Group counseling is a powerful venue for growth and change. Not only do students receive tremendous understanding, support, and encouragement from others facing similar issues, but they also gain different perspectives, ideas, and viewpoints on those issues. Most students, though somewhat apprehensive at first, report that the group experience was helpful far beyond their expectations.

We offer groups because they work for students. We are convinced that the group format is one of the most effective tools for addressing issues common among college students. Every semester, our groups focus on a wide variety of topics. We have group counseling for women, men, and mixed groups meeting on different days of the week and times of day. We also offer group counseling focused on offering skills to deal with stress, anxiety, and depression.  The fee for group counseling is $10 per meeting. Fee waivers are available for those who would find this fee prohibitive. 

Please read our counseling groups FAQ, and contact CAPS for more information.

Spring 2012 group offerings

ACT* for Anxiety and Depression  

*Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Meeting Time: Thursdays, 5:00-6:30 

This is a weekly seminar devoted to helping students encounter depression and anxiety differently while pursuing a full and meaningful life. ACT is grounded in the growing body of research which suggests that attempts to suppress or control internal experiences can make them worse and lead to the kinds of problems for which people seek therapy. When we stop struggling with these experiences, they paradoxically have less power.

Acceptance refers to bringing an open and willing attitude toward all internal experiences – thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, and memories – even those which are uncomfortable.  It does not mean resigning yourself to your circumstances or giving into where pain usually lead you. Commitment means actively working on what you truly care about, even when pain is present. Meetings are comprised of short educational components, interactive exercises, mindfulness exercises, and group discussions. Members are asked to practice skills and complete brief readings between meetings.

Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Education Group

Meeting Time: Mondays, 4:30-6:00

In these four-session groups, students discuss with others the potential effects of alcohol and other drug use on academics, relationships, health, and future plans. These groups emphasize a harm-reduction approach, promoting responsible and educated decision-making around alcohol and other drug use. Groups are held several times a semester.  Groups are by direct referral.

Bereavement Group

Meeting Time:  Wednesdays, 5:00-6:30

This is a weekly, confidential support group for enrolled Cornell undergraduate and graduate students who have suffered the death of a family member or other significant person. The group is open to those whose loss occurred some time ago as well as those for whom the loss is more recent. The focus of group will vary depending on members’ needs and preferences.

Cornell Healthy Eating Program (CHEP) Education Group

Meeting Time:  Tuesdays, 3:00-4:30

The CHEP Education Group is a ten session psychoeducational and support group designed to get students started on changing unhealthy cognitive patterns and behaviors related to food and body image. This group is for students who struggle with all aspects of disordered eating including chronic dieting, compulsive overeating, food restriction, purging by laxatives or vomiting, excessive exercise, binge eating, and obsessive thoughts related to body image. The group starts with an emphasis on providing education about eating concerns and over the ten sessions shifts so that members begin to provide more direction to the group as well as support and feedback to one another. The group will explore topics such as motivation to change, identifying ways the eating problems serve a function, self-soothing and self-care,  family and other relationships, etc. This group has an “opt-out” option after the 5th session.

Cornell Healthy Eating Program (CHEP) Recovery Group

Meeting Time:  Tuesdays, 5:00-6:30

The Recovery Group is for students who have already sought help for an eating disorder and are in the process of ongoing treatment and recovery. The group provides a strongly recovery-focused environment of support and skills building with peers that have also done more intensive treatment. 

Gay, Bisexual & Questioning Men's Support Group

Meeting Time:  Mondays, 5:00-6:30

A confidential group offering gay, bisexual, and questioning men a safe space in which to explore issues of sexuality, homophobia, coming out, family, loss, religion/spirituality, intimacy, race/ethnicity, and relationships and dating.

Growth Through Connection: A Group for Graduate Students

Meeting Time: Wednesdays, 5:00-6:30

The Growth Through Connection Group is a process group for graduate students seeking more authentic and meaningful relationships.The group serves as a place to observe one’s own and others’ interpersonal styles, to give and receive feedback, and to get to know oneself better. Members are encouraged to use this group as an opportunity to challenge themselves interpersonally in a supportive space. It is also a group in which the unique concerns of graduate students can be shared and understood.   

Out of the Blue Group

Meeting Time:  Mondays, 5:00-6:30

The Out of the Blue Group is a confidential, interactive educational group for students experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety. It is designed to help students reach their goals for improved well-being through an exploration of core beliefs,  behavioral patterns, and emotion management. Psycho-education is provided about the symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as their management and prevention. Opportunities to process the information presented, and to have members share personal experiences occur each session. Members can join at any point and participate for 5 consecutive sessions.

Personal Growth: A Group for Graduate Women

Meeting Time:  Mondays, 5:00-6:30

The Graduate Women’s group is a process oriented group that will provide a safe space for women pursuing graduate degrees to explore their interpersonal concerns and intrapsychic difficulties. In process groups, the group serves as a kind of “social laboratory” in which members can observe their own other’s styles of interacting and developing relationships. The group will work towards further developing clients' esteem as they build and strengthen relationships with women.

Positive Action Through Interaction: A Co-ed Graduate Student Group

Meeting Time: Thursdays, 12:30-2:00

This group is appropriate for most graduate students seeking counseling including those who experience depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, loneliness, and/or difficulties in their relationships with important others in their lives. The group will provide a safe place in which to explore feelings, receive and give support and feedback, practice new, healthier ways of relating to others, and feel connected.

Relationships: an Undergraduate Therapy Group

Meeting Time: Mondays, 5:00-6:30

For undergraduate students who are struggling with dissatisfaction in their social relationships, whether they are with peers, friends, family, or partners. For example, this group is appropriate for students who feel they have been unable to establish a healthy, intimate relationship; or who feel something is getting in the way of forming close friendships; or who would like to overcome anxiety related to social situations. The goal is that, through discussion and feedback from both peers and group facilitators, students will gain insights, knowledge, and skills that will help them form more fulfilling relationships in their lives. The group is primarily process-oriented, with aspects of peer support and psycho-education as well.