The Counseling Center is pleased to offer 17 different options for groups for the Fall 2020 semester. Options include drop-in discussions, topic-based treatment groups, and identity-based groups. Some are open to all Hopkins students; others are limited by enrollment and/or relevant demographics.
Check out the information below to learn how different groups work.
Q: Why should I consider joining a counseling group?
A: Counseling groups allow students to address concerns through engagement with others. Some groups provide opportunities to explore personal issues and interpersonal relationships in a setting where honest feedback, reflection, and support from peers can occur. Others provide a space for discussion, exploration, and providing support around common experiences. Still others offer skills that can be practiced and applied in lived experience.
Q: What’s the difference between a drop-in group and a treatment group?
A: In a treatment group, you will interact with the same people each time the group meets for the duration of the semester. Treatment groups are especially effective for those interested in exploring their interpersonal style and enhancing their approach to relationships in such areas as trust, intimacy, anger, conflict, assertiveness, taking risks, and improving self-esteem.
In contrast to treatment groups, drop-in groups offer places to connect and to learn without as much of a commitment to developing cohesiveness with specific individuals.
Treatment groups have an established, vetted roster of participants and are confidential; drop-in groups are not confidential.
Q: Who should I contact if I’m interested in group therapy?
A: If you are interested in trying either kind of group, call the Counseling Center and leave a voice mail at 410-516-8278. For treatment groups, you will be scheduled for a “screening appointment” with the facilitator(s) to discuss your goals for joining a group, and to learn about the group. For drop-in groups, just leave a voice mail that you are interested and the facilitator(s) will get in contact with you.
Group Name: Critical Coping Group
Open To: All Hopkins students.
Time: Mondays 5:30 – 5:55 pm EDT
What Is It: This drop-in group provides education and practice in a different critical coping skill each week. If you are looking to learn new skills to get through difficult times, please check this group out. Participate in all eight sessions, come when you can, or pick and choose the sessions most helpful to you. Topics include grounding, calm place imagery, containment, and other key components of symptom management that are resources for dealing with trauma, anxiety, and life in general.
Contacts: Karen Taylor, LCSW-C, and Alexandra Lane, M.A*
Group Name: Pandemic Support/Discussion Space
Open To: All undergraduates.
Time: Wednesdays 3:30 – 4:45pm EDT
What Is It: The Pandemic Support Group provides a place for undergraduates to receive support for life challenges (including but not limited to academic, social, health and career) created by COVID-19.
Contact: Dr. Fred Gager
Group Name: Parenting Support Group
Open To: All Hopkins students who are parents.
Time: Every other Wednesday, 3:30-5:00pm EDT, beginning September 2, 2020.
What Is It: This is a drop–in group for those who are simultaneously navigating roles as students and parents. It’s a space to connect with others who are facing similar challenges, and to give and to receive support.
Contact: Dr. Shemika Brooks
Group Name: Peabody Black Student Discussion Group
Open To: Peabody students who identify as members of the Black diaspora.
Time: Every other Friday, 1:00-2:30 pm EDT, starting date to be determined.
What Is It: This group provides an affirming place for students to help each other navigate the academic and social challenges of being a Black student. This group is a great place to get and give support around issues like racial trauma and microaggressions, share strategies for stress relief, and celebrate each other’s successes.
Contact: Dr. Tiffany Llewellyn and Nyasha Chikowore, M.S.*
Group Name: Racial Trauma Group
Open To: All Hopkins students, with one-time registration. (See below.)
Time: Every other Wednesday 3:30-5:00pm EDT, beginning September 9, 2020.
What Is It: This is a discussion space for Hopkins students to discuss issues and experiences related to racial trauma in the world, in our communities, and at Hopkins. Advance registration with a Hopkins email address is required once to receive the access link.
Contact: Dr. Shemika Brooks and Dr. Tiffany Llewellyn
Group Name: Virtual Support Group for Loved Ones of Individuals with Eating and Body Image Issues
Open To: All Hopkins students.
Time: Every other Tuesday at 2pm, starting date to be determined.
What Is It: Supporting loved ones who struggle with eating and/or body image issues can be uniquely challenging. These open group discussions allow you to give and receive support around those challenges, and developing new approaches to communication.
Contact: Dr. Tristan Barsky and Tram Huynh, LMHC*
Group Name: Asian and Asian-American Student Process Group
Open To: Full-time students in KSAS, WSE, and Peabody.
What Is It: For U.S. and oversea students of Asian heritage to come together to discuss shared experiences and challenges. If you are a child of immigrant parents, are from a bi-racial background (with only one Asian parent), or if you are an Asian international student, this group is for you. Discussion topics may include stress, self- esteem, cultural identities, value/worldview conflicts, relationships, parental/familial issues, navigating in-betweenness, racial stress, pandemic stress, and more.
Contact: Dr. JM Hou
Group Name: Dissertation Group
Open To: Advanced graduate students in KSAS, WSE, and Peabody.
What Is It: Working on a dissertation can feel lonely, overwhelming, and endless. Join your peers to share suggestions, encouragement, and support. Discussion topics include motivation, time and workload management, self-doubt, perfectionism, dealing with faculty, and finding work-life balance.
Contact: Dr. Rosemary Nicolosi
Group Name: FLI Discussion Group
Open To: Full-time students in KSAS, WSE, and Peabody.
What Is It: Transitioning to college can be challenging for students who are their first in their family to attend, or to students facing financial difficulties. This will be a safe and supportive environment for first generation/limited (FLI) students to discuss personal, academic, financial, or emotional struggles; build community; and connect with resources to help you thrive on your academic journey. This group is primarily aimed at undergraduates, but grad students are welcome to participate.
Contact: Dr. Tiffany Llewellyn
Group Name: Graduate Student Therapy Group 1
Open To: Full-time graduate students in KSA, WSE, and Peabody.
What Is It: This group provides a space to discuss and explore interpersonal concerns and challenges, while developing a better Understanding of Self and Others (USO). Themes include developing more satisfying relationships; family and social histories; coping with academic demands; and life transitions.
Contacts: Dr. Shemika Brooks and William Nation, M.A.*
Group Name: Graduate Student Therapy Group 2
Open To: Full-time graduate students in KSA, WSE, and Peabody.
What Is It: This group provides a space to discuss and explore interpersonal concerns and challenges, while developing a better Understanding of Self and Others (USO). Themes include developing more satisfying relationships; family and social histories; coping with academic demands; and life transitions.
Contacts: Dr. Shemika Brooks and Tram Huynh, LMHC*
Group Name: Men’s Group: Voices Beneath the Mask
Open To: Full-time students in KSA, WSE, and Peabody.
What is It: This group provides opportunities for men to hear and share stories from other men facing similar concerns and challenges without competition or shame. In particular, this group will help men develop a better Understanding of Self and Others (USO). Topics may include academic, career and transition stress, relationships, interpersonal skills, identities, masculinity, racial stress, and pandemic stress.
Contact: Dr. JM Hou
Group Name: Substance Change Group
Open To: Full-time students in KSA, WSE, and Peabody.
What is It: This confidential group is for graduate and undergraduate students who have experienced negative consequences due to alcohol and/or drug use and are considering moderating or eliminating use. Group participation will provide members with support, new perspectives, and skills that support change.
Contact: Dr. Fred Gager
Group Name: Undergrad Understanding Self and Others
Open To: Full-time undergraduates in KSA, WSE, and Peabody.
What is It: This Understanding Self and Others (USO) group is for undergraduate students who want to gain a greater understanding of their relational styles. By examining interactions that occur within the group, participants develop skills that can lead to satisfying professional, peer and romantic relationships.
Contacts: Dr. Fred Gager and Alexandra Lane, M.A.*
Group Name: Understanding Self and Others Group
Open To: Full-time undergraduate and full-time non-teaching graduate students in KSA, WSE, and Peabody.
What Is It: This group provides a space for undergraduate and non-teaching graduate students to discuss and explore interpersonal concerns and challenges, while developing a better Understanding of Self and Others (USO). Themes include observing and processing ways of managing conflict; developing more satisfying relationships; difficult family and social histories; coping with academic demands; and life transitions.
Contacts: Dr. Shemika Brooks and William Nation, M.A.*
Group Name: Virtual Eating and Body Image Group
Open To: All full-time KSA, WSE, and Peabody students.
What Is It: Recovering from eating and body image issues can be a long, challenging, and isolating process. Learn emotion-focused and communication skills by supporting and connecting with other recovering individuals, exploring the emotions and relational functions of your symptoms, and developing strategies to continue moving towards your recovery.
Contacts: Dr. Tristan Barsky and Nyasha Chikowore, M.S.*
Group Name: Yoga as Healing
Open To: All full-time KSA, WSE, and Peabody students.
What Is It: This is a six-week mind/body group for students looking to reconnect with their bodies in the wake of any kind of trauma, including racial trauma and the COVID-19 pandemic. Students of all genders are welcome. This group offers survivors a safe space to gain greater awareness around strength, stability, assertiveness, and mindfulness. Sessions will focus on different themes, various restorative and therapeutic postures, explore positive affirmations, and will be coupled with guided activities including readings and journaling. No prior yoga experience necessary. Registration for the group will be closed two weeks prior to the start of group in order to ensure mailed materials reach participants on time. You can read more about trauma-informed yoga by reading this blog post from June 2020.
Contacts: Karen Taylor, LSCW-C and Nila Berger, E-RYT200
*Doctoral Intern