Counseling & Career Development Center
Group Counseling and Workshops
List of current groups and workshops
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Group Counseling
The perspectives of others who share similar circumstances and challenges can often be helpful to students seeking counseling. The safe and confidential nature of the group setting will help students interact with others and talk openly about their concerns. In the process, they will receive group support and learn to develop more healthy and satisfying relationships.
We offer groups for students on a variety of topics. Examples of groups typically offered include general therapy, family issues, sexual orientation/identity, self-esteem, eating concerns, and stress management/relaxation. See this semester's offerings of groups.
How Does Group Therapy Work?
Students meet in small groups of 6-8 members with 1 or 2 group leaders once a week for 1-1/2 hours. Most groups require that you schedule a brief screening interview with the group leader(s) prior to joining. Group Counseling may be done in conjunction with individual counseling or you may decide after to talking to counselor that group participation alone would be most beneficial to you. Most students are a little anxious when starting group counseling (particularly if they have not had prior group experience) but become more comfortable over time as they get to know other group members. In group, members are encouraged to talk about their concerns and to express thoughts and feelings about what other group members say or do. Interaction among group members is highly encouraged so that participants can "try out" new ways of relating in a safe and supportive environment. Trust and a sense of safety build over time due to the confidential nature of the group and based on members' participation and commitment.
What are the Benefits of Group Therapy?
Group Counseling is one of the best ways to learn about how you interact with and impact others. It is particularly useful for identifying and addressing recurring relationship difficulties or ways of coping that tend to cause problems for you. Students tend to get the most out of group counseling when they are willing to talk openly about their concerns and are open to giving and receiving feedback from others. Group members are not forced to talk, it is up to each group member how much he or she chooses to share. Telling other group members what you need and want from them contributes to a better overall group experience. Group members frequently benefit from the support and suggestions they get from one another and from the facilitators. They also discover they are not alone and that others are dealing with similar concerns. Within the safety of the group, issues that are of concern can be explored and new ways of managing them are learned. Insights or new behaviors learned in group can then be applied outside of group.
Workshops
| Have a question about our workshops? Contact us |
The Counseling and Career Development Center offers several workshops for students each semester, such as the "Anxiety Management Workshop," "Blues Busters: Managing and Preventing Depression," "Career Exploration," and "Learning to be More Assertive!" The topics of these workshops may change each semester as a result of students' interests or needs. Our current workshop offerings are listed here.
Workshop Format
Workshops are facilitated by one or more of our psychologists, and meetings are held in the conference room of the Counseling Center unless otherwise indicated. Workshops are typically held for one evening each week, and may be short term (4-6 weeks) or long term (10-14 weeks). The format of a workshop often includes a presentation of information, group discussion, the providing of handouts, self-exploration through the use of "homework," and other activities where appropriate.
Registration for a Workshop
If you are already a client at the Counseling Center, tell your counselor that you would like to participate in the workshop. He or she can give you details and inform the workshop facilitator that you will be participating. If you are not a client, please call Dr. Steven Jacobson, our group coordinator, at 478-5541 for more information. You will also need to come in and fill out some paperwork before attending the first workshop meeting. This will only take about 15 minutes. It's as easy as that! We will then expect to see you when the workshop begins.
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| Counseling
and Career Development Center Forest Drive Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA 30460-8011 Phone: 912-478-5541 Fax: 912-478-0834 |
This site was last updated on 12/28/07. Please contact us with questions or comments. | |