The Center for Counseling and Student Development (CCSD) provides specialized group therapy for students each semester. This fall, CCSD has expanded their offerings with more tailored options to encourage group therapy among target student populations.

"When thinking about mental health treatment, most will think about individual therapy, but what if there was a more immersive option for treatment?" said CCSD Mental Health Counselor Ashley Harriz, LPCMH NCC. "Group therapy provides a connective experience with peers who have similar experiences, while also providing a healing and supportive environment to explore, process and learn how to cope with difficult symptoms."

Groups for first-year and transfer students include U Belong which focuses on adjustment support, Managing Stress 101 for stress management skills and Activity Night, which covers different topics every Tuesday.

"These groups have have been especially designed to foster connection and improve and promote first-year and transfer student wellbeing as they adjust to life at UD," said Harriz.

For graduate students, CCSD offers two therapy groups: Graduate Student Understanding Self and Others Therapy Group, which will work to improve interpersonal skills, and Making Sense of It All as a Graduate Student, which deals with finding meaning and purpose.

"These two therapy groups have been designed to help graduate students cope with the challenges of being a graduate student and promote overall wellbeing," said Harriz.

A new addition to groups this year are RA Consultation Groups, which offer support to UD's Resident Assistants on Thursdays from 5:30–6:30 p.m. and Fridays from 1–2 p.m. 

"These groups are designed specifically for the challenges that present in navigating the role of a Resident Assistant," said Harriz. "These provide a confidential environment to receive support, consult about challenging situations and learn more about yourself."

For all other students seeking support, CCSD continues to provide therapy groups open to all students, including First Steps Forward for trauma support, Can't Stop the Feelin' for emotion regulation and management, Navigating Relationships to improve social connection, Lavender Chats for LGBTQIA+ support, Serene Eating for intuitive eating and Embracing Change for support with substance misuse.

"What I appreciate the most about being a counselor at CCSD, and what I believe is unique to UD, is the dedication and passion to ensuring mental health is supported just as much as academics," said Harriz. "Each year, CCSD, and the University as a whole, keep mental health services at top of mind and we can see this through increased access to services, from our partnership with TimelyCare to creating programs to meet the needs of all students, no matter where they are at in their academic journey. But what is most exciting is that this is just the beginning! We are here, we are listening and we will continue to find ways to support students with the unique challenges they face during one of the most important times of their lives."

For more information and additional group descriptions, visit the Group Therapy page on the Student Wellbeing website. Please note that some groups require a pre-screening before joining; registration is required or encouraged for select groups.