Workshops and Drop-in Groups

Mental Health Services offers a variety of workshops and drop-in groups focused on developing skills and exploring topics that help students and learners to be well, do well, and live well. These programs are designed to address common concerns and teach skills that can enhance well-being and reduce stress.

All workshops and drop-in groups are offered free to all JHU students and learners, and you do not need to be a client of Mental Health Services to participate. Programs will be held online via Zoom, unless otherwise noted. These workshops and drop-in groups will share information and skills related to mental health and well-being, but they are not a substitute for mental health treatment.

Ready to sign up for a workshop or drop-in group? We’ve got a step-by-step guide – Click here!

Workshops – fall 2024

Anxiety Management

Facilitators: Adrian Hernandez, Psy.D.; Joel Kwame, MA; Elaina McWilliams, MA; Queen-Ayanna Sullivan, MA

Session #1: Thursdays, 4-5pm starting September 12 on Zoom

Session #2: Tuesdays, 4-5pm starting October 15 on Zoom

These 50-minute workshops teach skills and tools to help you manage anxiety and stress more effectively. Skills will include exposure to relaxation exercises, mindfulness practices, and cognitive restructuring tools. You will receive weekly materials that combine into a workbook, full of resources that will be useful in many domains of life. This 4-week series runs twice during the fall semester – while all four sessions are recommended, join when you can!

Virtual Body Doubling - Productivity

Facilitator: Jami Imhof, DSW, LCSW-C

Biweekly on Fridays, 2-3:30pm on Zoom starting August 30

This bi-weekly, 90-minute virtual accountability group is for students who benefit from support starting tasks and maintaining workflow. The concept of body doubling leverages the presence of others to support tasks that might be tough to get started or seen through to completion. Bring a task to work on!

Emotional Adulting

Facilitators: Justin Harker, MA and Devonte Joynes, LCPC

Wednesdays, 4-4:30pm on Zoom starting September 11

Emotional Adulting is a drop-in skills workshop series designed to help participants work with emotions from a space of compassion, awareness, non-judgment, and curiosity. The skills taught in this series, which are generally drawn from mindfulness and trauma symptom management practices, are beneficial for our general emotional well-being as well as helping to manage distress related to depression, anxiety, trauma, and other experiences. Each session is just 30-minutes long, and you’ll leave each workshop with helpful resources and suggestions for how to practice the skills in everyday life. While all eight sessions are recommended, join one or more – when it works for you!

Week #1: Grounding
Week #2: Self-Compassion
Week #3: Working Within Your Window of Tolerance
Week #4: R.A.I.N. Technique
Week #5: Containment
Week #6: Creating Space for Emotions
Week #7: Calm Place Imagery
Week #8: Four Elements of Stress Reduction

Regulating Emotions

Facilitators: Patricia Henry, LCPC and Kathy Koski, LCSW-C

Tuesdays, 1-2pm on Zoom starting September 17th

These 50-minute workshops are presented as a series over four consecutive weeks. While not mandatory to join all four, it is highly recommended! This program uses the principles of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, an evidence-based therapy modality that will help bring awareness of how emotional dysregulation can happen in your day-to-day life, and skills to regulate and be present when experiencing emotional distress. Topics include mindfulness skills, understanding emotions and skills for regulation and coping, and the use of “Wise Mind.”

Mindful Yoga

Facilitator: Nila Berger E-RYT

Wednesdays, 5-6pm starting September 4

Mindful Yoga classes take place at the Ralph O’Connor Center for Recreation and Well-Being MPR B (Multipurpose Room B). Log into the Rec portal or get the Rec App (in the Apple store or Google Play store) to see the full calendar of events.

What could be a better break in your hectic week than gentle yoga and a chance to ground yourself and simply just BE in the present moment? Join other students and learners for this rejuvenating break! No prior yoga experience and no special attire is necessary. Classes are FREE

DROP-In Groups – fall 2024

Drop-in groups offer places to connect, learn, and get support without as much of a commitment as treatment groups, you can generally join when it works for you! All workshops and drop-in groups are offered free to all JHU students and learners, and you do not need to be a client of Mental Health Services to participate. Programs will be held online via Zoom, unless otherwise noted.

Ready to sign up for a workshop or drop-in group? We’ve got a step-by-step guide – Click here!

Executive Functioning Skills Support Group

Facilitator: Jami Imhof, DSW, LCSW-C

Biweekly on Wednesdays, 2-3:30pm on Zoom starting September 4

Do you have difficulty managing skills such as task initiation, time management, and organization? Do you have, or suspect you have a neurodivergent condition? This 90-min, virtual drop-in group provides psychoeducation and a time to discuss challenges and get support around executive functioning skills. Participants can join at any point in the semester, and can attend as many sessions as they’d like.

Neurodivergent Identities Support Group

Facilitator: Jami Imhof, DSW, LCSW-C

Biweekly on Wednesdays, 2-3:30pm on Zoom starting September 11

This 90-minute, virtual drop-in group is intended for students who have received a new diagnosis (within the past year) of a neurodivergent (ND) condition(s). Neurodivergent conditions may include, but are not limited to, autism, ADHD, learning difficulties, and sensory processing disorders. The goal of the group is to provide psychoeducation on the conditions and the impact it may have on areas of functioning. Discussions will include self-advocacy and accessing resources and support. Participants can join at any point in the semester, and can attend as many sessions as they’d like.

Program Requests

Students may contact Mental Health Services with questions or for more specific information call 410-516-3311. If you would like to request another type of program, please contact Amani Surges Martorella.

What is Outreach?

Outreach is about increasing mental health awareness through prevention, awareness, education, and stigma reduction. Through various outreach programs, Mental Health Services staff are able to connect with the larger JHU community and ultimately strengthen a campus atmosphere that is conducive to the well-being, personal growth, and psychological health of all students.

To this end, the Mental Health Services staff provide presentations and programs to various groups on campus on topics related to mental health and well-being. Topics might include: coping with stress, time management, suicide prevention, dealing with anxiety, developing a growth mindset, resilience, managing emotions, bouncing back from failure, developing a balanced lifestyle, handling transitions, healthy relationships, body image, and many more. If you are interested in a program or workshop for your group, please complete contact Amani Surges Martorella or call 410-516-3311 to speak with a leadership team member about your request.

Suicide Prevention Training Programs

The staff within Mental Health Services collaborates with staff across Johns Hopkins University to provide suicide prevention training sessions for the JHU students, learners, faculty, staff and community. These evidence-based programs are shown to be effective prevention programs to identify students at risk, empower staff and faculty with skills and knowledge around mental health, and to train the JHU community on making effective referrals.

To learn more, click here.