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Learn about ...

• Group counseling options for spring 2025
• Support & healing spaces offered on a drop-in basis

Group counseling

Group counseling is one of the most effective tools for addressing issues common among college students. For many students, group counseling can be as effective or more effective than individual counseling. Learn more about the documented benefits of group counseling.

CAPS groups offer a safe environment to discuss problems with others who are dealing with similar concerns. Most students report that they find the group experience to be helpful far beyond their expectations. 

• Group counseling is FREE and available to:
  • Undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in Ithaca and on the nearby Geneva campus
  • Groups that meet by Zoom are also available to students studying at Cornell Tech (and some other NYC-based programs)
• Each group is led by one or more CAPS counselor
• Groups usually meet weekly for a 90-minute session; some meet in person and some by Zoom
• Groups are private and confidential; all members must agree that what is disclosed in sessions cannot be shared outside of the group
• Most groups require a group orientation; learn more below about how to join a group

SPRING 2025 GROUPS

See groups meeting on ...

• Mondays
• Tuesdays
• Wednesdays
• Thursdays

== MONDAYS ==

Moving Forward: A Support Group for Survivors of Sexual Violence

• Mondays, 3:15 – 4:45 pm , in-person at Cornell Health, March 3 to April 28
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly semester drop-in group – come to one or all meetings; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Aurora Tivey, LMSW and Jordan Ferrari, Victim Advocate

Students of all genders who have experienced unwanted and/or non-consensual sexual contact and/or other forms of sexual trauma are encouraged to consider whether this private and confidential support group may be helpful to them. The group will be a space for those who have experienced sexual violence in recent months or years to gain support from one another and explore ways to heal in the aftermath of an assault. Discussion topics to include: Myth-busting, coping, managing triggers and flashbacks, trust and safety, fear, anger and sadness, grief and shame, body image, self-esteem, intimacy, sexuality and self-care, and identifying ongoing support. [How to join]

Understanding Self & Others: An Undergraduate Process Group

• Mondays, 3:15 – 4:45 pm, via Zoom, March 10 to May 5
• Open to undergraduate students
• Weekly semester group – no drop-ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Joy Mushabac, LCSW-R and Qiana Watson, LCSW

This group offers an opportunity to work through a broad range of issues facing students, including (but not limited to) academics, peer or romantic relationships, impacts of racism, family issues, the challenges of communication (including online), personal growth, self-esteem, anxiety, depression, sexuality and gender identity. And, more than ever, this group will also be a place to process managing uncertainty, social isolation, and the ever-changing political and economic climate. The group will offer honest, gentle feedback from both therapists and participants about ways that you might be behaving and thinking that may seem unhelpful to yourself or others. These interactions give members an opportunity to gain insight, knowledge, and skills, and explore new ways of thinking and interacting in a safe, confidential environment. [How to join]

What You Resist Persists: a Group for Those with OCD

• Mondays, 3:15 – 4:45 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, March 3 to April 28
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly semester group – no drop-ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Alex Julian, PhD and Tanya Kingsley, LMSW

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can be an isolating and persistent mental health condition. Often our perceptions of OCD are based on stigmatized representations in media, which are rarely accurate (although Monk is quite entertaining). This group will provide members with education on the sources and perpetuating factors of OCD as well as strategies to manage and confront unwanted thoughts. Group will be interactive and collaborative, with leaders and members providing support to each other in the difficult process of reducing the control of OCD. [How to join]

Write it OUT: Weekly Process Group

• Mondays, 1:30 - 3:00 pm, via Zoom, February 24 to April 28
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly semester group – no drop-ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Lex Santi, LCSW and Linda Stout, MSEd, Master CASAC

Write It OUT is a weekly process group to address feelings which have felt stuck and when saying it out loud has been too difficult. This weekly group uses writing prompts to experiment with creative expression to explore the experiences of our lives. We will write and share about depression, anxiety, and self-doubt and joy. Group members will be able to bring curiosity to their past, present, and future, working within the comfort of artistic expression to heal and forge new paths in their lives.

No experience is necessary in writing. This group will have a safe, all welcoming and non-judgmental, non-critique-oriented atmosphere where the creative process will thrive. The therapists will facilitate dialogues with the opportunity to discover belonging and connection through the written word. You can count on every session for space to create, to have the opportunity to read out loud and provide and receive a space. Participation and communication of the shared themes brought up during the group is strongly encouraged. [How to join]

== TUESDAYS ==

ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy) for Anxiety & Depression

• Tuesdays, 2:30 – 4:00 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, February 25 to May 6
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly semester group – no drop ins; group orientation required with Cory Myler
• Facilitators: Cory Myler, PhD and Tanya Kingsley, LMSW

This group will focus on "getting better at feeling" rather than "feeling better," how to best have pain rather than get rid of pain, and how to accept internal experiences (e.g., thoughts and emotions) rather than control them. We will work on the identification of personal values and how to engage in action/behavior that is congruent with those values, even while uncomfortable internal experiences persist.

The format of the group is a mixture of "didactic" and "process"; the group will start out very class-like, with facilitators using slides and a book, "The Happiness Trap", to explain concepts and principles. As the group progresses, it will become more like a traditional therapy group, with more opportunity for interaction between group members and sharing personal experiences. [How to join]

AOD: How to Change a Habit

• Tuesdays, 3:15 – 4:45 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, March 11 to April 22 (excluding April 1 for Spring Break)
• 6 weekly sessions; group orientation required
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Facilitator: Jacob Parker Carver, LCSW and Beth Gentsch, LMSW, MPH

This 6-session group welcomes undergraduate and graduate students who are motivated to change an addictive behavior - use of Alcohol & other Drugs (AOD), social media or other technology, gambling, etc - and support each other in a confidential space. Facilitators will provide psychoeducation on the science of behavior change, with opportunities for reflection and practice so you can apply core concepts to your daily life. People who participate in this group can expect to gain a better understanding of their behavior patterns, to significantly reduce or quit an existing “bad” habit, and to identify healthier replacements.

Session 1, March 11: The Science Behind Behavior Change
Session 2, March 18: Track Your Triggers
Session 3, March 25: Cope With Cravings
(No group session the week of Spring Break)
Session 4, April 8: Responding Versus Reacting
Session 5, April 15: Reward and Reinforcement
Session 6, April 22: Next Level

The format for this group is inspired in part by the book “Atomic Habits”, by James Clear. We encourage participants to read along with the book while engaging in the group. [How to join]

APIDA Student Process Group

• Tuesdays, 4:45 – 6:15 pm in-person at Cornell Health, March 11 to April 29
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly semester group – no drop ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Shinong Ji, MHC-LP and Elizabeth Kim

What does it mean to navigate life as an Asian or Asian American student at Cornell? The Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) process group offers a supportive and inclusive space for students to build community, share experiences, and explore their unique perspectives. Discussions may cover a wide range of topics, including intergenerational relationships, academic pressures, and the nuances of international, immigrant, or American-born identities—or any other themes the group wishes to explore. Open to both graduate and undergraduate students, this group is a place to connect, reflect, and grow together.  [How to join]

CHEP Recovery Group

• Tuesdays, 4:45 – 6:00 pm in-person at Cornell Health, February 25 to April 29
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly semester group – no drop ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Penny Krainin, PhD and April Campanelli, LCSW

The CHEP (Collaborative Health & Eating Program) recovery group is a support group for students who have already sought help for an eating disorder and are in the process of ongoing treatment and recovery. The group provides a strongly recovery-focused environment and allows for building skills, sharing wisdom, and fostering self-compassion with peers that have also participated in eating disorder treatment. [How to join]

Getting out of your Head: Managing Anxiety and Depression Through Movement

• Tuesdays, 3:15 - 4:45 pm, via Zoom, March 11 to April 29
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly semester group – no drop-ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Maurice Haltom, LCSW-R & Travis Winter, LCSW-R

This group will explore mind-body patterns such as tension, worry, negative thought patterns, etc. These patterns can arise from internal and/or external stressors, some of which can include: academic stress, racism, relationships, family patterns, personality types, world events, bullying, normal developmental questioning, identity crisis, lack of community and isolation etc. The focus of this group will be on "listening" to body sensations, thoughts and feelings and then exploring how gentle movement from various disciplines can cultivate self-knowledge and new healthy habits. Simple body/mind practices (e.g., breathing techniques, movement, postures) from a variety of traditions will be explored together to enhance the relaxation response. The group will be comprised of education, discussion, practice and processing that assist group members in working with uncertainty to promote a better sense of personal balance and harmony. All genders, identities, abilities and bodies welcome. [How to join]

LGBTQ+ Support/Process Group for Graduate Students

• Tuesdays, 3:15 – 4:45 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, March 4 to April 29
• Open to graduate / professional students
• Weekly half semester group with option to continue – no drop-ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Kimberly VanNorman, LCSW and Shinong Ji, MHC-LP

This group provides a safe, affirming space for graduate and professional students of any gender who identify as LGBTQ+. Here you will find an opportunity to explore, embrace, question, and share all aspects of your identity. As we connect through shared identities, we welcome you to bring your whole self as we discuss various topics such as coming out, transitioning, relationships, depression, anxiety, and stress. Other relevant topics may include, but are not limited to, advisor/program dynamics, working with uncertainty, stress management, family dynamics, dating, social isolation/connection, as well as any topic that you would like to bring that is relevant to your lived experience. New to groups? No problem! Come join us for a welcoming atmosphere and weekly support, processing, and psychoeducation. [How to join]

Sip and Stim: A Group for Queer Neurodivergent Students

• Tuesdays, 4:45 – 6:15 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, March 4 to May 6
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly semester group – no drop-ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Karen Williams, PhD and Em McClintock, MSEd, LMHC

This group is designed for undergraduate and graduate students who identify as neurodiverse/neurodivergent (OCD, autism, ADHD, Tourette's syndrome, and many others) and LGBTQIA2S+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual or Agender, Two-Spirit). The group seeks to provide members with a safe, judgment-free space to process their lived experiences on these intersections. Members, you do not have to choose!

The primary purpose of this group is to facilitate weekly themes/concerns, impacting the members’ lives. For example, relationships and relating to others, sensory euphoria, and academic and campus resources. Members are encouraged to propose topics and share tips that bring value to their everyday lives. Join us for a cup of tea and to discuss these important factors. [How to join]

== WEDNESDAYS ==

Authentically ADHD Support Group

• Wednesdays, 4:45 – 6:15 pm, via Zoom, February 19 to April 30
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly sessions – group orientation optional; drop-ins welcome
• Facilitators: Emily McClintock, MSEd, LMHC and Aden Cook, PsyD

Be it focusing on classwork or figuring out our daily living, ADHD neurodivergence can be difficult to handle. This group is for anyone seeking to find better ways to manage and succeed with ADHD or ADHD symptoms – not just play catchup with the rest of the world. Each week we’ll discuss a different topic related to attention and focus and how these challenges affect us academically, socially, and holistically. This is a psychoeducational support space run by ADHD facilitators with ADHD in mind. No diagnosis needed nor provided. Coming as needed is always welcome. [How to join]

Queering Connection: LGBTQ+ Interpersonal Process & Support Group for Undergraduates and Graduates 

• Wednesdays, 2:30 - 4:00 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, March 5 to April 30
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly sessions – no drop-ins; group orientation required 9
• Facilitators: Alison Bliss, LCSW and Dan Keenan, LCSW 

This group offers a safe space for exploration of queer identities (sexuality, gender identity, and relationship structure). We will engage in interpersonal processing, mindfulness, and psycho-education related to attachment styles and communication in relationships.

We will meet on a weekly basis in a confidential and affirming group to talk, connect with each other, and offer emotional support. We will explore relevant themes such as relationships with self, family and friends, dating (including navigating relationships on the ace/aro spectrum as well as non-monogamous relationship structures), coming out, being out, transitioning, and ways to embrace all of who you are. There is space to bring all of who you are and your intersecting identities to group. Group is also open to topics that are not exclusively identity related such as academics, depression, anxiety. [How to join]

Nurturing Resilience of International Students

• Wednesdays, 4:45 - 6:00 pm, in person at Caldwell Hall, February 26 to April 23
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly semester group – no drop-ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Elizabeth Jonas, MSW and Karen Williams, PhD

A group focused on nurturing the resilience of international students. This group is a safe space for international students to explore and process their lived experiences. Tips and strategies will be shared to empower students in navigating complex challenges experienced by international students.

Tools for Feeling Better: 4-Week Group

• Wednesdays, 3:30 - 4:45 pm, via Zoom, April 9 to April 30
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Four weekly sessions – no drop-ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Sheila Singh, PhD & Joy Mushabac, LCSW-R

This four-session group teaches students some evidence-based mindfulness practices to help them deal more effectively with difficult thoughts and feelings. Students can expect that over the course of this group they will increase their capacity to manage life’s challenges with greater skillfulness, allowing them to put more energy toward doing what gives their lives value, meaning and purpose. [How to join]

== THURSDAYS ==

AOD: Discover Recovery

• Thursdays, 3:15 – 4:45 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, January 23 to May 15
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Orientation required; open enrollment
• Facilitators: Jacob Parker Carver, LCSW and Brett Jakobson, LCSW

Recovery from Alcohol & Other Drugs (AOD) can mean a lot of different things. For many people it's about giving up a specific substance that has caused a lot of problems, for others it's a commitment to full sobriety. It's common to quit using for weeks or months at a time to improve physical and mental health, and some people decide that ongoing abstinence is an important part of their long-term wellness. Whether you're dropping one substance or many, planning short-term or long-term, this group is for you... because we believe you're in recovery when you say you are.

We know that AOD Recovery is about a lot more than sobriety... It's about understanding your values, enhancing motivation, and building a life you don't need to escape from. Each week we'll help identify common triggers, develop strategies for responding to cravings/urges, and explore experiences that provide genuine fulfillment - so you can lead your best life while maintaining abstinence from one or more substances. Most importantly we'll hold a safe space for each other, and work to establish a community of authentic mutual support. This is primarily a process group, with room for education and skill building as requested by participants. [How to join]

The Eating and Body Image Skills and Support Group

• Thursdays, 3:30 – 4:45 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, March 13 to May 1
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly semester group – no drop ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Juliana Garcia, LMSW and Elizabeth Jonas, MSW

Do you think about eating, your body, or exercise often? Are these patterns negatively impacting your academic performance, social life, or physical health? This group will provide a safe and empowering space to talk about disordered eating habits, notice patterns, and identify individual goals. This group is for students who are considering taking steps towards recovery or who are curious about reducing the harm associated with their behaviors and have little or no previous treatment experience. This group will aim to support students in gaining increased insight into their personal values and to discover ways of using those values to motivate change. This group is open to students of all identities and backgrounds. Most of the content will be based on ideas and questions raised from those in attendance. Group leaders may share education or skills as it pertains to the group discussion and needs. [How to join]

Finding Healing Through Art Therapy

• Thursdays, 3:15 - 4:45 pm, in-person at Willard Straight Hall, March 6 to May 1
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Open enrollment; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Alex Julian, PhD and Dan Keenan, LCSW

Navigating the college experience can exciting but at times leave us feeling overwhelmed, lost, and isolated. While support can often be found from traditional talk therapy, alternate methods such as art therapy can be just as helpful or even a better fit for some. This group will provide members with an opportunity to put their experience into a format that may express what they are feeling in a more helpful way. Group will consist of five sessions per cycle and include education on the benefits of art therapy, skill building, managing emotions, and verbal processing. We will be using clay, watercolor, colored pencils, and other mediums. [How to join]

Positive Action Through Interaction: A Graduate Student Group for All Genders

• Thursdays, 3:15 – 4:45 pm via Zoom, March 6 to May 1
• Open to graduate students
• Weekly semester group – no drop-ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Cory Myler, PhD and Sheila Singh, PhD

This group is appropriate for any graduate students who have life dissatisfaction or distress that is primarily linked to how they experience their relationships with important people in their lives (e.g., friends, family, advisors, partners) AND who want to work on being more effective in those relationships. Insight in this group is generally gained through discussion with and feedback from the other group members; however, some mindfulness-based techniques will also be introduced to facilitate this process.  In addition, group will also provide a safer space to practice new, healthier ways of relating to others with the idea that you can 'try it on' in group and 'wear it' in your day-to-day life.  There may also be occasional invitations to enact "experiments" with these insights in your relationships and activities outside of group. [How to join]

== POSTPONED GROUPS ==

AOD: Mindfulness-Based Harm Reduction 

• In-person group at Cornell Health, dates to be determined
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly semester group, orientation required, open enrollment
• Facilitators: Linda Stout, MSEd, Master CASAC and David "Alec" Wierzbicki, PsyD

So you use Alcohol & Other Drugs (AOD), but you're noticing some drawbacks. Some people might benefit from reducing their use, some might want to stop altogether, and others might just be more intentional about how and when they use. Mindfulness helps to cultivate compassionate self-awareness, so you can reduce the harms associated with use and find what works for you.

This group will provide a safe and empowering place to talk about substance use, notice patterns, and identify individual goals. Discussion will revolve around values and motivations, exploring behaviors that support the life you want to have and the person you want to be. Most of the content will be based on ideas and questions from those in attendance, each session will include an element of mindfulness practice with space for reviewing important topics and developing practical skills. Participants are expected to treat each other with dignity and respect, encouraged to search for the wisdom in each other’s experiences. 

Grief Support Group

• In-person group, dates to be determined
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly semester group – no drop-ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Katherine Goldberg, DVM, LCSW and Janna Buckwalter, LMHC

A support group for undergraduate and graduate students who are significantly impacted by the death of someone important to them. Most group members have experienced the death of a close family member - parent or sibling. Some have experienced the death of another family member who has had a primary role for the student - i.e., someone raised by a grandparent. Other group members are grieving the loss of a close friend. The loss may have occurred very recently or many years ago. Topics explored will depend upon group member interests and concerns, but is support focused rather than educational. Common themes emerge around grieving as a young person and related impacts. Orientation required for all, and also available for any students who are unsure whether group would be a good fit for them.

**How to join (or learn more about) a group** 

Most groups require potential members to have a brief group orientation with the group leader(s) to see if the group is the right one for you. (Group descriptions below indicate whether an orientation is required.)

Here's how to schedule a group orientation, or to learn more about a group you're interested in:

• If you’re already seeing a counselor at Cornell Health, you may ask them about joining a group.
• You can schedule a "group counseling orientation" directly by calling us at 607-255-5155, or by logging in to myCornellHealth and selecting Appointments>Mental Health Appointment>Group Counseling orientation.
• You can schedule an "Access" appointment if you want to learn about group counseling as well as other options for mental health support at Cornell Health. 

Support & healing spaces

Support & healing spaces offer the opportunity for students to gather informally to discuss and share about their personal identities and related experiences. While facilitated by CAPS therapists, support & healing spaces are less structured than group counseling, and are not considered a clinical service. Students are welcome to drop in to any space without pre-registering or participating in an orientation. 

A Fat Empowerment Support Space

• Thursdays, 2:30 – 4:00 pm, via Zoom, February 27 to April 24
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly support space; drop-in as desired, no orientation required
• Facilitator: Courtney MaeRose, LCSW

A weekly support space for people in fat bodies to gather in a safe and judgement free space. This support space is a celebration of large bodies and hopes to offer an escape from the persistent cultural influences that prioritize specific body types. Support space members will offer support to one another on any relevant themes including existing in fat bodies on campus, utilizing spaces designed for thin bodies, addressing fat-phobia in personal and professional relationships, and any other topics members bring forward. 

Gender Expansive Support Space

• Every other Thursday, 3:00 - 4:30 pm, in-person at the LGBTQ+ Resource Center, February 20 to April 24
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Biweekly semester space – drop-in as desired; no orientation required
• Facilitators: Aden Cook, PsyD and Severine Corylus, LMSW

This space aims to facilitate the exploration of identity and lived experience, as well as personal connections, between gender-expansive individuals. It is a confidential and nonjudgmental space open to transgender, Two-Spirit, nonbinary, intersex, and genderqueer people. All students holding these identities or experiences are welcome! This space is for you if:

• You are considering socially or medically transitioning
• You want a space to be open about your trans experience
• You are seeking a welcoming space to explore your identity and lived experiences with others, without having to educate them