302-831-2141

Group Services

CCSD Group Services are offered both in person and virtually.  Please note that telehealth groups can only be offered to students who are in the state of Delaware. Group counseling is one of our primary clinical services we offer at CCSD.  We recognize that for many students, group counseling may be the most beneficial form of treatment for their concerns and counseling goals.

Please see the tabs below for more information regarding group therapy.  Or, see below for our current group offerings.

Emergency Assistance

If you perceive an immediate danger or risk of suicide, call 911 for immediate assistance.

Students can also reach mental health support 24 hours a day on the UD Helpline or the Crisis Text Line.

Get Help

Concerns that group therapy is great at addressing: 

  • Difficulties in having deeper and more satisfying relationships
  • Skills to learn how to cope better with emotions
  • Feelings of isolation and loneliness
  • Assertiveness skills

Benefits and power of group counseling. These are the common benefits we hear from students who go through one of our groups:

  • Getting multiple perspectives and support of others who can relate and/or empathize
  • Connecting with others that understand them
  • Not feeling so alone in the world or at UD
  • Getting to practice their goals with others and getting honest and supportive feedback
  • Feeling more motivated to work on and accomplish their therapy goals, as group meetings help keep them accountable
  • Getting a lot of skills in a short amount of time to help them cope better
  • Feeling more prepared and getting more from individual therapy after going through group
  • No session limits for group therapy! You can return for as many groups as needed.

How to join a group:

  •  Come in for a triage appointment, and one of our triage counselors can recommend the best group for your concerns.  They can also give you more information regarding our groups. 
  • Let us know when you call in that you are interested in a group.  Then you will be connected with the groups facilitator who will talk with you to get some information to see if their group is a good fit for you. They will provide you more information about the group as well so you can decide if it is something you are interested in still. 
  • Typically for our more regular groups, they will conduct what is called a group screen, where additional information, resources, and signing you up formally for the group will occur. For our You’ve Got This! And Lunch and Learn series, this will happen during our triages. 

Most commonly asked questions regarding group (click to expand):

We absolutely understand that it is weird and awkward to start sharing right away! What we find is everyone feels that way for the first few meetings, and gradually everyone starts to feel more comfortable in group as we start to get to know each other. In fact, many prior group members have given us feedback that they find themselves more able to be themselves in group, which helps them start to make changes. Which is our hope! Part of our group guidelines (link) is that we encourage people to share at their comfort level. If your therapy goals is to share more of your opinions, we of course will encourage and support you to share more so that you work towards that change! We encourage you to be active in group, whether that be actively listening as your way of participating, or sharing your experiences.

Confidentiality is very important to us as a way to establish safety and trust in a group. All group members will be asked to follow our group guidelines which outlines ways each member needs to help maintain group confidentiality and consequences if the guidelines are violated in any way. The only limits on confidentiality in our groups are ones that pertain to any clinical services we offer due to our counselor’s legal and ethical duties, which is related to imminent harm to self or others and/or child/childhood or elder abuse.

Nope. Like our other services at CCSD this is covered by your student health fee!
It depends. Our longer groups can go up to 8 to 9 weeks and meet weekly. While our shorter groups tend to be around 4 to 5 meetings that meet either weekly or bi-weekly. Please see our group offerings for more information regarding meeting times and frequencies.
I want more after group? One of our standard procedures is that if a group member lets us know they need more after (or during) group. We will help them get connected to those resources. Whether it be our individual services after group, or to a community provider if the group member feels they need more support than originally thought.

Current Group Offerings

Call 302-831-2141 to register for the Groups listed below. Seating may be limited.

Understanding Self and Others Therapy Groups

Undergraduate Understanding Self and Others

Wednesdays, 3:30–4:45 p.m., through May 11

This is a space where you can find others who will help you better understand how you relate to yourself and how in turn that impacts your moods, functioning in daily life and forming relationships with others. Common topics discussed are how to cope with depression, anxiety, navigating challenging relationships, setting healthy boundaries with others and living a more authentic and value driven life.

Facilitated by Cindy Scheffler, LCSW

Graduate Understanding Self and Others

Wednesdays, 4–5:30 p.m.

This group provides opportunities for support and personal growth, to help you better understand how you relate to yourself and others. Common topics discussed are how to cope with relationships, work-life balance, graduate school stress, setting healthy boundaries with others and living a more authentic and value driven life.

Facilitated by Michele Juarez-Huffaker, Ph.D.

Support Groups

Getting Connected

Thursdays, 2–3:30 p.m.

If you tend toward shyness, live with loneliness or just aren’t sure where to start, connecting to others on campus can be hard. Drop in to get support, develop skills and exchange ideas. No registration or screening required.

Facilitated by Kyle Hitchens

Coping with Chronic Medical Conditions

Fridays, 1–2 p.m., starting March 3 through April 28

Having a chronic medical illness on campus may feel overwhelming and isolating. Prioritizing your health while balancing other demands may lead to increased stress, depression and anxiety. While attending group you will have the opportunity to process experiences and problem solve together. Students will meet once a week for eight weeks and work towards developing a sense of community and reducing isolation on campus. Students will build a safety net and learn different ways of self-care.

Facilitated by Lauren Bauer, LCSW and Linda Olivere, MSN, FNP, LPCMH, NCC

Art-Based Groups

Open Studio Art-Based Group

Mondays, 3–4:30 p.m.
Four-week sessions offered through May 22

Join us for a safe, judgment free, art-based therapy outreach for those seeking to process their needs, challenges, and present topics through a creative process in a collective space. Just trust the process and be present in the moment. No prior art background is required; just an open mind! There will be space for verbal processing for reflection at the end of each session. Come join us for a creative journey towards your goal for healing.  

Facilitated by Ashley Kraemer, MS, LPCMH, NCC

Skill-Based Groups

Trauma, Anxiety and Panic

Tuesdays, 2–3:20 p.m., through March 28

This is a five-session series that will support individuals who struggle with trauma, anxiety or panic. Throughout the work we will build an understanding of how trauma impacts the brain, developing positive coping skills to decrease symptoms and learning how to utilize a support network.

Facilitated by Ashley Harriz, LPCMH, NCC and Jan Pergel, Ph.D.

Solutions for Social Stress

Wednesdays, 3–4:30 p.m.

Campus can be a place to make friends and have fun, but it is not always easy to do that. Sometimes, the thought of reaching out to others can create anxiety and it might feel easier to just avoid social activities. If you think you are spending too much time alone and feel nervous about putting yourself in social situations, there are things you can do to decrease your stress and increase your willingness to interact with others. This group will combine in-group activities, skill training and between-group assignments, to help you feel more comfortable around others and more confident in your own ability to interact with other people around campus.

Facilitated by Patrick McGuffin, Ph.D.

KORU Mindfulness

Thursdays, 3:30–4:45 p.m., through March 16

Koru Mindfulness is a four-session course that will teach you the skill of mindfulness and support you in the development of a daily meditation practice. We’ve found that folks get a lot more out of Koru if they stick with it from beginning to end; therefore, attendance at all four sessions is expected, as is 10 minutes of daily practice and reflection. Participants receive a free fantastic app to monitor their progress.

Facilitated by Dr. Michele Juarez-Huffaker

You’ve Got This! Online

If you would like to learn more about our new You’ve Got This! Online workshops, please give us a call at 302-831-2141 and ask for a consultation to get more information on how to access it, and how best to utilize this for your specific needs.