Group Counseling

Many times people only think about individual counseling to help them with their challenging personal issues. Although groups aren't for everyone, there are some distinct advantages to participating in a group:

Feel more connected

Often people enter counseling believing that their problems are unique. Groups provide the opportunity for participants to see that they are "part of the human race". There is not a thought or an action that is fully outside of the experience of others. A group experience has the potential of helping people feel less alone and less "different" from others.

Explore issues

In group counseling, members are given the opportunity to receive support, reassurance, suggestions, and insights from other members. This occurs in a small group setting, where members agree to keep what is said confidential. This atmosphere of safety helps members take the necessary risks to explore their concerns.

Gain Insight

Group counseling can help participants feel hopeful about making and maintaining changes in their lives or in themselves. People tend to have patterns of behavior or ways of interacting that repeat themselves across different relationships. Usually these patterns come from our experiences growing up. A group allows these patterns to become more visible because of the opportunity to interact with several different people. When these patterns become more visible, the group member can make desired changes.

Learn new skills

As group members learn about their patterns of behavior, they also learn new behaviors and skills that can help them become more effective in relationships. A group counseling setting is a safe place in which to "try out" these new skills, and get both support and positive feedback from others. Groups provide an opportunity to observe the improvement other members make, and also to learn how people with similar concerns may have coped with them in more effective ways.

Help others grow

Just as the individual in a group benefits from insights given from other members, s/he is allowed the opportunity to give to other group members. Helping others with their issues and concerns, and becoming important to others, usually raises a person's self-esteem.

Spring Groups

St. Thomas' Personal Counseling and Testing center offers two student groups during spring semester. Meet with others to share common concerns, gain support and learn new coping strategies when feeling sad, overwhelmed or confused.

Interested students are encouraged to sign up for a brief intake interview by calling (651) 962-6780 or visiting Personal Counseling, Room 356, Murray-Herrick Campus Center.

The Grief and Loss Group is offered for students to be able to confidentially share their feelings related to experiences of grief and loss. Meet with others in a supportive atmosphere and learn how to accept and understand difficult emotions. Meeting day and time will be determined by members' availability. Please contact Henry Ogden or Lindsey Hammond, (651) 962-6780, for more information.

The Interpersonal Process Group is offered for students who are interested in learning how to enhance their relationships. Members will be able to explore their interpersonal and communication styles and learn additional relationship-building skills. The group is confidential and meets from 5 to 6:15 p.m. Wednesdays in Room 370, Murray-Herrick Campus Center. For more information, call Vanessa Rempel or Henry Ogden, (651) 962-6780.