Counseling and Educational Groups

 

At different times and according to the needs and requests of students, Counseling Services offers various counseling and educational groups.

Couseling Groups
Counseling groups are usually composed of from six to ten students, depending on the focus of the group, and allow for a degree of frank discussion unavailable in any other setting. In addition, the presence of a counselor allows for a degree of emotional privacy and safety that other, more public discussions don't have.

In order to attend a counseling group, students have to agree to keep the names and the personal issues discussed by the other group members strictly confidential. Breaking confidentiality is usually sufficient reason to warrent removal from the group.

Past counseling groups have covered such issues as:

  • eating disorders (such as anorexia or bulemia)
  • recovering from rape, sexual assault and sexual harrassment
  • adult children of alcoholics or of dysfunctional families
  • women's issues
  • non-traditional student issues
  • men's issues
  • alcohol and/or substance abuse
  • accepting oneself as gay or lesbian, coming out, etc.

Educational Groups
Educational groups usually don't have the degree of personal discussion that counseling groups have. Consequently, there may or may not be the need to insist on confidentiality in an educational group. Educational (or didactic) groups resemble small "personal psychology" classes: note taking is usually permitted and sometimes encouraged, handouts are often given, and the counselor usually presents material in more of a teaching or lecture format. The counselor usually does not encourage strongly personal discussion of focus issues, although personal issues may briefly be touched upon. If strongly personal issues come up during an educational group, the counselor usually encourages the individual to make an appointment and discuss his or her issues in individual counseling rather than in the educational group. If there are enough people who want to discuss an educational issue in a deeply personal way, than often a counseling group is set up from that group desire for personal discussion.

Past educational groups have covered such issues as:

  • the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
  • time management and study skills
  • career counseling
  • assertiveness training
  • conflict management
  • stress management
  • developing dating and relationship skills

If you have an interest in participating in a particular educational or counseling group, or if you have an interest in an area not previously covered call Counseling Services at 487-2538 and let us know.

If you are already in individual counseling, your counselor may invite you into a group if he or she thinks you might especially benefit from it.

Also, keep your eyes open! We announce educational groups that we are starting up a couple of weeks ahead of time. We put up flyers throughout the dorms and on various kiosks around campus. We also announce upcoming educational groups in the Lode a week or two ahead of time.