Is Group Counselling Right for Me?

Group counselling can be a powerful and valuable venue for change and growth. Group counselling offers many benefits such as peer support, reduced stigma and isolation, as well as normalization of feelings and expereinces. Research indicates that group therapy is just as effective as individual counselling. Before joining a group, you will meet a group facilitator one-on-one to discuss what to expect, group content, and whether or not the group is a right fit for you at this time. More and more students are joining groups for the opportunity to connect with peers and feel less alone! Consider if group is the next step in your wellness journey.

 

 

Groups  |  Spring 2024 Offerings

 

Relationships Group

Who?  Students who are hoping to connect more authentically in relationships with themselves and close others. 

What?  We will explore foundational aspects of supportive and nourishing relationships, as well as intimate relationships. We will also bring gentle awareness to your relationship with yourself to support a deepening of attunement, vulnerability, and connection within your closest relationships. Areas of focus throughout the group will include attachment, emotional regulation/co-regulation, boundaries, needs/values, trust and communication.

Why?  Relationships are foundational to our well-being and development. We often grow up in family and relational systems steeped with trauma, wounding, and dysfunction. Through integration of reflection, education, and processing we can expand our capacity to recognize, understand, and feel connection with those that we care for and love.

When?   Wednesdays from February 28th to March 27th from11:00 a.m. -11:50 a.m.

Where?  In-person. Counselling Services, AH153.

Register: Students can email us at counselling.services@uleth.ca to register or call at 403-317-2845 for more information.

** Please Note:  This is a CLOSED GROUP - meaning you must register on or before the start date and attend the initial session to participate. Commitment to weekly attendance is strongly recommended **

Chronic Illness Connection + Support Group

Who? This group is for people who identify as having a chronic medical illness that impacts their life. For e.g. multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, post-concussive syndrome, crohns, colitis, Lyme disease, PCOS, endometriosis, arthritis, diabetes, ALS, IBS and more. No diagnosis needed.  

What? Chronic Illness Connection and Support Group is a process group for members to connect with others and yourself. This is a space for members to explore their relationship and connection with their body and strengthen their mind-body relationship. Body awareness, self-compassion, mindfulness and expressive arts will be used.  

Why? People suffering from chronic illness may have limited social support networks, decreased energy, and increased risks of mental health concerns (stress, anxiety, depression, grief, etc.). Group therapy is supported by research for a wide range of concerns and may offer health management coping strategies, self-understanding, connection, safety, support, and improved quality of life.  

Where?  In-person. Counselling Services AH153.

When?   Starting January 26th this group will run weekly on Fridays from 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. for 6 weeks (excluding reading week).

To register:  This group is no longer accepting registrations. Students can email us at counselling.services@uleth.ca to be added to the waitlist. 

** Please Note:  This is a CLOSED GROUP - meaning you must register on or before the start date and attend the initial session to participate. Commitment to weekly attendance is strongly recommended **

Creating S P A C E

Who? Students who are looking for an open space to create connections with others. 

What? We will agree to a set of principles and behaviours that will foster safety, trust, and respect.  We will journal about current and relevant topics.  Participants will be asked to share what's in their minds and hearts.  We will close our space with a grounding exercise or meditation to help us integrate processing and/or move on with our day.  Some topics for exploration could include coping with change, uncertainty, procrastination, boundaries, grief, anger, fear, body image, expectations etc.  

Why? Space is a safe and supportive sharing circle where there is room to explore common life challenges and speak out loud about struggles. We will come together with compassion, to support and empower each other, not advise, fix or judge.  In this group we will "hold space" for meaningful connection.

When: POSTPONED until March 1, 2024. This group will meet from 11:00-12:00 p.m. each Friday (excluding reading week).

Where?  In person. Counselling Services AH153.

Register:  Students can email us at counselling.services@uleth.ca to register or call at 403-317-2845 for more information.

 

Art Therapy Group

Who? Any student wanting to experience art therapy in a counselling group setting.

What? Each session includes mental health check-ins, exploration of art materials and a theme based on the current series to make art around. Art materials provided. Feel free to bring any extra supplies or art projects. No art making experience necessary.

Why? Art therapy group provides an alternate way to express feelings and thoughts, and an excellent opportunity to regulate and connect with others. Viewing images and forms concretely can help provide answers and further questions, and the process of “making” can be therapeutic in and of itself.

When:   

  • Series 1:  Self Regulation  - Mondays from January 22nd to February 12th from 1:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
    • Any student who wants to try out artmaking as a strategy to regulate the nervous system, bring calm to the mind and relaxation to the body.
  • Series 2:  Exploring Identity -  Mondays from February 26th to March 18th from 1:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
    • Any student who is curious about diving further into understanding who they are. Each session will provide a directive to explore some aspect of identity, whether it is in a specific context, the variety of roles we play, the masks we wear, or how our histories inform our present.

Where?  In-person. Counselling Services, AH153.

Register: Students can email us at counselling.services@uleth.ca to register or call at 403-317-2845 for more information.

Groups | Fall 2023 Offerings

S P A C E [ closed ]

Who? Students who are looking for an open space to create connections with others. 

What? We will agree to a set of principles and behaviours that will foster safety, trust, and respect.  We will journal about current and relevant topics.  Participants will be asked to share what's in their minds and hearts.  We will close our space with a grounding exercise or meditation to help us integrate processing and/or move on with our day.  Some topics for exploration could include coping with change, uncertainty, procrastination, boundaries, grief, anger, fear, body image, expectations etc.  

Why? Space is a safe and supportive sharing circle where there is room to explore common life challenges and speak out loud about struggles. We will come together with compassion, to support and empower each other, not advise, fix or judge.  In this group we will "hold space" for meaningful connection.

When: Starting in October, this group will meet from 11:00-12:00 p.m. on Fridays. 

Where?  In person. Location to be confirmed upon registration.

Register: Registration is now closed.

* This is a closed group - meaning you must sign up prior to the start date.

Connection in Action [ closed ]

Who? This group for people who are willing to go beyond their comfort zone to reach their goals.  

What? Connection in Action is a 8-week experiential process group. As a group we will explore topics related to motivation, getting ‘unstuck’, vulnerability, deepening connections, emotional regulation, and other topics that group members are curious about bringing into the space. Group members will have the opportunity to practice new ways of thinking, feeling, and acting while experiencing deeper connection with self and others.

Why? Experiential process groups are designed to be a social laboratory to experiment with new perspectives and behaviours. Research supports group counselling as a tool to help people with building confidence, increasing coping skills, and learning more about oneself.

When?  8 Sessions, in-person, Wednesdays 1:30-2:45pm October 4th – November 29th, 2023

Where?   Counselling Services AH153  *Please note: Participation in this group may involve leaving the counselling office to engage in experiential activities on campus. We will discuss risks/benefits of this approach during the group.

Register:  Registration is now closed. 

 

“You never change your life until you step out of your comfort zone; change begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
― Roy T. Bennett

 

Support on The Spectrum

Who? This group is for YOU if you are looking to connect with peers and build skills. Anyone who identifies on the Autism spectrum, or with Autism traits, is invited to join!

What? Themes covered will include interpersonal effectiveness, emotional regulation, and self-awareness skills. The overall mission of this group is to build the self-confidence of all members.

When: 10 Sessions, in-person, Tuesdays 1:30-2:45pm, October 3rd – December 5th, 2023

Where?  In person. Location to be confirmed upon registration.

Register: Students can email us at counselling.services@uleth.ca to register or call at 403-317-2845 for more information.

* This Group is open to new participants throughout the semester.

Previous Groups

If you have any interest in a past group, please email us to let us know! We may consider bringing it back.

Please note: The groups listed below are not available for the Fall 2023 semester.

Therapods

Past Themes:

·         ​Anxiety + Depression

·         ​Sexual Trauma

·         OCD

​·         Grief and Loss

Who? Anyone! Therapods are ideal for students looking to develop coping skills and strategies to feel better and manage their stress, triggers, and anxiety in healthier ways. Ideal for students experiencing feelings of overwhelm, anxiety and depression.

What? Therapods are a blended type of Group and Personal Counselling that provides students with more consistent and regular counselling sessions. Therapods run 3-4 sessions in length, are offered biweekly, and in small groups of 3-4 students per pod. You will stay together with the same people throughout the 3/4 sessions.

Why? The most common feedback we receive from students in therapods is – the comfort in knowing they are not alone! Group therapy can be very anxiety provoking in the beginning, but growth isn’t always comfortable. We encourage you to lean into the discomfort as you will have the opportunity to gain essential skills to support your emotional, physical, psychological, and academic wellbeing!

ADHD Connection + Support Group

What? This is a strengths-focused group for individuals with ADHD. Different creative directions will be provided each week to promote self-exploration and reflection. Group sessions will then focus on exploring and sharing what members have created.  

Who? This group is for anyone who has an ADHD diagnosis that wants to learn, grow and connect. It is recommended that you complete the ADHD Skills Workshop before joining this group.

Grief + Loss Group

Who? This group Is for anyone who has experienced a loss of a loved one. Whether this loss is recent or historical, if you feel the residual pain of losing someone you love, we welcome you to join this group.

What?  No experience is the same and grief is not linear – this group is designed to help members understand their grief and how to live with their new normal. Members will gain insight into their personal healing journey and develop coping tools and strategies to get through daily life.

Why? Grief and loss can affect your daily functioning, interpersonal relationships, expectations or fears of the future, and ability to connect with others. Hopefully the strength of a community, personal insight, and coping skills will allow you to honour your grief and loss journey.

Mindfulness Self Compassion Wellness Group

Who?: This group is for anyone struggling with self-criticism, self judgement, and perfectionism, or just for those who are wanting to learn skills to be kinder to themselves!

What?: The group will feature excerpts from the Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer to provide insight and help you develop practical skills to decrease self-criticism and increase self-compassion in daily life. The science-based workbook was designed to provide step-by-step guidance focusing on the three elements of self-compassion (self-kindness, common humanity and mindfulness) to break free from unkind self-judgement and impossibly high expectations. 

Why? Many people find it easier to be kinder and supportive of others and struggle to accept and support themselves. Learning to have more self-compassion can help students build resilience to thrive, cope better when faced with adversity, decrease anxiety, become more self-confident and improve emotional wellbeing. Research has shown that self-compassion is a valuable source of strength, hope, coping and resilience.

Connection + Support (for Anxiety)

Who? This group Is for anyone who experiences anxiety regardless of the trigger (ie: school, social life, new situations). This group is for people who are interested in exploring their anxiety in a space where they can hear from other group members what their anxiety looks like and how they have learned to manage it while learning tangible, evidenced based skills and tools to manage their own anxiety.

What? Exploring Anxiety is a process group for members to talk about their anxiety, hear about others experiences, receive compassion and validation, show empathy, naming feelings, and learn and enhance coping tools to better manage their anxiety.

Why? Process groups are supported by research for a wide range of concerns from attachment, depression, anxiety, stress to just about any aspect of mental health.  The reason why group works is because the group setting mirrors issues of the real world – while providing a feeling of connection, validation, safety, support, and feedback.

Peer Support Group

Hosted by the Student Wellness Ambassadors Program (SWAP)

Who? This peer support group is for any student who feels they would benefit from connecting with other students in a safe and supportive environment.

What? This ongoing session is hosted by the Student Wellness Ambassadors, who are trained peer listeners. This will be an open space for students to share their needs and concerns, whether they be personal, academic or career related. Some sessions may be structured around certain topics such a stress management, wellness, and academic success. Peers can offer each other a lot of support, guidance, and normalization. Please note: this is not a professional group counselling session.

Why? To create an opportunity for students to connect, learn, and grow from their peers. 

Chronic Illness Connection and Support

Who? This group is for people who identify as having a chronic medical illness that impacts their life. For e.g. multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, post-concussive syndrome, crohns, colitis, Lyme disease, PCOS, endometriosis, arthritis, diabetes, ALS, IBS and more. No diagnosis needed.  

What? Chronic Illness Connection and Support Group is a process group for members to connect with others and yourself. This is a space for members to explore their relationship and connection with their body and strengthen their mind-body relationship. Body awareness, self-compassion, mindfulness and expressive arts will be used.  

Why? People suffering from chronic illness may have limited social support networks, decreased energy, and increased risks of mental health concerns (stress, anxiety, depression, grief, etc.). Group therapy is supported by research for a wide range of concerns and may offer health management coping strategies, self-understanding, connection, safety, support, and improved quality of life.  

Art Therapy: Drawing on Self-Compassion

Who? Any student desiring to develop greater compassion, care and understanding toward themselves.

What?  An art-based therapy group involving a little psych. education, some verbal processing and a lot of time to make art.  Art materials provided. Feel free to bring any extra supplies. No art making experience necessary.

Why? Art therapy provides an alternate way to express feelings and thoughts that may be difficult to articulate in talk therapy. Viewing images and forms concretely can help provide answers and further questions, and the process of “making” can be therapeutic in itself.

Art Therapy: Identity + Self Expression

Who? Any student wanting to explore aspects of their identity or want to have fun making art. 

What? An art-based group therapy including some psychology education, some time for verbal processing, and a lot of time for making art. Art supplied provided. Feel free to bring extra art supplies. No art making experience needed. 

Why? Art therapy can be a fun way to express your feelings and thoughts that might be hard to express through words. The process of ‘making’ can be very powerful for exploring your identity in ways that are otherwise hard to describe. The ultimate goal of this group is to develop a better understanding of yourself. 

Topics Included: 

  •  What is identity 
  • Exploring sexuality in identity 
  • Exploring gender in identity 
  • Exploring spirituality and religion in identity 
  • Exploring ethnicity and culture in identity 
  •  Reflections on your identity 

Art Therapy: Self-Regulation

Who? Any student wanting to expand ways to cope, self-regulation, develop comfort with discomfort, stretch the imagination, and find more calm.

What? A therapy group that uses art, music and movement to help identify how we function, develop coping strategies and increase understanding of ourselves. This will be an open, ongoing group. Art materials provided. Feel free to bring any extra supplies. No art making experience necessary.

Why? Art therapy provides an alternate way to express feelings and thoughts that may be difficult to articulate in talk therapy. Viewing images and forms concretely can help provide answers and further questions, and the process of “making” can be therapeutic in and of itself.

Connection + Support

Who? This group for people curious about better understanding themselves and who they are in relation to all types of relationships.

What? Connection + Support is a process group for members to practice speaking up, challenging others, receiving compassion, showing empathy, naming feelings, and experiencing deeper connection. This is a space for members to explore personal goals while reconnecting with the wisdom, strength, and resilience of both participants and yourself. 

Why? Process groups are supported by research for a wide range of concerns from attachment, depression, anxiety, stress to just about any aspect of mental health.  The reason why group works is because the group setting mirrors issues of the real world - just with more safety, support, and feedback.

finding emotional balance graphic

Finding Emotional Balance (DBT)

Who?  This group is for anyone who wants to learn to manage their emotions and reactions/behaviours as well as build better relationships.

What?  This group will explore skills and perspectives that will help you manage big emotions, shift problem behaviours, and build healthier relationships. This group is adapted from the Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) method and teaches DBT strategies. You will have a chance to explore your life values and each week use the skills learned to put those values into action. This is a space to learn to trust yourself and your abilities to live the life you want to live.

Why?  Emotions can be intimidating and building and maintaining relationships can be confusing. We know that as our stress levels increase, our ability to manage our emotions and relationships can be challenged. The knowledge and skills discussed in this group will empower you to manage your emotions in a healthy way that benefits your relationship to yourself and others. Connecting in a group counselling setting allows for a sense of community and an understanding that you are not alone.

Connection in Action

Who? This group for people who are willing to go beyond their comfort zone to reach their goals.  

What? Connection in Action is a 7-week experiential process group. As a group we will explore topics related to motivation, getting ‘unstuck’, vulnerability, deepening connections, emotional regulation, and other topics that group members are curious about bringing into the space. Group members will have the opportunity to practice new ways of thinking, feeling, and acting while experiencing deeper connection with self and others.

Why? Experiential process groups are designed to be a social laboratory to experiment with new perspectives and behaviours. Research supports group counselling as a tool to help people with building confidence, increasing coping skills, and learning more about oneself.

“You never change your life until you step out of your comfort zone; change begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
― Roy T. Bennett

*Please note: Participation in this group may involve leaving the counselling office to engage in experiential activities on campus. We will discuss risks/benefits of this approach during the group.

Art Therapy

Who? Any student wanting to experience art therapy in a counselling group setting.

What? Each session includes mental health check-ins, exploration of art materials and a theme for the week to base artmaking around. Art materials provided. Feel free to bring any extra supplies or art projects. No art making experience necessary.

Why? Art therapy group provides an alternate way to express feelings and thoughts, and an excellent opportunity to regulate and connect with others. Viewing images and forms concretely can help provide answers and further questions, and the process of “making” can be therapeutic in and of itself.