Group Counseling

ADHD Undergraduate group is a safe, affirming place to build connections between undergraduate students with ADHD. We provide support for executive functioning, education about ADHD, and celebrate the unique qualities of having an ADHD brain!

• In-Person | Tuesdays, 12:30-2 p.m.

The process group is a safe and inclusive space aimed at building community while improving overall well-being. This is achieved through exploring various topics such as physical and mental health, culture, and academic and career goals through the lens of the Black male experience here at NC State.

• In-Person | Wednesdays, 4-5:30 p.m.

This is a 4-week group where students learn what it means to be body neutral, how to reframe your thinking from the negative self talk about your body. And learn how to navigate social media so that it supports a positive relationship with your body.

• In-Person | Fridays, 1-2 p.m.

Come as you are harm reduction group is a place for students to connect with other students who are struggling with addictive behaviors. This group supports students in making healthier decisions around certain harmful behaviors or consequences relating to alcohol, drug, gambling, internet, gaming, or nicotine, etc. The group’s focus is to work on minimizing the negative consequences to wellness (i.e. mental and physical health, relationships, or academics).

• In-Person | Tuesdays, 3:30-5 p.m.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills groups designed to help people develop practical skills to use when they are distressed and feels emotionally dysregulated often. DBT groups are often run like a class that teach four main skills: Mindfulness: Learning to focus on the present moment; Emotion regulation: Learning how to manage emotions; Interpersonal effectiveness: Learning strategies for healthy relationships; Distress tolerance: Learning how to deal with emotional crises.

• Virtual | TBD

A neurodiverse-friendly DBT skills group is designed to accommodate the unique needs and strengths of individuals with various neurodiverse conditions, such as autism, ADHD, and other cognitive or sensory differences. The group aims to create a supportive and accessible environment where participants can learn and practice DBT skills effectively. We will mainly focus on adaptive DBT skills for prevention of burnout, managing distress effectively and how to set boundaries that help us divert possible shutdowns.

• Virtual | Thursdays, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

EmpowerHer Wellness Group is a safe therapeutic processing space supporting women of color that meets weekly throughout the semester to explore topics related to self-identity, emotional and physical health, role expectations, academics and social relationships.

• Hybrid | Thursdays, 3-4:30 p.m.

This group is open to any enrolled student who is grieving the loss of a human loved one. The group offers a supportive and empathetic space where members feel safe sharing their grief experiences. Provides a psychoeducation on the stages of grief, symptoms, coping strategies and resilience-building skills to navigate their grief journey, self-care tips and grief care resources.

• Virtual | Wednesdays, 3-4:30 p.m.

This group is a safe space to support Latinx students. Students are welcome to share their stories, struggles, and successes of everyday life at NC State. Students are welcome to discuss experiences related to their identity, cultural values, academics/career, family, relationships and more. Students will learn about themselves, gain support from peers, and work on improving their self-care and life balance.

• Virtual | Tuesdays, 3-4:30 p.m.

LEEP is a 6-week transdiagnostic skills group based on principles of Acceptance Commitment Therapy. Members will learn strategies to manage their painful internal experiences and learn how to live a rich, meaningful, values-based life. Each session will be experiential in nature and will require active engagement during the session and practice work in-between sessions.

• Virtual | Mondays, 3-4:30 p.m.

Men of Color group is a process group to support experiences of Men of Color, where we will explore and discuss everything from current events and social norms to relationships and overall wellness… and everything in between!

• In-Person | Fridays, 2-3:30 p.m.

Mindfulness for Wellbeing is an 8-week therapy group based on the principles of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). “MBCT is designed to help people who suffer repeated bouts of depression and chronic unhappiness.” This therapy can help fight off a difficult frame of mind before it takes hold using tools like meditation, breathing practices, and present moment awareness. Each week builds on the previous session, so attendance is important! Come with an open mind and willingness to try something new.

• In-Person | Mondays, 3-4:30 p.m.

The Pride group is a safe space to support LGBTQIA+ folks and enable students to unpack related issues, concerns and topics. The goal of this space is to build connection and process experiences as a queer person on and off campus.

• In-Person | Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Survivor group is designed for those who have experienced IPV related traumatic experiences in their lives or who come from backgrounds in which they did not feel safe. The group is open to both graduate and undergraduate students. Members will get support from each other. They learn how their past experiences affected their body and brain and are affecting their lives now and learn how to cope with it. Members learn important insights about their patterns in relationships and skills to better manage their emotions and relationships.

• In-Person | Tuesdays, 3:15-4:45 p.m.

Connect, explore and learn with other students of trans experience. Give and receive support. The focus is on connecting with others and exploring identities in a safe space.

• In-Person | Fridays, 10-11:30 a.m.

USO groups focus strongly on interpersonal process between members to increase self-awareness, gain and provide feedback, improve self-reflection, improve perspective taking, and challenge members to work on interpersonal goals.

• In-Person | TBD

Confidentiality is critical to the development of a safe, respectful, and trusting atmosphere in which individuals share their feelings openly. The group leader and all group members share this responsibility.

To participate, each therapy group member must sign an agreement to adhere to the rules of confidentiality. Group members pledge that they will never share group business, including names of other group members, outside the group.

Group counseling is a very effective means of treatment and, in some cases, the best form of treatment. In a group, you can:

• Increase self-awareness by learning more about how others perceive you
• Feel a sense of acceptance and belonging
• Discover you are not alone in the difficulties you are experiencing
• Hear ideas from others that will improve your decision-making and problem-solving skills
• Benefit from the experience of being helpful to others
• Learn to express your feelings and ideas to others constructively
• Gain encouragement by observing others’ successes

If you’d like to learn more or join a counseling group, review the descriptions of our current groups. Then give us a call at 919.515.2423 to speak to a triage clinician and ask about joining a group. If you are already connected to a counselor, please speak with the counselor first.

We also offer drop-in style groups throughout the semester that do not require registration. Visit drop-in style groups to learn more.

While participating in group, people begin to see that they are not alone; that others share similar concerns and difficulties in life. Under the direction of skilled group leaders, the group is able to give support, offer alternatives, or gently confront group members. Through group interactions and group feedback, new insights are gained, alternative behaviors are explored, and new ways of relating to others can be tried. As a result, the original difficulties people brought to group become resolved.

Talk about what brought you into counseling. Let other group members know what is bothering you and what your goals are. If you need support, let the group know. If you think you need confrontation, let them know that too. It is important to tell the group what you expect of them and what you need from them. Unexpressed feelings are a major reason why people experience difficulties. The most appropriate disclosures will be those that relate directly to your present difficulty. It is important that you feel comfortable with your level of self-disclosure.

Most of the groups at the Counseling Center meet once a week for 90 minutes.

Yes. Combined group and individual counseling can help you maximize your growth by working on different goals in different methods of treatment. The insights gleaned from individual therapy can be turned into action in group. Consult with your counselor to see what’s best for you.

You can stay in group as long as you and the group leaders feel it is beneficial for you. Some members stay for a semester, while others stay for longer.

Most people are initially anxious about talking in group. Almost without exception, within a few sessions, new members find that the group process draws them in and they begin to share with the group in ways they never anticipated.

You control what, how much, and when you share with the group. We encourage you not to share what you are not ready to disclose. Many group members find that when the group feels safe enough to them to share what they are most apprehensive about, the group can be very helpful and affirming. At the same time, you can also be helped by listening to others and thinking about how their thoughts might apply to you.

Group counseling is just as effective as individual therapy for various reasons. First, most members identify with concerns other members share and find they are helping themselves just by being present and processing the issues vicariously. Second, by listening, giving feedback, and engaging other group members, you may also be practicing new ways of interacting. It is a safe place to practice new behaviors or new ways of relating to others.  Third, group counseling offers the opportunity to get multiple perspectives and increased support from peers.

Group counseling is often more efficient than individual counseling, for two reasons. First, you can benefit from the group even during sessions when you say little, but listen carefully to others. You will find that you have much in common with other group members, and as they work on a concern, you can learn more about yourself. Secondly, group members will often bring up issues that strike a chord with you, but you might not have been aware of, or brought up by yourself. Therefore, learning from others can be a powerful therapeutic experience and often enhances the work.

It is very important that group members feel safe. Group leaders are there to create a safe environment for all involved. We understand that feedback is often difficult to hear, from leaders and members alike. As group members come to trust the group, they generally experience feedback, and even confrontation – as if it were coming from a good friend. One of the benefits of group therapy is the opportunity to receive feedback from others in a supportive environment. It is rare to find friends who will gently point out how you might be behaving in ways that hurt yourself or others, but this is precisely what group can offer. This will be done in a respectful, gentle way, so that you can hear it and make use of it.