Group Counseling & Support

Whether you're facing personal issues, emotional concerns, or simply seeking a supportive community, our confidential groups can help you manage stress more effectively, improve your mental well-being, and build resilience. Being in community with peers who understand your feelings and experiences can be incredibly beneficial and rewarding.

Group counseling provides unique benefits that individual counseling cannot offer, such as:

A space where you can be with peers who truly get it, and where your struggles are met with understanding, not judgment.
Diverse perspectives and coping strategies that can help you better understand your own challenges.
An opportunity to build and practice skills in a safe and supportive environment.
Feeling less alone and gaining a sense of belonging.

If you’re hesitant about group counseling, know it’s a step worth considering. Last year, 95% of surveyed CAPS group members agreed or strongly agreed that what they learned in their group could help them relationally, academically, and emotionally. Explore the groups we’re offering and find details on how to join each group below.

For questions or accommodations, please email [email protected].

Support & Community Groups

These groups offer welcoming spaces where you can connect and grow with other students who share similar experiences, challenges, or identities. They provide an opportunity to discuss your thoughts and feelings in a safe, supportive environment led by mental health professionals.

BIPOC Therapeutic Expressive Arts Workshop

Join BIPOC peers in a unique healing journey through an expressive and performance based arts workshop.

To join or inquire: email [email protected] or [email protected].

Circle of Support

Circle of Support provides a safe and confidential space for OSU student survivors of interpersonal and gender-based violence (including sexual assault, physical assault, emotional abuse, stalking, and sexual harassment) to process, build community, and heal. There is no need to share personal details of what brought you to Circle of Support. Common discussion topics include: the impact of trauma on one's life, preparing for life post-graduation, shame, anger, boundary setting, coping with trauma triggers, and self-care. Circle of Support is a collaboration between CAPS & CAPE Advocacy.

When & where: Tuesdays 3 to 4:30pm.
New members accepted every week.
To inquire about location or join: email [email protected]

Grief and Loss

Engage in a warm, supportive forum for coping with the emotional impact of a major loss. Group is only open to students who have experienced a major loss but accepts new members each week.

When & where: Thursdays 2- 4 p.m. at CAPS
To join: Must be a student who has experienced a major loss. Nothing is required in advance. New members accepted every week. Email [email protected] or [email protected] if you have questions.

Living with Chronic Pain & Illness

Join us to connect with others and share compassion as we discuss the challenges of living with and managing chronic illness and pain.

When & where: Tuesdays 3 to 4:30 p.m.
To join: Must be a student identify as living with chronic pain or illness. Nothing is required in advance. New members accepted each week. Email [email protected] if you have questions.

Rally Point: A Veterans Support Space

A place for current and prior service members to process the challenges of the college experience as a non-traditional student.

When & where: Wednesdays 2:30 to 4 p.m. in Snell 150
To join: Nothing is required in advance. Email [email protected] if you have questions.

Serenity Without Substances

Sharing Experience, Strength, and Hope. This group is designed to offer a safe space for students seeking support and strategies to maintain a substance-free lifestyle. Whether you're committed to sobriety, facing challenges, or just curious about sober living, this space is for you. There’s no requirement for a specific length of abstinence—just a desire to recover and find serenity in all areas of life.

When & where: Fridays 12 to 1pm at CAPS
To join: Nothing is required in advance. Email [email protected] if you have questions.

Student Autism Community Meetings

This group offers a space for students with Autism to connect, get support, and discuss their OSU experience. Hosted and facilitated by DAS.

When & where: In person group meets April 9 2025
Virtual group meets May 14, 2025 times TBD
To join: Email [email protected] to request location or Zoom information

Those Who Serve

A supportive space designed for LGBTQ+ veterans, military service members and reservists to co-create safety and find solidarity, camaraderie, and belonging. Share understanding and support with those who truly get the challenges of navigating both military service and queer identity. Come build community and lasting connections, because you don't have to go it alone.

When & where: Tuesdays 4 to 5:30 p.m.
To join: Nothing is required in advance. Email [email protected] or [email protected] if you have questions.

TransForm! An Inclusive Gender Exploration Group at OSU

TransForm is a supportive space, not intended to fulfill classroom assignments. All gender identities—including trans, gender non-conforming, nonbinary, and anyone exploring their gender identity—are welcome to participate in a respectful and confidential environment.

As the facilitator, I prioritize creating a safe space where all participants feel comfortable expressing themselves. We honor each individual’s unique gender journey and prioritize respect for privacy in all of our discussions. Everyone in the group is encouraged to be an ally and support one another in their exploration.

Our group norms center around respect for everyone’s experience and ensuring that the conversations remain safe, inclusive, and free from judgment.

When & where: Mondays 3 to 4:30pm at CAPS.
To join: Nothing is required in advance to join this drop-in support space. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Beth Zimmermann at [email protected].

Women of Color Support Group

This drop-in group offers a supportive space for OSU students who identify as women of color.

To join: Nothing is required to join. Email [email protected] or [email protected] if you have questions.

Therapy & Skill Building Groups

These groups are small, guided spaces where you can work alongside other students on personal growth and develop tools to feel better and navigate life’s challenges. Build skills, gain insight, and connect with peers in a supportive environment led by mental health professionals.

Finding Peace from Family Chaos

A confidential therapy group for students who have faced challenging family dynamic impacting their core beliefs about themselves and others. Examples may include emotionally immature parents, abuse, substance use, mental health challenges, emotional neglect, hostile divorce, or narcissism. This group offers a safe, nonjudgmental space to increase self-awareness, explore family dynamics, and connect with peers who share similar experiences. Example of discussion topics include the impact family dysfunction has on one's self-esteem, relationships, & academics, attachment patterns, family roles, family cultural traditions & expectations, coping with parental visits, going low/no contact, and setting healthy boundaries.

When & where: Thursdays 2 to 3:15pm Starting Week 4, April 24th
To join: Email [email protected] or [email protected] to schedule an individual pre-group meeting.

Mindful Self-compassion & Support

Self-compassion is offering ourselves warmth and understanding when we suffer, fail, or feel inadequate, rather than ignoring our pain or self-criticizing. This 6-week therapy group helps students practice self-compassion to boost mental well-being. It includes brief education, mindful meditations, and processing in a confidential, interactive setting.

When & where: Wednesdays 3 to 4:30pm at CAPS
To join: Email [email protected] to schedule an individual pre-group meeting.

Understanding Self & Others for Undergrads and Graduate Students

In a safe and energizing group of peers, learn more about yourself and work on interpersonal goals to help you have more effective and more intimate relationships with others.

When & where: Wednesdays 3 to 4:30pm at CAPS, tentatively starting Week 2 of Spring Term
To join: The Understanding Self & Others Group is now closed for Spring quarter 2025. Please email [email protected] to get on the waitlist for fall 2025