutter | Healing Hearts | Gathering Compassion | Grief and Loss | LGBTQIA Safe Space | Mindfulness for Depression | Parent Support Group | Sexual Assault Support Group | Spirit Child Group | Women of Color Connection 

Download a PDF copy of all our Group Therapy handout and SHCS Coping Skills Series.

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 you are interested in a group, please sign up using our online sign up form.

Asian Student Collective 

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 and to give and receive support for healing and empowerment.

  • Who: Dr. Leah Tappero
  • When: Wednesdays, 3:00 pm -4:30 pm 
  • Contact: Dr. Leah Tappero at ltappero@csusm.edu 

Conscious Connecting

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.

 

Coping with COVID

COVID-19 and the dramatic change to our society can cause a variety of feelings. This group's purpose is to provide students the support and tools for resiliencey when feeling impacted by COVID-19 and our changing times. 

  • Who: Katie Ramos, LCSW
  • When: Fridays, 2:00 pm -3:00 pm 
  • Contact: Katie Ramos, LCSW   kramos@csusm.edu  

Dating/Domestic Violence Support Group

This is a confidential support group for students who are seeking connection, community, support and understanding in their unique and shared journeys of healing connected to dating or domestic violence. This includes any type of intimate partner harm experienced and can be past or present abuse. The group members typically decide on the topics of discussion based on what is happening in their lives, on social media and in the news.

Various perspectives are shared in seeking understanding and reducing shame as well as what has worked in terms of coping. Some come with the intention of listening and supporting, at times wanting to share something specific as well as any other purpose connected ot ones healing. This is a confidential group open to any gender. Please contact, Christa, the Sexual Violence Advocate and Educator to schedule a pre-group meeting.

  • Who: Christa Wencl, M.S.
  • When: Group meeting details will be shared at the pre-group screening with Christa
  • Contact: Christa Wenc. M.S. at cwencl@csusm.edu or 760-750-4912
  • Pre-group screening required.

DBT-Based Skills Forum


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

Entre Familia

This group provides Latinx students a space to share, learn, and explore issues related to their culture, family, academics, as well as any other issue 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, 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
  • No screening required: Open group. Students can join at any time
  • Contact: Contact Dr. Lissa Lim at llim@csusm.edu or Claudia Miranda at cmiranda@csusm.edu 

Flutter

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 experiencs of being undocunmented or mixed status. 

Gathering Compassion

Are you interested in developing a kinder relationship to yourself? Gathering Compassion provides 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.

The group could be a good fit for individuals who have difficulty self-soothing, are hard on themselves, struggle with self-criticism, or feel alone in their suffering. It is open to individuals of all genders, ethnicities and cultures. Each week includes a mindfulness practice, an introduction to a compassionate self-care topic, and a discussion on how compassion can be of use in a variety of situations.

Grief and Loss 

Our Grief and Loss Group provides a safe environment for you to look at your old beliefs about dealing with loss, which losses have affected your life, and take actions that will lead you to complete unresolved emotions that may still be causing you pain.

In collaboration with The Elizabeth Hospice agency, our group will provide a framework for understanding grief  to most importantly understand your own grief in context. The process and stages of moving through grief will be both explained and explored in a safe space of support, understanding, kindness, acceptance, and compassion. If you are interested solely in this group and no other counseling services, you may schedule an appointment with Dr. Peters directly for a group screening.

  • Who: Dr. Alli Peters 
  • When: Tuesdays, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm 
  • Contact: Dr. Alli Peters at apeters@csusm.edu

Healing Hearts

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. 

LGBTQIA Safe Space

This group privides a safe and supportive environment for persons who identify  as LGBTQIA, those who might be questioning their seuxal orientation or gender identity, and those who would liek support as they navigate the coming out process. Come join us to meet new people, build a sense of community, and to share your experiences (both the benefits and challenges) of being LGBTQIA.

Mindfulness for Depression

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

  • Who: Dr. Ryan Stevenson
  • When: Wednesdays, 3:30 pm - 5 pm
  • Contact: Dr. Ryan Stevenson at rstevenson@csusm.edu 

Parent Support Group

In this group, members will both offer and receive support to and fro other student-parents, as well as trade parenting ideas, secrets, strategies and psycho-education regarding healthy and positive parenting. This support group combines ongoing support with education and practical parenting advise for CSUSM students. 

  • Who:  Dr. Tami Savage or Katie Ramos, LCSW
  • When: Tuesdays, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
  • Contact: Dr. Tami Savage at tsavage@csusm.edu or Katie Ramos, LCSW at kramos@csusm.edu

Sexual Assault Support Group

This support group is for students who are seeking connection, community, support and understanding in their unique and shared journeys of healing connected to sexual assault. Some members come with recent experiences of sexual assault and others are facing current impacts of past sexual assault. The group members typically decide on the topics of discussion based on what is happening in their lives, on social media and in the news.

Various perspectives are shared in seeking understanding and reducing shame as well as what has worked in terms of coping. Some come with the intention of listening and supporting, at times wanting to share something specific as well as any other purpose connected to ones healing. This is a confidential group open to any gender. Please contact Christa, the Sexual Violence Advocate & Educator to schedule a pre-group meeting.

  • Who: Christa Wencl
  • When: Group meeting details will be shared at the pre-group screening with Christa
  • Contact: Christa Wencl at cwencl@csusm.edu or 760-750-4912 
  • Pre-group screening required.

Spirit Child Group

This group is for students who grew up with addiction in their families. Members will increase understanding of the impact of addiction in their lives, examine the thoughts and behaviors shared by many adult children of addiction, and gain insight and strategies for overcoming-childhood trauma associated with childhood familial addiction. 

  • Who:  Dr. Tami Savage 
  • When: Thursdays, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Beginning Sept. 30th 
  • Contact: Dr. Tami Savage at tsavage@csusm.edu or Emily Essid at eesid@csusm.edu 

Women of Color Connection

This support group is for cis and trans women of clor 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: Tuesdays, 10:00 am -11:30 am 
  • Contact: Dr. Leah Tappero at ltappero@csusm.edu 
Student Health & Counseling Services(760) 750-4915shcs@csusm.edu333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd San Marcos, CA 92096-0001 Monday-Friday @ 8:30 am-4:30 pm