Groups at UC Irvine Counseling Center
Many students elect to participate in group psychotherapy. Group psychotherapy can be especially beneficial for students who feel isolated, depressed, or anxious, or who are concerned about how they relate to other people. Even though some students are nervous at first about joining group counseling, many soon discover that it is the best approach for their particular concerns. A number of counseling groups are offered each quarter. Some groups focus on specific concerns such as stress management, social anxiety, or graduate women's issues. Some groups are designed to provide support for students with shared identities. Groups meet once weekly for approximately 1-1/2 to 2 hours.
All prospective group members except for the support groups are required to attend a pre-group screening session. A pre-group screening and orientation session is a brief meeting with leader(s) before the group begins. Its purpose is:
(1) to provide information about the group and (2) to determine if group counseling is the best way to work on your concerns.
For more information about Counseling Center groups, please contact:
Yuli Liu, Ph.D.
yulil@uci.edu
949-824-6457
SPRING 2012 Schedule
Q: What are psychotherapy groups?
A: Members meet to explore personal problems with others who can offer fresh perspectives and objective opinions. Members support and encourage each other in the personal growth process. Psychotherapy groups, in essence, become micro-learning labs wherein members can correct ineffective communication patterns while practicing more productive ways of interacting with others.
Graduate Women's Support Group - Wednesdays 1:30-3pm
Contact Marikyo Adams
Many female graduate students have expressed feelings of isolation and loneliness when they juggle multiple roles. This interactive, support group will address general personal concerns along with an emphasis on the special needs and issues of female graduate students.
Relationship Group- Mondays 3:00- 4:30 pm
Contact Annie Ahn, Ph.D.
This is a supportive group for graduate student who would like to learn how to maintain a healthy romantic relationship. Emphasis will be on effective conflict resolution, communication, negotiation, parenting, and balancing. Group members are also encouraged to bring in their own topics of discussion.
Understanding Self and Others - TBD
Contact Ladan Maleki, Ph.D.
This process-oriented group is for undergraduate students interested in deepening their understanding of themselves and their relationships with others. The group offers a safe environment where members can express their thoughts and feelings and provide support and feedback to one another.
Q: What are Support Groups?
A: Support groups allow students who share a specific characteristic to discuss problems frequently encountered by others in their situation. Members offer the sort of support, empathy, and encouragement that can best be provided by those who have an insiders understanding.
Dissertation Support Group - Fridays 11am-12:30pm
Contact Jonathan Flojo, Ph.D.
This is an interactive and supportive group designed for graduate students to obtain support and to address dissertation challenges. Education will be provided on typical dissertation challenges and coping strategies.
LGBT Graduate Students Support Group- Fridays 12:30- 2:00pm
Contact Jonathan Flojo, Ph.D.
This support group is for LGBTQ graduate students. This group will develop a supportive community to discuss relationships, academic life, family, career and managing one's identity in a heterosexist environment.
Co-Sponsored Support Groups
Choices and Voices - Monday 3:30-5pm
Contact Mandy Mount, Ph.D. at (949) 824-7273
This group, sponsored by Campus Assault Resources and Education (CARE), provides a safe and secure environment to discuss the ongoing needs of survivors of sexual violence.
Structured or Psycho-educational Groups
Q: What are Structured or Psycho-educational Groups?
A: The format of these psycho educational groups is well defined. Each session is similar to a mini-workshop. Pertinent information is provided via short lectures. Members participate in exercises designed to help them practice skills and/or gain greater insight into their problems. Structured groups are time-limited; they meet for a set number of sessions.
Anxiety and Stress Management Group (Undergraduate Students Only) Mondays 1:00-2:30pm
Contact Negar Shekarabi, Psy.D.
The goal of this group is to help students increase awareness of their personal reactions to stressors, learn anxiety management techniques, practice breathing and relaxation exercises, and gain support from others.
Overcoming Social Anxiety (Undergraduate Students Only) Tuesdays 11:00- 12:30pm
Contact Yuli Liu, Ph.D. & Ladan Maleki, Ph.D.
This 9-week structured, skill-focused group is designed to help students overcome anxiety in a variety of social situations including, public speaking, meeting new people, initiating and maintaining conversations.
Mind Over Mood: Managing Depression Group Tuesdays 2:00- 3:30pm
Contact Ruxandra Berdac, Psy.D.
If you're feeling sad, depressed, overwhelmed, please consider this group as a forum for receiving support and for learning new tools to help you feel better.
Q: What are outreach groups?
A:
These groups are offered to the UC Irvine community and provide support, consultation, and a sense of community. Some outreach groups are offered outside the center, including Peace of Mind workshop series, What’s Goin’ On?, & My Black is Beautiful. Both Estamos Unidas and International Coffee Hour are offered in the Counseling Center, Student Services I, Room 203.
Estamos Unidas - Tuesdays 3:30-5pm
Contact Jessica Ortega, Ph.D.
Bienvenidas! Come join a support group for Chicana/Latina students. In this group, you will have the opportunity to connect with other women who are seeking to create community with one another and address a host of concerns. Some areas of focus are cultural concerns in a university environment, transitional issues between family and university life, relationships, identity, ways to succeed academically and socially, and mentoring.
International Coffee Hour - Tuesdays 1:00- 2:00pm
Contact Uyen Bui, Ph.D. & KyuJin Yon, M.A.
Come and meet interesting students from all over the world. Relax and enjoy lively conversations and refreshments. New members are always welcome!!
"What's Going On?" Mondays 5:00-6:30pm
Contact James H. Cones III, Ph.D.
A support group for African American and other students interested in discussing issues that are of importance to the African American community.
My Black Is Beautiful - Fridays 12:30- 2:00pm
Contact Marikyo Adams , LCSW
This group is a semi-structured support group for undergraduate African-American women. The goals of the group are to build community among Black women, promote empowerment, strengthen connectedness to the university, and to encourage social engagement that will promote a positive image of African-American students/people across campus. Women in the group will use food, music, dance, art, spoken word and their own unique talents during this journey.
NEW! WORKSHOP SERIES
Peace of Mind Workshop Series for Graduate Students - Thursdays 11am-12pm starting April 26, 2012
Contact Sara Clancy-Hernandez
This 6-week series semi-structured group will focus on ways to regulate emotions, cognitions, and develop present-moment awareness. Each session will focus on helpful skills: mindfulness, breathing relaxation, sensory appreciation, and non-judgmental acceptance.
Additional Group Information
American Group Psychology Association
For additional information about group therapy in general as well as the ability to locate group therapists in the U.S. you can visit www.AGPA.org
