Group counseling is an effective form of counseling that addresses a variety of student concerns. In a group counseling setting, individuals begin to feel better about themselves, feel less alone, feel support from others, and are able to help others with similar experiences. Each semester, several different groups are offered through the Counseling Center, and group counseling is available to students in addition to their individual counseling. Many students elect to be in group and individual counseling concurrently, although some find that they prefer group counseling only. Group Counseling is offered to full- and part-time students, and there is no limit on group counseling sessions. If you have any questions about whether group counseling would be beneficial for you, please schedule an appointment with a group counselor to discuss your questions and concerns.
GROUPS CURRENTLY BEING OFFERED:
There are two General Process Therapy Groups that are interactive, dynamic therapy groups for students facing a range of concerns, including homesickness, interpersonal difficulties, loneliness, self-esteem, and fitting in. The groups also focus on interpersonal growth for those students who wish to enrich and improve their relationships, deepen their understanding of themselves, and strike a balance between academics and personal life.
Information about Group Counseling
- Group is a small microcosm (community or entity that is an epitome of a larger entity; a miniature world) of the world allowing the same struggles you face in the outside world to surface in the group
- It is a unique opportunity not only to see your interpersonal dynamics unfold in a safe, therapeutic environment, but to recognize them, examine and talk about them, and finally, alter them
- Group is a less subjective and less biased view of you whereas in individual therapy, the therapist relies on clients self report; because everyone has blindspots, it is very helpful for the therapist to observe you directly as you interact with others
- You will be actively working on your concerns “live” in the here-and-now
- You will be regularly receiving useful feedback on the way you come across and the way you are perceived by others
- You will develop your expressive and communication skills as you will be asked to provide feedback to others
- Group is a chance to practice new skills and ways of relating
- The factors that are unique to group treatments that are considered potent in the therapeutic process include social feedback, cohesion (the quality of relationships that develop among group members) and social learning
- Research has demonstrated quantitative support for group treatment as an independently efficacious treatment
GROUP RULES:
1. CONFIDENTIALITY - All group members are required to maintain confidentiality. Members agree not to talk about the group outside of the therapy group session. This ensures the privacy of group members.
2. ATTENDANCE - All group members are requested to attend all sessions and to call if they are unable to attend a group meeting.
3. RESPECT - All group members are required to respect all other group members at all times.
Top 10 Most Helpful Aspects of Group (Yalom, 1995)
- Discovering and accepting previously unknown or unacceptable parts of myself
- Being able to say what was bothering me instead of holding it in
- Other members honestly telling me what they think of me
- Learning how to express my feelings
- The group’s teaching me about the type of impression I make on others
- Expressing negative and/or positive feelings toward another member
- Taking ultimate responsibility for the way I live my life no matter how much guidance I get from others
- Learning how I come across to others
- Seeing that others could reveal embarrassing things, take other risks, and benefit from doing so
- Feeling more trustful of groups and of other people
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING A GROUP?
- Either ask your individual counselor (if you are currently a client) or request information about current groups from the Counseling Center- 202-319-5765. Your therapist or the secretary will contact a group leader. The leader will call to schedule a pre-group interview. This interview lasts 30 minutes and allows you to meet the leaders, ask questions about the group, and see if the group is a good fit.
- If you and the group leaders agree that the group is a good fit, you will be given information about the start of the group and what to expect when the group begins. Groups may last one semester or continue throughout the year.
