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]

While each group is designed to focus on specific experiences or communities, all students are welcome to attend any group.

Support & Community Groups
Therapy & Skill Building Groups
Future Offerings
Cancelation Announcements

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.

AYA Support Group

AYA, the Hattie Redmond Women & Gender Center's Women of Color Initiative, strives to facilitate long-lasting and dynamic support including body, spirit, & identity for learning, growth & healing.

  • Where: Hattie Redmond Women & Gender Center
  • Winter Dates:Bi-weekly Wednesday's  1 to 2 pm, beginning January 14
  • To join: Nothing is required to join. Email [email protected] if you have questions.

Circle of Support

Circle of Support is a weekly support group that aims to provide survivors of gender-based violence (examples: sexual assault, dating violence, emotional abuse, stalking, or sexual harassment) with a safe setting to share thoughts and feelings, connect with others, and support healing. This weekly discussion group is free, open to all students and is confidential, meaning what’s shared in the group stays in the group. 

Chronic Pain & Illness Support Group

A safe space designed to discuss the experiences of students who experience chronic pain or are living with a chronic medical condition to learn, support each other, and to be in community. Group is focused on students who live with chronic pain or illness and accepts new members each week.

  • When & where: Tuesdays, 3 to 4:30pm, beginning January 13th  

  • To join: Nothing is required in advance. New members accepted each week. Email: [email protected] or [email protected] if you have questions.

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: Wednesday 3 to 4:30 pm. at CAPS, until 2/18  weeks 8-10 of Winter Term time will Shift to 3:30-4:30 pm
  • 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.

Insight Check: A Tabletop RPG-Based Social Anxiety Group

Join a fun, story-driven adventure while working toward your therapeutic goals!
Using Dungeons & Dragons 2024 (D&D24), Dive into a fun role-playing adventure while working on therapeutic goals! We will be engaging in collaborative problem solving, exploration, and exciting adventure as we gain epic loot and skills.

  • When & Where:  Wednesdays, 3 to 4:30 pm, beginning January 14th
  • To join:If you have any questions or would like more information, contact [email protected]

Peace of Mind 

  • A group for those who want to develop practical skills to self-soothe, calm the nervous system, and reduce anxiety. New members accepted each week. 
  • When & where: Wednesdays 12 to 1:30 pm, beginning January 7th, at CAPS
  • To join: Nothing is required in advance to join. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact [email protected]

Rally Point: A Veterans Support Space 

A place to discuss issues relevant to current and prior service members.  These discussions may include processing the challenges of the college experience as a non-traditional student. 

  • When & where: Wednesdays 2:30 to 4 p.m. in Snell 150, Winter and Spring Term
  • 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: Zoom and in person at DAS (A200 Kerr)

  • To join in-person meetings: Email [email protected] 

Meeting times and Zoom links:

TransForm! An Inclusive Gender Exploration Group at OSU

 TransForm is a supportive space, not intended to fulfill classroom assignments. Discussions focus on exploring the experiences of all gender identities—including but not limited to trans, gender non-conforming, non-binary, and anyone exploring their gender identity.  All are welcome to participate in this respectful and confidential environment. This group accepts new members each week.  

  • When & where: Mondays 3 to 4:30pm at CAPS, beginning January 12th
  • 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]

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 Stress

A group for students who have faced challenging family dynamics that impact their core beliefs about themselves and others. Examples include emotionally immature parent(s), abuse, substance use, mental health challenges, neglect, religious or political tension, hostile divorce, and narcissism. Connect and explore your family's impact with other students who have faced similar challenges in a non-judgmental and confidential environment and know you are not alone.

  • When & where:
  • Wednesdays, 12:30pm to 2pm beginning January 21st
  • Thursdays, 3 to 4:30pm, beginning January 15th
  • To join: Email [email protected]

Mindful Self-compassion & Support

This therapy group helps students practice self-compassion and mindfulness to boost mental well-being. Students will learn how to give themselves the same kindness and support they would give to a good friend, rather than judging or criticizing themselves harshly for their perceived inadequacies or shortcomings. It includes mindful meditation, brief education, and supportive discussion in a confidential, safe, and interactive setting.

  • When & where: Tuesdays, 3 to 4:30pm beginning January 20th
  • To join: email [email protected]

Future Offerings

 

DBT for Disordered Eating

This group focuses on addressing disordered eating behaviors (e.g., purging, binging, restriction) by providing skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to better regulate emotions, identify and understand patterns in your behaviors, cope with distress, and improve interpersonal relationships. We will meet weekly for 7 weeks and review a different set of DBT skills aimed at increasing awareness and changing patterns of behavior while providing a supportive space for reflection, insight, and discussion.

Full Masc Transfiguration 

Full Masc Transfiguration is a supportive community space centered on the lived experiences of masculine-aligned gender-diverse people. This includes, but is not limited to, trans men, transmasculine people, non-binary individuals, gender-nonconforming people, and anyone actively exploring their relationship with masculinity outside of a cisgender male experience. We offer a safe, respectful, and confidential environment where participants can process experiences, share insights, and build community. All who align with the focus of the group are welcome. Feel free to bring your lunch! New members may join each week.

Spring Dates: Thursdays 4-5 pm, beginning April 9th, Week 2 Spring Term
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] 

Post-Bac Pride

Post-Bac Pride is a safe and confidential weekly drop-in space designed to support graduate students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, Two Spirit, and/or other gender or sexual minorities.

  • When & where: Wednesdays 11 to 12:30 (feel free to bring lunch) beginning in Spring Term, CAPS
  • To join: Nothing is required in advance to join. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Lee Huffaker at [email protected] or Danny Shultz at [email protected]