Groups and Workshops

Weekly drop-in Zoom space for international students to connect and discuss experiences, including school, mental health, and life as an international student.

Explore how creating art can improve mental, emotional, and physical well-being. No prior artistic background necessary.

Explore how art and mindfulness can support well-being. Offered in partnership with UMass Recovery. No previous experience required.

Weekly drop-in for students on the autism spectrum to connect and discuss shared experiences. No medical diagnosis required. Co-hosted with the Office of Disability Services.

Weekly drop-in space for LGBTQ+ peers to socialize, connect, and build community. Open to all Five College students. Co-hosted by the Stonewall Center.

A space for student parents to discuss the unique challenges of parenting while in school, learn stress and anxiety management skills, and connect with others in similar situations. Partners welcome.

Brief 15-minute sessions with trained therapy dogs, offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Check in at the CCPH front desk when available.

Open to all UMass and Five College students who are trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and/or questioning their gender identity. Co-sponsored by the Stonewall Center. Contact CCPH at (413) 545-2337 to connect with the group facilitator.

Workshop series on understanding ADHD, managing symptoms, and creating helpful structures and routines. Covers self-compassion, motivation, and practical strategies.

A DBT skills workshop covering mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. Offered in multi-session series.

Three-part workshop on navigating conflict, making decisions under pressure, overcoming avoidance, and building skills for equitable resolutions.

Outdoor sessions using forest therapy practices to support mental health and well-being. Held in natural settings on or near campus. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes; bring water.

Understand what Impostor Phenomenon is, how it shows up in your life, and practical strategies for managing it. Drop-in friendly.

Gottman Institute-based workshop on building healthy relationships, managing conflict, enhancing intimacy, and developing stronger dating skills.

Educational workshop on how trauma affects the mind, body, and relationships. Includes grounding and mindfulness practices. Sharing personal traumatic details is never required.

Skills-based three-session workshop on coping with stress and anxiety. Available both in-person and via Zoom on a flexible weekly schedule.

Single-session workshop exploring the relationship between stress and sleep, with practical tools for improvement. The same content is offered each session, so you only need to attend once.

Two-session workshop exploring patterns of depression and strategies for recognizing and managing depressive thoughts and behaviors.

Six-week series combining education on trauma’s effects on the mind and body with healing through breath and mindful yoga practice. No prior yoga experience needed.

Experiential personal growth group for graduate students. Focus areas include mutual support, self-exploration, interpersonal relationships, managing anxiety, and navigating dissertation challenges. Offered in multiple sections.

Support group for students who have experienced the loss of a loved one.

Closed therapy group for students experiencing depression. Focuses on sharing experiences, reflection, gaining insight, and reducing isolation through interpersonal processing.

Support for transfer students navigating academic and social transitions, building a sense of community, and addressing the challenges that come with transferring.

Research consistently shows that group therapy is highly effective. For some concerns, including interpersonal difficulties, social anxiety, and isolation, it can be even more effective than individual therapy. Groups offer something individual therapy cannot: real-time feedback, peer support, and the experience of not being alone in what you are going through.

Drop-in support groups and psychoeducational workshops are always free. For therapy groups, your first eight sessions are covered by the UMass student health fee at no additional cost. After eight sessions, we bill your health insurance. Let us know if cost is a concern. We want to help you access the support you need.

Clinicians who lead groups are bound by the same confidentiality rules as in individual therapy. All group members are asked to keep what is shared in group confidential as a matter of trust and respect. However, this expectation among group members is a social agreement, not a legal requirement. Clinician confidentiality is legally protected; member-to-member confidentiality is not. Your group facilitators will discuss this during the first session.

That is one of the most common concerns, and one of the best reasons to try. Many students who feel nervous about groups find them to be the most helpful part of their care. If you are hesitant, start with a drop-in group where there is no commitment and you can come and go as you need. Or talk with your clinician about which group might be the best fit for where you are.

Yes, and many students do. Combining group and individual therapy can be especially effective. Individual sessions give you space to process personal concerns, while group sessions let you practice new skills and receive feedback from peers. Your clinician can help you decide whether a combination makes sense for you.

Workshops are skill-focused and time-limited (typically 3–5 sessions). They are educational: you learn strategies and tools you can use on your own. No pre-screening is needed. Therapy groups are ongoing and relationship-focused. They involve consistent membership, go deeper over time, and require a brief pre-screening to ensure a good fit.