Groups at CAPS
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers a wide range of Groups in
various formats to serve the diverse needs of the UCSD Community.
These formats are:
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Psychotherapy Groups
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Growth & Support Groups
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Psycho-Educational Workshops
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Forums
Group approaches to personal growth are frequently the most effective way to explore and support changes you may wish to make in your life. Through these formats, students can gain specific skills and strategies to meet personal goals, explore areas that present personal challenges, and gain support and encouragement from other students.
To see which groups are running this quarter (and when/where they are run), please go to our Calendar page.
Psychotherapy Groups and Growth/Support Groups typically meet weekly throughout the quarter except where indicated. Regular attendance is expected. To join one of these groups, please contact the leader(s) to get more information.
Psycho-Educational Workshops also meet weekly. Because these workshops focus on the acquisition and practice of specific skills, these workshops typically meet for a shorter period of time (e.g., one quarter) than the other group formats. To join one of our workshops, please contact the leader(s) to get more information.
Forums are drop-in groups that meet throughout the academic year and do not require weekly attendance. You do not need to contact the Forum leader to attend the group.
For more information about each type of group, please go to our Groups-FAQ section.
Psychotherapy groups address specific themes or topics (e.g.,
relationships, social confidence) that may be affecting students' ability
to think, feel, and act in healthy and adaptive ways. The goals of these
groups are to increase self-awareness, promote communication, and increase
personal wellness -- a change in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Through established psychotherapeutic group interventions that focus
on the interactions, process, and dialogue between group members, students
engage in a process of discovery and change while receiving support
for their efforts. Because the nature of Psychotherapy Groups addresses
long-standing themes and topics, these groups typically last anywhere
from one quarter to an entire school year. Students are encouraged to
stay with the group for its entire duration, as ongoing membership is
important for the success of the group. Interested students typically
talk with the facilitator prior to entry in the group to ensure that
the group matches the student's needs.
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In Growth & Support Groups, group members meet to share
and discuss common themes that are affecting their personal, academic,
and social lives. The goals of these groups are to facilitate awareness
and change through the sharing, support, and validation of other group
members. This group format is different from Psychotherapy Groups
in that the Growth/Support group interventions are less structured,
and based primarily on the support and guidance of other group members.
These groups typically run regularly throughout the year; a commitment
to attend on a regular basis is recommended. Potential group members
typically talk with the facilitator prior to entry in the group to
ensure that the group matches the student's needs.
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In Psycho-Educational Workshops, the goal is to provide
students with specific skills and techniques in order to meet their
particular needs. Though these workshops are interactive in
terms of student participation to practice skills, these meetings
do not necessarily require extensive interpersonal discussion or sharing
between students. Instead, this format has a strong didactic
component with experiential exercises for rehearsal and processing.
Workshops are also shorter in length than the Psychotherapy and Growth/Support
Groups; a Workshop may consist of only one session, or may last for
as many as eight sessions per quarter. Potential group members typically
talk with the facilitator prior to entry in the group to ensure that
the group matches the student's needs.
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In the Forums, students meet together with one or more
trained Forum facilitators to discuss and share topics, issues, and
themes. Forums are designed to represent the diverse campus community
(e.g., Campus Black Forum, Asian Community Forum), and provide an
arena for students to meet and relate with other students who may
have similar (or different) experiences. One does not have to be a
"part" or member of a specific community to attend the Forums.
The Forums are less "structured" in comparison to other
Groups, but the goals are similar -- to increase awareness, promote
communication, and enhance personal wellness. Unlike the other
Groups and Workshops, where group members meet with the group leader
to ensure entry in the group, those interested in attending a Forum
can simply "drop-in." There is no requirement for a commitment
to stay or attend for every forum meeting.
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When Group and Forum members share with each other, they
become aware that they are not alone in their experiences and challenges.
With the aid of the group facilitators and other group members, students
can develop skills in communicating, supporting, and relating with
others. In addition, as group members increase their understanding
of themselves and others, they are able to apply these skills outside
of group with friends, classmates, parents, and faculty.
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With the assistance and guidance of the group facilitator(s),
Group and Forum members are invited to talk about their experiences
in dealing with the particular theme of the group (e.g., Social Confidence
Group, Alcohol and Substance Abuse Forum). In addition, group
members are encouraged to provide support and feedback to other group
members. This process can be challenging at first; but with
time and practice, the results can be very rewarding. Establishing
levels of trust with the facilitators and group members is important
for this process to work best.
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Group and Forum facilitators work with the group to establish
ground rules with the group members. Typically, these ground
rules include confidentiality, respect, and a commitment to the group.
If all the group members understand and accept these ground rules,
there is a greater chance that trust can be established. Trust
does not come without effort, however; it takes a willingness to be
open, honest, respectful, and to "trust the process" of the group.
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Group counseling and Forum discussions offer opportunities for students to learn and gain insight about themselves and how they relate with others. Individuals who have challenges in being in social or group situations can benefit from this format, as it places them in a genuine social context where they can confront and address these issues within a safe, accepting environment. Individuals can practice sharing in front of others, as well as providing and receiving feedback from others. Group counseling is not being in an educational workshop; though one can practice skills in workshops, groups offer the unique opportunity to practice, learn, and share within a real environment.
So which group is best for you? CAPS offers many
groups and forums dealing with a wide range of issues. Please
refer to the Groups page
for a complete listing of current groups, days, and times. You
can also check the Calendar to see
which groups and forums are running during any particular week.
If you have any questions about specific groups, please contact the
facilitator(s) listed under each group.
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The Psycho-Educational Workshops differ from the Groups
and Forums in that one does not typically share and discuss concerns
or feelings with other group members. In Psycho-Educational
Workshops, the goal is to provide students with specific skills and
techniques in order to meet their particular needs. Though these
workshops are interactive in terms of student participation to practice
skills, these meetings do not necessarily require interpersonal discussion
or sharing between students. Workshops such as the Insomnia
Group, the Relaxation 101 Wellness Group, and the Hypnosis/Peak Performance
Group are examples of Psycho-Educational Workshops. Please refer
to our Groups page
for a listing of all our skill-building workshops!
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