The Counseling Center offers several structured, support or process groups. Groups offer a helpful alternative or supplement to individual counseling by encouraging participants to interact with others who have similar concerns. All groups are designed to be confidential, safe, and supportive environments where members can provide feedback and support to one another, increase self-awareness, practice new ways of interacting, and learn new skills in coping. Before joining a group, students will have an opportunity to visit individually with the group facilitator(s).
How do I join a group?
If you are already receiving services at the Counseling Center, inform your counselor that you are interested in joining in a group. If you are not currently receiving services at the Counseling Center, contact the center at 910-962-3746 or counselingcenter@uncw.edu to become a client.
Spring 2023 Groups
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Connections - Understanding Self & Others (Group A = Monday 1:30-3pm; Group B = Tuesday 3:00-4:30pm) This group offers a safe environment in which participants can enhance understanding of themselves and their patterns in relationships, receive support and feedback from others, identify and explore emotions, and experiment with new ways of relating to others. The focus of the group is on the "here and now," with the idea that through giving and receiving feedback, people will be able to practice new behaviors and gain new self-understanding to build more fulfilling connections in their lives. Group A will start February 6th and Group B will start on February 7th. |
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Women's Group (Tuesday 1:00-2:30pm) This group is for individuals who identify as women to explore topics and concerns related to womanhood in today's world. This is a safe, inviting, and supportive space to talk about a variety of issues, including interpersonal relationships, school life, family life, our relationships with ourselves, and much more, with the goal of connecting to others and ourselves in deep and meaningful ways. Group will start February 7th. |
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Skills Training (Wednesday, 3:00-4:30pm): Skills participants learn in this 11-week group include: Core Mindfulness– skills to enhance self-awareness, ability to be in the moment, focus attention; and make more effective choices; Emotion Regulation– skills to decrease emotional reactivity to life situations and events, to identify emotions, reduce vulnerability to negative emotions, and increase frequency of positive emotions in daily life; Distress Tolerance- skills to increase ability to cope effectively with intense emotions or difficult situations; Interpersonal Effectiveness– skills for meeting needs in social interactions, including increasing ability to effectively make requests and set boundaries. Group will start February 8th. |
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Graduate Student's Group (Thursday, 3:00-4:30 pm): This group is for graduate students looking for a safe space to discuss topics and concerns related to being a graduate student. Topics discussed may include imposter syndrome, work-life balance, interpersonal relationships, navigating professional relationships and power dynamics, managing stress and anxiety, and others. The goal is to connect with other graduate students vulnerably and authentically, to give and receive support and feedback, and to create meaningful connections while honoring each group member's unique and intersecting identities. Group will start February 9th. |
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Men's Group (Thursday, 1:00-2:30 pm): This group provides a safe space for individuals who identify as men to learn how to better connect with others and be more flexible with life challenges. Group members will explore the rigid stereotype of masculinity and how it impacts their day-to-day functioning. Additionally, group members will practice vulnerability by sharing struggles and giving/receiving feedback to develop insight about themselves and their relationship patterns. Group will start February 9th |
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Grief Support Group (Wednesday, 3:30-4:45pm): This group provides a safe and supportive space for students who have experienced the death of a loved one. Grief can feel lonely and overwhelming, especially while navigating various demands of being a college student. Group members will have the opportunity to connect with one another by processing the complex reactions and emotions that may accompany grief, learning new ways to cope, and cultivating strength to live with loss. Group will start on February 8th |
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Survivor's Support Group (Wednesday, 1:00-2:30pm): This support group is for survivors of sexual assault who identify as women. This group is designed to be a safe, validating, and connective environment to process and better cope with the emotional, social, physical, and logistical aftermath that may be associated with sexual assault. Group will start February 8th. |
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Taming Anxiety Group (Thursdays, 2:00-3:30pm): This group is for students feeling anxious, having trouble letting go of worries, or not living the life they want because of fear. By participating in this group students will better understand anxiety, identify and decrease unhelpful responses to it, and form skills to help reduce the negative effects of anxiety on their life. The group will also provide a safe, supportive, and encouraging environment to discuss and process anxiety challenges and achievements. Group will start February 9th. |
