We are excited to offer a wide range of services to meet students’ needs. Students interested in participating in a workshop are invited to visit Engage to register. Please call 573-882-6601 for more information on classes and groups.
About Group Therapy
Group therapy is a powerful way to address a wide array of issues that are a part of a college student’s reality. Through connecting and healing as a group students can:
- Address current concerns impacting their day-to-day lives.
- Connect with similar life experiences and outlooks.
- Learn and try new behaviors.
- Increase self-awareness.
Most groups are limited to 10-12 people and run from 6-14 weeks. It is important to attend every session of your group and to do any homework between groups. Most groups offer a pre-group meeting with group leaders to assess the fit of the group for a student’s specific needs.
It is common to feel anxious when thinking about joining a group. It can feel difficult to share personal thoughts and concerns with others, particularly when you begin as “strangers.” Once the group progresses, you will likely develop trust and feel more comfortable participating in the group. Learning about yourself in group therapy usually has a positive effect on your relationships and can improve your quality of life.
Fall 2024 Groups and Classes
Please note, most groups fill early in the semester and will not accept new members until the next semester. However, some groups remain open. If you are interested in participating in a group or class, please contact the MU Counseling Center (573-882-6601) to schedule a brief screening.
This open support group serves as a way to openly engage in dialogues around what it means to be a person of color on this campus. This group serves to empower students and help them recognize that there are other individuals that share similar experiences. POC group ultimately serves as an outlet for people of color to come together weekly in order to enhance their success at Mizzou. These groups will remain open to new members as the semester progresses as long as group membership has not maxed out.
Tuesdays, 4-5 p.m. | Led by Dr. Devon Isaacs & Dr. Jason Edwards
This open group is intended to help international students find support and help as they adjust to life and academic work in the U.S. Each week, there will be a new theme for discussion. These themes will be based on various challenges that international students typically tend to encounter, such as getting connected to Mizzou, the impact of mental health on financial and academic concerns, and navigating academic and professional relationships in the U.S.
Thursdays, 3-4:30 p.m. | Led by Dr. Nathan Booth & Dr. Jessica Santiago
This open support group is for LGBTQ (and questioning) students to explore, understand, and celebrate their identities. Students do not need to have made any particular “progress” toward coming out and/or transition to be in this group – this is a space to honor everyone’s unique experiences and journeys. Topics discussed will depend on group members’ needs, but may include identity exploration and self-definition, cultivating identity pride, coming out, social and medical gender transition, dating, family experiences, dysphoria, navigating hetero- and cisnormative spaces, and just enjoying being with other queer people.
Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Led by Dr. Kerri Schafer
These are process oriented groups helping members with interpersonal skills, increased expression of emotion, understanding social dynamics, and gaining a greater awareness of one’s self. Members will have a safe place to explore feelings and thoughts, give and receive support and feedback, and practice healthier ways of relating to themselves and others.
Tuesdays, 2-3:30 p.m. | Wednesdays, 3-4:30 p.m.
This is a support group for graduate and non-traditional students with the main goal of building a supportive community while dealing with the unique life stressors associated with this population. Typical topics include creating balance between school, personal and work demands, finding and maintaining motivation and momentum including dissertation or thesis difficulties, dealing with time management, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, procrastination or advisor conflict.
Wednesdays, 1:30-3 p.m. | Dr. Anne Meyer & Dr. Jenny Lybeck-Brown
College students have a lot on their plate. On top of that, being a man comes with its own unique expectations. Some feel pressure to navigate these challenges while upholding certain standards of what it means to be a man. This group provides a relaxed, supportive environment for men to talk about the challenges that they face and help one another grow.
Tuesdays, 4-5 p.m. | Dr. Nathan Booth
This group is for students who experienced significant dysfunction or distress within their family (such as trauma, physical abuse, emotional abuse, or neglect) which has impacted their self-perception, sense of self-worth, and ability to have healthy and rewarding relationships as adults. The group seeks to provide students an opportunity to heal from their early family experiences by use of validation, support, and connection to others. Group members will be provided with psychoeducation regarding the ways in which trauma impacts the body; they will be taught skills such as containment and emotion regulation; and they will be provided with a safe space to process family experiences.
Mondays, 3-4 p.m. | Dr. Adri Molder & Russ Jackson
This is a six-week, skills-based group that focuses on mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. This group will teach students different ways of relating to their emotions and allowing them to use their emotions to follow their values, rather than be at war with them. Students can join at any point during the semester and stay until they complete the six topics.
Wednesdays, 3-4:30 p.m. | Dr. Remya Perinchery & Donna Strickland
Many students struggle with a harsh internal voice. These harsh internal voices represent one way of relating to the self and to others—through fear, competitiveness, or shame. This group will provide a supportive space for learning to relate differently to these critical voices through a compassion-focused orientation. The group will include psychoeducation about how the brain works, training in mindfulness and compassion, and processing of any struggles with a focus on compassion. As Paul Gilbert, who developed compassion-focused therapy puts it, “At the heart of this therapy . . . are ways of building caring connections (in contrast to fearful, self-focused, or competitive connections) with others and with self.”
Tuesdays, 3-4:30 p.m. | Donna Strickland & Dr. Russ Jackson
This group utilizes tabletop role-playing games, such as Dungeons & Dragons, to help students learn therapy skills in a fun, supportive, and safe environment. Clients will be able to identify and work toward specific goals (e.g., navigating social situations, learning communication skills, working collaboratively with others) with the help of a certified therapeutic game master. Time in the group will be split between therapeutic play and discussion of group goals.
Tuesdays, 3-4:30 p.m. | Dr. Chuck Burgess
Skills Class
Skills classes are focused on developing a particular skill or learning to manage a specific challenge. Our classes range from one to four weeks. Topics that may be addressed in skills classes include managing symptoms of anxiety, self-compassion, quieting your inner critic, self-care, or managing stress. Classes are offered to students when learning specific skills is likely to significantly improve their well-being and day to day functioning. Classes are scheduled throughout the semester.
The anxiety class is a 4-week classroom-like course designed to help students develop coping skills for anxiety symptoms. Students will increase their knowledge of anxiety, its causes and symptoms and will learn and practice new skills to aid in building self-mastery and confidence.
Mondays, 3-4 p.m. | Dr. Jason Edwards
Mondays, 4-5 p.m. | Dr. Jason Edwards
Wednesdays, 4-5 p.m. | Dr. Jessica Santiago
The A.D.D. class is a 6-week classroom-like course designed to help students develop coping skills for difficulties in attention, concentration, time management, organization, and improving their overall diligence. Students will increase their knowledge of attention, concentration, how they can adjust their implicit organization skills, and effectively use adaptive/technological resources to help them reach their full academic potential. Each round of A.D.D. consists of four independent classes. Students are welcome to join the current round and continue until they’ve completed all four classes. The classes are primarily discussion-based to help students reflect on how they can effectively incorporate the skills and tools presented to them into their daily lives.
Thursdays, 4-5 p.m. | Dr. Russ Jackson
Staring college is often a time of exciting, challenging and sometimes stressful adjustment for students. New to Mizzou is a six-week class providing psychoeducation, experiential activities and support as students being their journey at Mizzou. Class will cover topics related to homesickness, campus resources, tips for student success, coping with stress, mindfulness practices and engaging/communicating effectively with roommates.
Thursdays, 2-3:30 p.m. | Dr. Keely Alexander
Reclaiming Your Roar is a six-week depression class providing psychoeducation, experiential activities, and support. Students may join the class at any week and stay until they complete the six topics. The first half of each session will allow members to check in on successes and struggles during the previous week. During this portion, members will give and receive support to one another. The second half of each session will cover topics such as finding motivation, CBT, mindful self-compassion, healthy sleep and nutrition, and building relationships. Most weeks will include experiential activities such as guided meditation and thought records. Members will also be encouraged to share their favorite self-care ideas.
Thursdays, 3-4:30 p.m. | Michael Kaplan & Jenny Haberski
Safety in numbers
Group therapy offers a supportive environment for Mizzou students. Hear from current students about their experience with support groups and skills classes.