UCC Groups
UCC GROUPS
Spring 2023
Structured/Theme Groups
DBT 1
Thursdays 5-6:30pm
DBT 2
Fridays 10:30-Noon
Description: The DBT group is open to co-ed graduate and undergraduate students who are interested in changing patterns of behavior that are no longer helpful. This group will teach and promote skills to effectively manage stress, anxiety, and other distressing emotions through an approach based in mindfulness. This mindfulness approach aims to balance self-acceptance with change. DBT is a compassionate type of behavioral therapy that is intended to help people move toward having a life that feels even more meaningful and worth living. Distress, emotional pain, interpersonal difficulties, and behavioral problems such as over- or under-eating, using substances, self-injuring, losing control, or “using-up” relationships can make it incredibly difficult to function. DBT targets the issues that cause distress and promotes coping skills that can be used in place of previously established self-defeating behaviors. It does so in a framework that helps us understand that we are doing the best we can even though we need to learn ways that work better
CBT 1
Mondays 5-6:30pm
CBT 2
Thursdays 2:30-4pm
Description: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on exploring and learning skills to effectively address and/or alter the behavioral and thought patterns that often reinforce anxiety and depression symptoms and experiences. This group uses a combination of training CBT management skills (such as relaxation, activity scheduling, identifying and challenging thoughts and beliefs, mindfulness, exposure, and more), experiential practice activities to help members implement and sustain the skills into their daily lives, and opportunities to discuss success and challenges throughout the process. The specific focus on anxiety and/or depression rotates each semester.
Skills Clinic
Fridays 1-2:30pm
Description: Skills Clinic topics are specific to presenting concerns (e.g. stress, anxiety, perfectionism,) and skills that can be developed as a result of attending these clinics (e.g. mindfulness, self-compassion, relationship effectiveness). The primary goal of Skill Clinics is to offer specific strategies students learn to implement in their daily lives for managing distress and improving day-to-day functioning and effectiveness.
Koru Meditation Group
Time: TBD
Website Link: Koru Mindfulness
Welcome to Koru! During this class you will be introduced to the practice of mindfulness and learn several skills, including meditation for managing stress and enriching your life. Mindfulness is about developing the ability to be fully attentive to all the moments of your life, reducing the amount of time you spend worrying about the future or fretting about the past. An important aspect of mindfulness is developing a non-judgmental, accepting, even curious, attitude about your moment-to-moment experience. The more you develop this attitude, the less you will feel overwhelmed by changes and challenges in your life.
Koru is designed to introduce you to the practice of mindfulness and get you well on your way to developing this important skill. Like learning any new skill, it takes practice to get comfortable with mindfulness. We invite you to devote yourself to the study and practice of mindfulness over the next four weeks, and we challenge you to stay curious about what evolves for you as you persistently and patiently practice living mindfully.
Expressive Drawing (no Initial Assessment needed)
Time: Wednesday 3-4pm Location: RAM 421
Description: This outreach group is open to all undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral students. It aims to help you know more about yourself and what you value and want in life as well as to help you cultivate self-compassion, self-acceptance, and self-care. No drawing skill is needed, and all materials will be provided. You can join one or more sessions. Activities include House of Me, Family Genogram, Life Timeline, Self-Worth Pie Chart, True/Ideal Self, My Worry Jar, My Dream Life, My Safe Place, Tombstone Activity, Gratitude Postcard, Values Card Sort, etc. This group will run from 02/01/2023 to 04/19/2023 except for 2/22 -3/8. Feel free to email mli96@u.rochester.edu if you have any questions!
Process Groups
Understanding Self and Others (USO):
Undergraduate Process Group I
Mondays 4:15-5:45 pm
Undergraduate Process Group II
Wednesdays 5-6:30pm
Graduate Process Group
Tuesdays 2:30-3:45 pm
Description: These groups are open to co-ed undergraduate students or graduate students, depending on the group. The purpose of an interpersonal/process group is to learn more about yourself and how you relate to others, to better understand how others perceive you, and to learn how to give and accept meaningful feedback. Members may share about themselves, relate to others’ experiences, and ask other members for feedback to learn about themselves and how others perceive them. A main goal for group members is to determine possible changes that might improve their connections and interactions with others and then begin making these changes.
International Student Group
Time: Fridays 1:30-3pm
Description: The purpose of this group is to foster a safe and supportive community for international students who grapple with cultural shock, homesickness, social anxiety and isolation, feelings of diaspora, discrimination and marginality, uncertainty regarding immigration policy, and other academic, career, interpersonal, and mental health challenges. The group therapists (two international students themselves) will provide a confidential space to help members explore and process their unique personal experiences, receive feedback and help each other gain new perspectives, and develop camaraderie through appreciation of others’ lived experiences. This is primarily a process group, with room for psychoeducation and skill building as requested by participants.
Women’s Graduate Process Group
Time: Mondays 3:30-5:00pm
Description: This group is open to female graduate students. The focus of the interpersonal/process group is to promote a wellness perspective in all areas of graduate life such as relationship, academic, family, social and personal conflicts and strengths. The goal of the group is to optimize personal and academic success by promoting self-awareness and connection to others. Members may share about themselves, relate to others’ experiences, and ask other members for feedback to learn about themselves and how others perceive them.
Men’s Group
Wednesdays 3-4:30pm
Description: This group is open to male graduate and undergraduate students. The focus of the interpersonal/process group is to promote a wellness perspective around men’s issues that impact any and all areas of student life such as relationships, academics, family, social and personal conflicts, identity development, and strengths. The goal of the group is to optimize personal and academic success by promoting self-awareness and connection to others. Members may share about themselves, relate to others’ experiences, and ask other members for feedback to learn about themselves and how others perceive them.
LGBTQIA+ Process Group
Fridays 1-2:30pm
Description: This group is open to undergraduate and graduate students who are members of the queer and trans community as well as those who are exploring their sexual and/or gender identity. The purpose of this interpersonal process group is to learn more about yourself and how you relate to others, to learn how to give and accept meaningful feedback, to explore life challenges you may be facing—including marginalization and stigma. Additionally, this group will encourage members to explore resilience in our community and identify our own strategies for coping and thriving.
MOSAIC Group
Wednesdays 4:30-6pm
Description: This interpersonal process group is designed for undergraduate and graduate students of color and bi/multiracial identities on campus who need a safe space to talk about their intersecting identities and ways to navigate the complexities of their experiences. The group will discuss the unique challenges participants face in their academic, professional, and personal lives. Members will share their personal experiences, give and receive feedback to each other, and empower themselves to succeed in all aspects of their lives. This will also increase their awareness of ways in which cultural and racial identities form their sense of self and their relationships.
Women of Color Group
Thursdays 5-6:30pm
Description: This group is for undergraduate and graduate students who identify as “Women of Color” and want/need a safe space to talk about the ways in which their ethnic/cultural (and other intersecting identities) help to form their sense of self and impact their interactions in their academic and professional settings and their interpersonal relationships, including with family, peers, and romantic partners. As members share their own personal experiences, and receive feedback and help to support others, they’ll gain insight and understanding, learn new ways to effectively cope with the challenges and struggles they face in life, and grow more empowered to succeed in all aspects of their lives.
Survivors of Sexual Assault and/or Abuse
Mondays 5-6:30 pm
Description: This group is open to female-identified students who have experienced sexual abuse or assault. The purpose of the Survivors of Sexual Abuse/Assault group is to increase connections and reconnections, overcome shame and stigma, and to gain understanding about oneself and one’s experience of sexual assault and/or abuse in a group of individuals who also have such experiences. Possible topics of discussion include: exploring how traumatic experiences can impact your sense of safety, trust, self-esteem and relationships, understanding feelings such as guilt, shame and anger; emotion regulation and self-care; connection and relationship building.