About our groups and workshops:
Student Counseling Services (SCS) offers a range of educational workshops, affinity groups to connect and create community, and counseling groups for increased support in moving toward healing or change around specific challenges. Students can learn new skills and strategies, connect with one another, and share difficulties and experiences in a safe, supportive environment. Some groups and workshops meet for the entire semester, and others for 3 or 6 weeks. Groups and workshops are open to all UMN-Twin Cities campus students who are enrolled in Fall 2023 courses.
*Groups and workshops listed below are offered online, unless otherwise noted. Face masks are optional for any in-person groups offered at SCS.
Why join?
Our workshops provide opportunities for students to:
- Receive emotional support
- Increase self-awareness
- Enhance self-esteem and self-confidence
- Improve social skills
- Decrease loneliness and isolation
- Learn to deal with personal issues and resolve conflicts
- Gain new perspectives
- Talk with other students who have similar experiences
How to join:
For educational workshops and affinity groups: Complete the brief registration form by clicking on the associated link (below). Facilitators of the workshop will reply via email with next steps for joining.
For counseling groups: Contact us at 612-624-3323, email us at [email protected] or talk to your SCS counselor to schedule a groups screening/information meeting with group facilitators to learn more.
Please note: While many of our groups and workshops remain open for the duration of the semester, some do have a maximum capacity and close to new students when capacity is reached. Please contact us to learn more about the status of each group, and how you can join a group in future semesters if it is currently closed.
Educational Workshops
Academic Stress Workshop for Graduate Students (Pre-Recorded)
Feeling stressed about graduate school? Want to gather some insight and skills on ways you can better manage the stress of your program? Join staff from Student Counseling Services and Student Academic Success Services to discuss emotional response, skills, and strategies for tackling issues like procrastination, perfectionism, and imposter syndrome.
Facilitators: Sarra Beckham-Chasnoff, Jenny Steiner
View the pre-recorded workshop series here.
The Sex Ed Class You Wish You Had
Much of the sex education in this country is fear and abstinence based. This can leave many people to their own devices (or porn *not saying porn is a bad thing, but there can be misconceptions that can stem from it) when it comes to learning about sex, consent, sexuality and its impact on our overall well-being. Sex is a healthy and normal part of development and we believe that everyone has a right to safe and inclusive education and discussions about sex. The Sex Ed Class You Wish You Had is an interactive group space, tailored to the needs of our group members. We know that a lot of sexual education curriculum is based in cisgender, white, heterosexual, thin, able-bodied, monogamous, vanilla, Allosexual norms, so this group tailors sessions to be inclusive of all folks in the space, and with a sex-positive and trauma-informed lens.
All participants are asked to keep other participant information confidential: what’s said here stays here; what’s learned here leaves here. Some of the topics we hope to explore include reproductive anatomy, sexually transmitted diseases and how to protect oneself, consent, pleasure, substance use and sex, body image and sex, porn, what healthy sex looks like, and much more!
In collaboration with the Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence (MCAE)
Fridays 1:00 - 2:30 PM (virtual)
Facilitators: Nina Hernandez Beithon (she/her; SCS), Dan Piñon (she/her; SCS), Emily Eng (she/her; SCS), and Mick Castro (he/him; MCAE)
To register, complete this sign-up form
Attack Anxiety Workshop
The Attack Anxiety workshop helps students better understand their struggles with anxiety, and learn new ways of pursuing a full and meaningful life. This semi-structured group utilizes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which teaches students to see their personal experiences and relationships from different perspectives, and to act in valued ways that allow them to relate differently to anxious feelings, depressed moods, worrying thoughts, and self-defeating behaviors. Four total sessions, recurring through the semester.
Tuesdays 4:00 - 5:30 PM (in-person)
Facilitator: Jake Loeffler
To register, complete this sign-up form
Affinity and Accountability Groups - In Collaboration with our UMN Campus Partners
Asian Students Affinity Group
This space invites students at the U of M to support mental and emotional health in our Asian experiences and identities. Join us in building community through sharing about our individual journey with personal wellness during our experiences in school and in our communities.
In this space, we will create room to support and share about our college experiences, personal growth, xenophobia, racial in/justice, community needs, and other topics that impact our mental well-being to thrive as students and Asian community as a whole. We acknowledge Asian identities are complex and we are committed to holding this space sacred for all participants.
In collaboration with the Asian Pacific American Resource Center (APARC)
Mondays 3:00 - 4:00
Facilitators: Mae Moua (SCS), Sarah Rost (APARC)
To register, complete this sign-up form
BAAAM! - Black, African American, African Meeting space
This space is designed to provide an affirming and supportive environment for all undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who identify as Black, African American, or African here at the U of M. In this confidential and courageous community environment, we will talk about topics including, but not limited to: school stress; lived experiences as Black/African American and African students at a PWI; experiences related to our identities; stereotypes; micro/macro aggressions; socio-political climate; racial in/justice; relationships; culture; community; family; and moments that bring victory and joy. Hope to see you there!
In collaboration with the Care Program and the department of Dr. Rev Martin Luther King, Jr Program
Fridays 10:00 - 11:30 (virtual)
Starting September 22nd
Facilitators: Greg Sawyer (SCS), Mari Weigel (the Care Program), Melanie Johnson (MLK)
To register, complete this sign-up form
BIPOC Mental Health Collective
The Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Collective (MHC) was formed in January 2019 due to a community desire to create a radical healing space to foster conversations around the topic of Mental Health and Wellbeing in our communities. We acknowledge that much of the current resources/services at the University of Minnesota fit within traditional white western mental health framework and our collective strives to disrupt that model. Our group is open to students (undergraduate and graduate), staff, and faculty at the University of Minnesota. This is a space for Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Middle Eastern and North African (MENA), Desi, Asian, and/or People of Color voices, experiences, and stories. Mixed race, QTIPOC, and trans-racial adopted folks, we see you and welcome you into the space.
Every third Thursdays of the month 11:30 - 1:00 PM
To RSVP, please complete this form
Graduate and Professional Student Support Group
Come together with other graduate students to share, listen, and contribute to a supportive dialogue around the challenges and joys of graduate education. While the agenda will be set by the group, common topics may include balance, coping with stress, personal and professional relationships, motivation, perfectionism, program milestones/culminating projects, intersecting identities, career development and much more.
This group is open to graduate and professional students of all levels and disciplines.
Tuesdays 9:00 - 10:15 (virtual)
Offered weekly starting mid-September
Facilitators: Jake Loeffler (SCS) and Meredith Martyr (SCS)
To register, complete this sign-up form.
Pláticas: Latinx Connection Space
Pláticas: Latinx Connection Space is a virtual weekly group for Latina/e/o/x undergraduate and graduate students to come together and discuss specific needs, themes, challenges, joys, and identities in our community. Some of the themes we may discuss include: colorism, language, belongingness, indigeneity, mestizaje, gender roles, religion and spirituality, immigration, and ongoing events that impact our people and communities.
We acknowledge that within the Latinx community there are many different identities, experiences, and preferences in how we describe ourselves. We invite this variety in lived experiences and trust that each of our identities and stories will add to our group and discussions. Sometimes we can wonder if we belong and if these spaces are for us. We want to honor how vulnerable it can be to consider joining a community space and hope to affirm your belonging and enough-ness. Come as you are and we hope you will join us and explore these reactions, wonderings, and questions together.
In collaboration with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Program
Tuesdays 1:00 - 2:15 (virtual)
Facilitators: Nina Hernandez Beithon (she/her; SCS), Gisel Suarez Bonilla (she/her; SCS), Marisela Rodriguez-Gutierrez (she/her/Ella; MLK), and Sonyna Castillo (she/her/ella; MLK)
To register, complete this sign-up form
wWAAG - white Women's* Accountability & Action Group
Join us for a virtual community of learning, accountability and action! We'll discuss:
- how we are impacted by our socialization at the intersections of racial privilege and gender-based oppression
- how we perpetuate the harm of white supremacy (despite our good intentions)
- how we can work towards racial and gender justice in our selves, our relationships, our institutions and our world
*We warmly welcome anyone who has been socialized into "whiteness" and "womanhood" at any point in their lives. We welcome those who identify as white, as well as indigenous and people of color who may be read as white and/or experience white passing privilege. We welcome cis women, trans women, and AFAB trans/non-binary folks. We trust and respect how you self-identify, and we want you in this group if you believe your experiences are aligned with our intentions. If you have questions or concerns about the language and framing we've provided here, please contact us to share your feedback.
In collaboration with the Women's Center
Wednesdays 1:30 - 2:45 (virtual)
Facilitators: Meredith Martyr (she/her; SCS), Anna Lifson (she/they; Women's Center)
To register, complete this sign-up form
Counseling Groups
Chronic Condition and Pain Support
A group for students who have a chronic condition or who experience chronic pain to provide and receive support. Individuals may be in any stage of their condition (i.e. recently diagnosed, struggling to find a diagnosis, in remission), and a formal medical diagnosis is not needed to join the group. Members give and receive support around the experiences of living with a chronic condition and/or pain while also being a student, and share coping strategies with one another in a safe environment.
Thursdays 11:30 - 12:30 (virtual)
Facilitators: Alexa Fetzer
To join: Contact SCS at [email protected] or 612-624-3323 to schedule a group screening/orientation meeting with group facilitators
Dissertation and Thesis Support
These groups meet every other week to provide support and focus on problem-solving strategies for graduate students at the dissertation or thesis stage of their programs, who have passed oral preliminary exams and/or their dissertation/thesis proposals. These groups fill quickly, and there may be a waiting list for an opening. Space becomes available as students complete their degrees.
Section 1: Tuesdays (bi-weekly) 2:00 - 3:30 (virtual)
Facilitator: Sarra Beckham-Chasnoff
Section 2: Thursdays (bi-weekly) 2:30 - 4:00 (virtual)
Facilitator: Alexa Fetzer
To join: Contact SCS at [email protected] or 612-624-3323 to schedule a group screening/orientation meeting with group facilitators
Grief Support Group for Students Who Have Lost Parents or Siblings
An opportunity for students who have lost a parent or sibling in their life to share their stories, while giving and receiving support around the many issues faced during the grieving process. Participants will be able to discuss their loss in a safe and supportive setting with others who have been through similar experiences. We know not all families look alike; some of us were raised by our grandparent or foster parent. Grief Support Group is inclusive of your family's definition of "parent" and "sibling" and can include the loss of any primary caregiver (e.g., parent, grandparent, uncle/aunt) or a peer-aged relative in the same household (e.g. cousins, siblings) whom you were raised with or by.
Section 1: Wednesdays 2:30 - 4:00 (virtual)
Facilitators: Lauren Scholder, Greg Sawyer
Section 2: Thursdays 3:00 - 4:30 (in-person)
Facilitators: Sarra Beckham-Chasnoff
To join: Contact SCS at [email protected] or 612-624-3323 to schedule a group screening/orientation meeting with group facilitators
Understanding Self and Others
Do you want to develop better relationship skills? This group provides an opportunity to learn from each other, while giving and receiving support around the many personal issues that students deal with. Participants will help each other develop greater self-awareness and increased ability to have satisfying relationships. Relationships, self-confidence, balancing demands, and more–this group will address the issues of greatest concern to its members.
Section 1: Tuesdays 11:00 - 12:30 (in-person)
Facilitators: Ian Evans, Emily Eng
Section 2: Wednesdays 3:00 - 4:30 (virtual)
Facilitators: Alexa Fetzer, Gisel Suarez Bonilla
Section 3: Thursdays 3:00 - 4:30 (in-person)
Facilitators: Jake Loeffler, Kris Robbins
To join: Contact SCS at [email protected] or 612-624-3323 to schedule a group screening/orientation meeting with group facilitators
*Please note: Educational Workshops and Affinity Spaces are available to students outside the state of Minnesota. Counseling groups are only available to students who are residing within the state of Minnesota.
SCS Footer 2
