91PORNA

CAPS' therapy groups help you better understand yourself through your interactions with other students in a safe, nonjudgmental environment. You’ll have the opportunity to hear other group members’ observations about you if you choose, which gives you a chance to see yourself through others’ eyes. This helps you gain real-time insights that you can use in your everyday life. You’ll also have the chance to share your observations with other group members. Interactions are respectful, and feedback is offered with the genuine intention of being helpful. You choose when and how you participate, and at what pace, without any pressure. Along the way, you’re likely to experience one of the most healing aspects of therapy groups – the discovery that you're not as alone as you thought.

Individual and group therapy each have advantages, and both have been shown to be equally effective mental health treatments. For some concerns, especially those related to anxiety, group therapy may be more effective.

Yes, that’s possible. Some students participate in group therapy alone, while others participate in group and individual therapy at the same time.

Our therapy groups typically include 5–8 students and 1–2 CAPS clinicians who meet weekly through the semester for an hour-and-a-half. Meetings are held in person at CAPS. Each group has its own unique “personality,” so discussion topics depend on what’s important to the members of that group. To promote a sense of comfort and privacy, we try to ensure that students who know each other are not in the same group, and everyone in the group signs an agreement that they won’t share anything that’s said in group with anyone else.

That’s a common concern. Because every group is different, it can be hard to know exactly what the experience will be like ahead of time. Before joining, you’ll have a chance to meet with the group leader(s), ask questions, and learn more about how the group works.

Therapy groups rely on the participation of everyone in the group, so they work best when members commit to attending every week. At the same time, we understand that group is not right for everyone. If after giving group a fair try you decide it is not a good fit, the group leaders will talk with you about your concerns and help you decide what to do.

Feeling nervous about group therapy is not only normal, but common. Many students worry about saying the wrong thing or aren't sure how much they'll want to share. Most new group members find that they become more comfortable after a few sessions.

You'll never be pressured to talk or share more than you want to. Many students are surprised to find that, once they experience the group's supportive, nonjudgmental environment, opening up feels easier than they expected.

This is a common concern, especially on a college campus. We try to ensure that students who know each other are not in the same group. If a connection between two members becomes known after a group has started, the group leaders will talk with the students involved to decide how best to handle the situation.

Students often tell us that they look forward to coming to group each week because it’s a place where they feel understood, supported, and less alone. In our most recent survey, 100% of USO members said they would recommend the group to a friend.

One former USO member wrote, "At first it was intimidating to share vulnerable things, but after a few sessions it became easier. Hearing that other members were going through similar things helped me feel less alone."

Another said, "Everyone in the group made me feel like I could show that [vulnerable] side of myself without being judged."