Group Counseling FAQ

The UMCC is excited and committed to offering group therapy services to our UM students. Many people have reservations about joining group therapy or wonder about what really happens in a group session. Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy, focusing on developing greater self-awareness and behavior change. Five to ten clients meet with one or two experienced group therapists. During the group time, the members of the group discuss issues that are concerning them and offer each other supportive and constructive feedback. Although it is not required that you speak during each group, your participation is highly encouraged in helping you meet your therapy goals. Our therapy groups meet for 1 or 1.5 hours at a designated weekly time.

Each semester UMCC offers a variety of counseling groups. The groups are open only to UM students. Starting dates for the groups will vary.  Services offered by UM are covered as long as you are currently enrolled and have paid the Health and Counseling Center Fee. Confidentiality in group is strictly respected. Group therapy can be a rewarding experience and in many cases is just as effective if not more than individual therapy!

The UMCC also offers a number of workshop/skilled based groups. These groups have a similar composition as a therapy group and may meet for 60 to 90 minutes. The main difference from therapy groups is that these groups are more focused in nature, such as an anxiety management workshop. These groups run for 6-8 weeks and intended to teach specific skill sets. In order to join a skill based group, students must first attend a brief assessment with UMCC or be referred to a group by their current therapist.  During the brief assessment, the counselor and student will assess whether group is the best treatment option and the counselor will explain how group therapy works.

Most often people join group therapy because they are having difficulties in their relationships or have something in their lives that they are finding painful and difficult to handle.  Some examples of the types of interpersonal issues that students bring to group are:  Discomfort in social situations, lack of intimacy in relationships, anxiety, depression, family of origin problems, and frequent arguments with others. For many, group is the most effective method for addressing their concerns.

Make contact with and explore the world of inner feeling: This includes such feelings as boredom, guilt, anger, hurt, joy, sexuality, playfulness, affection, resentment, sorrow, love and excitement.  Many of us may have learned to isolate ourselves from this feeling world.  Through disclosing ourselves to others in group, and expressing our feelings towards them, we have a chance to get back in touch with this creativity and experience ourselves more fully.

Get Feedback: In daily conversation, most people give feedback that is either polite flattery or thoughtless condemnation, which does not help us to critically understand ourselves. In a group, however, it is possible to get honest feedback about how we are coming across, to find out what impressions others have of us, to see ourselves as others see us, to discover our unknown mannerisms, habits and styles of relating and communicating, and to become aware of the unconscious messages we are transmitting.

Learn about closeness and intimacy: What often blocks people from being close is the fear of being pushed around by other people's feelings, demands, and expectations.  When they begin to get close, they get tangled up on the feeling level. In group, there is a chance to learn how to disentangle the problems that arise in relationships so that people can be close and still retain their freedom, autonomy, and self-assertiveness.

You can expect to talk about what problem brought you to counseling in the first place. You can ask for both support and for feedback. It is important to let the group know what you want from them.

One of the major reasons people have relationship difficulties is that they haven't learned how to express their feelings effectively. Self-disclosure of your feelings is important in group and will affect how much you will be helped.

Most people are somewhat anxious about being able to talk in group. It is important to realize that you control what, how much, and when you share with the group. It is also important to realize that group leaders take the responsibility for a supportive environment in which feedback is given and received. Almost without exception, within a few sessions all members are sharing in the group.

“I will be forced to tell all of my deepest thoughts, feelings and secrets to the group.”

You control what, how much, and when you share with the group. Most people find that when they feel safe enough to share what is troubling them, a group can be very helpful and affirming. We encourage you not to share what you are not ready to disclose. However, you can also be helped by listening to others and thinking about how their concerns might apply to you.

“Group therapy is second-best to individual therapy.”

Group therapy is just as effective as individual therapy (Barlow et al., 2004), and will be recommended if your counselor thinks it will be the most helpful method to address your concerns.  In fact, group often helps in ways that individual therapy cannot.  For example, unlike individual therapy, group allows the therapist to see you interacting with other members, to give you feedback in the moment, and to help you practice new skills.

Group therapy may be recommended to you because your counselor believes that it is the most effective way to address your concerns. Group therapy offers many benefits that are not as available with individual therapy.  In everyday life it is often difficult to get useful and reliable information about yourself from others. People seldom take the time to carefully observe others, and the social constraints against giving others honest feedback inhibits the sharing of observations that could be helpful and instructive. By contrast, group members do take the time to observe and share impressions in honest and caring ways.  Another asset of group therapy is provided by the variety of personalities, experiences, and coping strategies that are natural to the members of any group. The strengths of each individual group member can serve as a model for other group members who are still learning about those skills and strengths.

Group therapy is often the ideal form of therapy for college students since a primary focus of group is on relationships and understanding and managing feelings. These are common issues for students. Group therapy alone can be a sufficient means of dealing with these issues. However, some students benefit from both individual and group therapy. The professionals at UMCC can help you decide what forms of therapy may be best for you.

Prior to joining a group, you will be required to have a 30-minute “group screening” appointment with the group therapist(s). There, the group therapist will collaborate with you in setting goals for your group therapy experience and answer any questions you may have about the group. Clients must have had a brief assessment appointment prior to having a group screening appointment.

Group Therapy Platform: Some groups will be held virtually and others in person. Please refer to the group listings for further information. 

Anxiety Management Group

This will be a blended skill and process group. We will provide students with psychoeducation aimed at understanding anxiety and relating to anxiety in more adaptive ways. The group will also focus on teaching anxiety management skills and providing space to process experiences.

Leader: Audrey Cleary, Ph.D.

Time: TBD- Based on student availability and interest, please reach out to a.cleary@miami.edu to express interest and provide availability

LGBT+USO

This is a weekly process group for students who identify as LGBTQ+ and are interested in exploring identity, relationships, belonging, and other life experiences within an affirming group environment. Group discussion may include navigating college, relationships, community and belonging, experiences related to identity, and challenges or successes that arise throughout the college experience. The group provides an opportunity for students to share experiences, receive support and perspective from peers, and explore personal experiences and relationships in a supportive setting.

Leader: Kirt McClellan, LCSW 

Time: Wednesday 3:00PM-4:30PM (Subject to change based on student availability)

Come As You Are

This is a therapy/support group for students interested in exploring their relationship with substances or addictive behaviors and for those in recovery. The group provides a safe, confidential, and supportive space where students can connect with one another, share their experiences, receive support, and process their relationship with substances or other addictive behaviors.

 Leader: Martin Lopez, LCSW

Time: TBD-Based on student availability and interest, please reach out to mxl2172@miami.edu to express interest and provide availability              

Inner Work

This group provides a structured space for students to slow down and develop greater awareness and understanding of their internal experiences. Through guided exercises, reflection, discussion, and experiential practice, students will explore thoughts, emotions, bodily experiences, and patterns of responding. The group emphasizes curiosity, self awareness, and self compassion while supporting students in developing a more intentional relationship with their internal experiences.

Leader: Benjamin Stocking, Ph.D.

Time: Thursdays 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Not Lazy

This is a support group with a psychoeducational component for students with ADHD or ongoing difficulties with attention and focus — diagnosed, newly diagnosed, or long suspected. The group provides a safe and confidential space to connect with other students who understand, and to explore topics such as procrastination, deadlines, memory, emotional intensity, relationships, masking, and the frustration of being told to just try harder. Facilitators will offer psychoeducation on how ADHD works, and practical strategies will come up along the way, but the heart of the group is the shared experience. No formal diagnosis is required.

Leader: Martin Lopez, LCSW

Time: TBD-Based on student availability and interest, please reach out to mxl2172@miami.edu to express interest and provide availability            

Understanding Self and Others

This is a process group focused on exploring students’ thoughts, emotions, relationship patterns, and interpersonal experiences. Through group discussion and shared experiences, students will have opportunities to increase self awareness, examine patterns in relationships, develop insight into how they relate to others, and practice new ways of communicating and connecting. The group provides a supportive environment for interpersonal exploration and feedback.

Leader: Benjamin Stocking, Ph.D. & TBD

Time: Tuesday 1:00-2:30pm (Group time can be abbreviated to 60 minutes based on student needs)

Leader: Kirt McClellan, LCSW & TBD

Time: Thursday 3:00-4:30PM