Workshops and Drop-in Groups

There are two sections of this virtual body doubling group offered this term: 

Facilitators: Kelli Chen, OTR/L and Leeanne Tobler, OTR/L 

Mondays, 3:00-4:30 p.m. on Zoom 

Body doubling is a productivity strategy to promote focused time spent on a less desirable task. For many with executive functioning or attention difficulties, having someone nearby can assist with feeling focused, engaged, and motivated. For this drop-in group, individuals can log in during this time slot to work in the company of an occupational therapist. Executive functioning skills and strategies such as the Pomodoro technique and structured breaks may be used based on participant preference and needs. 

Facilitator: Jami Imhof, DSW, LCSW-C 

Fridays, 2:00-3:30 p.m. BIWEEKLY on Zoom 

This 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! 

Facilitators: Devonte Joynes, LCPC and Adora Baokye-Ansah, MA 

Mondays, 3:30-4:00 p.m., starting March 2 on Zoom

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 

Facilitators: Kelli Chen, OTR/L  

Tuesdays, 2:00-3:00 p.m. in-person at AON Cottage (3101 N. Charles St.) on the Homewood campus , with occasional virtual option 

This 8-week series will focus on development and implementation of practical skills and strategies for individuals looking to tackle procrastination. If you find it difficult to actually do the things you want to do, you’re not alone! This group will provide a safe space to address underlying causes of procrastination, identify barriers to productivity, and set achievable goals to overcome challenges. Participants are invited to attend any or all sessions. Topics will be selected based on the needs of participants, but may include: focus and attention, sensory integration, low motivation, and time management. 

Facilitators: Jamelia “Jay” Blake, LMSW & Frances Waple LCSW-C 

Wednesdays, 2:15-2:45 p.m. on Zoom 

If you’ve even been curious about your relationship with a substance and want to explore its role in your life or want to make a change but don’t know where to start, this program can provide you with the space and tools to do so through a harm-reduction framework. This non-judgmental setting offers the ability for you decide what a meaningful change, if any, looks like without expectation of abstinence. 

Facilitator: Nila Berger E-RYT 

Wednesdays, 5:00-6:00 p.m.  

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.

Facilitator: Adrian Hernandez, PsyD 

Thursdays at 5:00 p.m., starting on 2/12 on Zoom 

This drop-in group is intended for students and learners that are members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, are curious about the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, or are exploring their sexual orientation. This virtual space is meant to facilitate connection, growth, and offer support. Discussions around self-advocacy and resource sharing will also be addressed during sessions. All sessions do not need to be attended, but participants are welcome to join as many sessions as they would like. 

Facilitator: Alli Cope, LCSW-C 

Friday, March 6^th at 10:00 a.m. (Hybrid, HW or Zoom) 

Monday, March 30^th at 3:00 p.m. (Hybrid, HW or Zoom) 

Are you graduating this semester and feeling overwhelmed about what’s next? Do you have worries about stepping into the “world of adulting”… like how to make friends, navigate a new job, or what even IS a 401K? Join this workshop to build an action plan that will help ease your anxiety as you take the next steps forward in life! 

This workshop will run 2 separate times throughout the semester. It will be offered in a Hybrid format- join us in person at our MHS Homewood location, or via Zoom!

Facilitator: Robert Hill, LCSW-C 

Fridays, 10:00-11:00 a.m. on Zoom 

This support group is designed for First-Generation, Limited-Income (FLI) college students navigating the academic, social, and emotional demands of the university environment. The group provides a confidential space to address challenges related to being the first in one’s family to attend college, including societal pressures, imposter syndrome, performance anxiety, and more. Through guided discussion and peer support, participants develop coping strategies, normalize shared experiences, and support psychological well-being and academic persistence.

Facilitator: Adrian Hernandez, PsyD 

Fridays at 1:00 p.m. on Zoom, starting on 2/06 

This is a drop-in group is intended for students and learners that identify as trans and/or gender expansive, are curious about the trans and gender expansive community, or are exploring their gender identity and/or gender expression. This virtual space is meant to facilitate connection, growth, and offer support. Discussions around self-advocacy and resource sharing will also be addressed during sessions. All sessions do not need to be attended, but participants are welcome to join as many sessions as they would like.

Facilitator: Jami Imhof, DSW, LCSW-C 

Fridays, 2:00-3:00 p.m. BIWEEKLY on Zoom  

This drop-in group is intended for learners who have received an official diagnosis, someone who is self-diagnosed, or someone who suspects they are neurodivergent and would like to explore their identity. Neurodivergent conditions may include, but are not limited to, autism, ADHD, learning difficulties (such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia), 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 function. Discussions around self-advocacy and accessing resources will also be addressed during sessions. All sessions do not need to be attended, but participants are welcome to join as many sessions as they would like.

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 and learners.

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 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, please complete contact Amani Surges Martorella or call 410-516-3311 to speak with a leadership team member about your request.

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, please visit Suicide Prevention Trainings and Programs.