5 reasons to join a Mental Health Services group or workshop

A new semester at Hopkins is full of fresh starts: new classes, different routines, and meeting new people, to name a few. There are also often some unexpected challenges. Whether you’re a new student adjusting to Hopkins life or a post-doc navigating what’s next, the transition into a new academic term can bring stress, uncertainty, and emotional ups and downs. If you are feeling this way, you are far from alone, and the semester’s start can also be an opportunity to reflect and connect, with yourself and with others.

One powerful yet often overlooked way to do this is by joining a mental health group or attending a drop-in workshop. All students and learners at Hopkins are eligible to join the group and workshop programming at Mental Health Services, which offers accessible, supportive, and research-backed approaches to growth and healing, whether you’re working through a challenge or simply trying to maintain balance in your life.

But what is a group or workshop, and how is it different from individual therapy?

Group therapy involves a small group of learners meeting regularly with one or two trained therapists or facilitators. Some groups focus on processing specific experiences (like writing a dissertation, managing depression, or exploring trauma), while others are structured around learning skills (i.e. managing stress or building healthier habits). Some groups are open-ended and run indefinitely, while others are structured around specific topics (like anxiety or executive functioning) and run for a set number of weeks. Groups offer a safe, confidential space to share your experiences, hear from others navigating similar challenges, and build new skills—all under the guidance of a licensed professional. It’s a powerful reminder that you’re not the only one going through it.

Workshops are drop-in sessions that focus on specific mental health topics, such as a 60-minute presentation on sleep hygiene, a mindfulness discussion before finals, or a series on emotional regulation. They’re often more educational and skills-based than group therapy, but still facilitated by trained professionals who understand the nuances of mental health and emotional resilience. You don’t have to share personal information unless you want to, and you can attend just one session or several depending on what is available and your schedule. Workshops are a great low-commitment way to explore support options and pick up valuable tools for coping and thriving.

You can see this semester’s group and workshop offerings on the Mental Health Services website, and enroll yourself using the myHealth portal.

Whether you’re new to Mental Health Services or a returning client looking for something different, here are five reasons to check out a group or workshop:

1. 1. You’ll connect with others who get it. Academic life can feel isolating—even when you’re constantly surrounded by people. Between pressure to achieve, social expectations, and life transitions, it’s easy to feel like everyone else is doing fine while you’re barely holding it together. In a group or workshop, you’ll meet other people going through similar experiences. Whether it’s stress about grades, anxiety about the future, or struggles with belonging, it helps to know you’re not alone, and to hear how others are coping. Real connection, especially in a nonjudgmental and supportive setting, can be just as healing as the tools you learn.
   2. Groups and workshops are backed by research and run by professionals. Group therapy and mental health workshops are more than just peer support. They’re led by licensed counselors or trained facilitators and rooted in evidence-based practices like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or mindfulness-based interventions. This means you’re not only feeling supported—you’re also gaining proven tools to manage anxiety, regulate emotions, improve communication, and build resilience. You’ll learn strategies you can carry into your academic life, relationships, and future careers.
   3. They are a great entry point to other services. Not sure where to start your mental health journey at Hopkins? A group or workshop can be an excellent first step. You’ll get to meet MHS staff, explore mental health topics, and build awareness of what you need, all in a lower-commitment, lower-pressure format. And if you do decide to pursue individual counseling or other forms of support later, you’ll have a better sense of what you’re looking for.
   4. They can boost the work you’re already doing in therapy. If you’re already seeing a therapist through MHS or in the community, a group or workshop can deepen and expand the strides you are making. Maybe you’re tackling big-picture themes in one-on-one therapy, and you want more opportunities to practice communication skills, emotion regulation, or mindfulness. Maybe you want to work on social anxiety in a setting that offers safe exposure and peer support. Or maybe you just want to hear different perspectives and strategies than you’d get from a single therapist. Many clinicians even recommend group work as part of a well-rounded treatment plan, especially for issues like relationship struggles, identity exploration, or emotional resilience.
   5. They can be a more efficient—and equally effective—alternative to individual therapy. Group therapy isn’t just an at-scale alternative to individual therapy—it’s a well-established, research-supported treatment in its own right. Studies show that group work can be just as effective as individual therapy for a wide range of concerns, and for topics like managing conflict and reducing stigma, it may have even greater returns. The support, shared wisdom, and accountability that groups and workshops provide are a truly unique opportunity to engage in healing both for yourself and your peers.

Academia offers change, growth, and challenge; you don’t have to navigate it alone. Whether you’re struggling with a specific issue or just want to take care of your mental health proactively, groups and workshops offer a powerful way to get feedback, build skills, and connect with others. Consider trying one out (or a few). You might walk away with a new tool, a new insight, and even a new community.

Want to learn more or sign up? Visit these pages:

• Workshops and Drop-in Groups
• Fall 2025 Therapy Groups (Therapy groups require a brief screening appointment with the group facilitator prior to participation.)