Group counseling is one of the most effective tools for addressing issues common among college students. For many students, group counseling can be as effective or more effective than individual counseling. Learn more about the documented benefits of group counseling.

Our support groups and group therapy offer a safe environment to discuss problems with others who are dealing with similar concerns. Most students report that they find the group experience to be helpful far beyond their expectations. 

About CAPS groups

• Group counseling is FREE and available to: 
  • Undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in Ithaca and on the nearby Geneva campus
  • Groups that meet by Zoom are also available to students studying at Cornell Tech (and some other NYC-based programs)
• Each group is led by one or more professional counselor
• Groups usually meet weekly for a 90-minute session; some meet in person and some by Zoom
• Groups are private and confidential; all members must agree that what is disclosed in sessions cannot be shared outside of the group

See our Fall 2024 counseling groups below

How to join (or learn more about) a group 

Most groups require potential members to have a brief group orientation with the group leader(s) to see if the group is the right one for you. (Group descriptions below indicate whether an orientation is required.)

Here's how to schedule a group orientation, or to learn more about a group you're interested in:

• If you’re already seeing a counselor at Cornell Health, you may ask them about joining a group.
• You can schedule a "group counseling orientation" directly by calling us at 607-255-5155, or by logging in to myCornellHealth and selecting Appointments > Mental Health appointment > Group counseling orientation.
• You can schedule an "Access" appointment if you want to learn about group counseling as well as other options for mental health support at Cornell Health. 

Group Counseling Schedule (Fall 2024)

== MONDAYS ==

Graduate Women's Process Group

• Mondays, 3:00 - 4:30 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, September 23 to December 9
• Open to self-identifying graduate women
• Weekly semester group – no drop-ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: April Campanelli, LCSW and Katherine Goldberg, DVM, LMSW

The Graduate Women's group is a weekly process group that will provide a safe space for women pursuing graduate degrees to share and explore challenges, stressors, and successes in managing life as it is. This group is an opportunity to explore varying topics such as imposter syndrome, symptoms of anxiety and depression, managing intersectional identities in the workspace, questioning gender and sexuality, navigating work environments, family dynamics, dating and relationships, feeling far from home, and finding strategies for stress management. Group members are invited to bring forward additional areas of concern. This group serves as a safe and confidential space to receive multiple perspectives, feedback, and support from other graduate women and the group facilitators. [How to join]

International Student Process Group

• Mondays, 3:00 – 4:30 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, October 7 to December 9
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly semester group – no drop-ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Shinong Ji, MHC-L and Tanya Kingsley

As an international student, you may encounter unique challenges such as:

– Having to quickly adapt to different classroom environments and teaching styles.
– Having difficulties communicating your thoughts and ideas exactly as intended.
– Feeling confused by social cues you get from your peers.
– Experiencing discrimination and biases, or feeling displaced, first-time experience of being seen as a foreigner.
– Feeling disconnected and isolated from home: family and culture.
– Having immigration challenges related to your student visa status.
– Dealing with financial difficulties of being an international student, etc.

These and other factors can cause increased levels of stress, feelings of anxiety, and sadness. This group will provide a safe space to explore and process your experiences. Tips and strategies will be shared to assist you in navigating the unique challenges of international students. The group therapists (former international students themselves) will provide a confidential space in Cornell Health where each participant can feel comfortable sharing and learning skills to manage their well-being, feel supported, and build connections with other international students. [How to join]

Moving Forward: A Support Group for Survivors of Sexual Violence

• Mondays, 3:00 – 4:30 pm , in-person at Cornell Health, September 23 to December 9
• Open to undergraduate and graduate students, professional and graduate students
• Weekly semester drop-in group group – come to one or all meetings; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Aurora Tivey, LMSW and Jordan Ferrari, Victim Advocate

Students of all genders who have experienced unwanted and/or non-consensual sexual contact and/or other forms of sexual trauma are encouraged to consider whether this private and confidential support group may be helpful to them. The group will be a space for those who have experienced sexual violence in recent months or years to gain support from one another and explore ways to heal in the aftermath of an assault. Discussion topics to include: Myth-busting, coping, managing triggers and flashbacks, trust and safety, fear, anger and sadness, grief and shame, body image, self-esteem, intimacy, sexuality and self-care, and identifying ongoing support. [How to join]

Understanding Self & Others: An Undergraduate Process Group

• Mondays, 4:30 – 6:00 pm, via Zoom, September 30 to December 9
• Open to undergraduate students 
• Weekly semester group – no drop-ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Joy Mushabac, LCSW-R and Qiana Watson, LMSW

This group offers an opportunity to work through a broad range of issues facing students, including (but not limited to) academics, peer or romantic relationships, impacts of racism, family issues, the challenges of communication (including online), personal growth, self-esteem, anxiety, depression, sexuality and gender identity. And, more than ever, this group will also be a place to process managing uncertainty, social isolation, and the ever-changing political and economic climate. The group will offer honest, gentle feedback from both therapists and participants about ways that you might be behaving and thinking that may seem unhelpful to yourself or others. These interactions give members an opportunity to gain insight, knowledge, and skills, and explore new ways of thinking and interacting in a safe, confidential environment. [How to join]

What You Resist Persists: a Group for Those with OCD

• Mondays, 3:00 – 4:30 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, September 30 to December 9
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students 
• Weekly semester group – no drop-ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Alex Julian, PhD 

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can be an isolating and persistent mental health condition. Often our perceptions of OCD are based on stigmatized representations in media, which are rarely accurate (although Monk is quite entertaining). This group will provide members with education on the sources and perpetuating factors of OCD as well as strategies to manage and confront unwanted thoughts. Group will be interactive and collaborative, with leaders and members providing support to each other in the difficult process of reducing the control of OCD. [How to join]

Write it OUT: Weekly Process Group

• Mondays, 1:00 - 2:30 pm, via Zoom, September 30 to December 9
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly semester group – no drop-ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Lex Santi, LCSW and Linda Stout, MSEd, Master CASAC

Write It OUT is a weekly process group to address feelings which have felt stuck and when saying it out loud has been too difficult. This weekly group uses writing prompts to experiment with creative expression to explore the experiences of our lives. We will write and share about depression, anxiety, and self-doubt and joy. Group members will be able to bring curiosity to their past, present, and future, working within the comfort of artistic expression to heal and forge new paths in their lives.

No experience is necessary in writing. This group will have a safe, all welcoming and non-judgmental, non-critique-oriented atmosphere where the creative process will thrive. The therapists will facilitate dialogues with the opportunity to discover belonging and connection through the written word. You can count on every session for space to create, to have the opportunity to read out loud and provide and receive a space. Participation and communication of the shared themes brought up during the group is strongly encouraged. [How to join]

== TUESDAYS ==

ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy) for Anxiety & Depression

• Tuesdays, 3:00 – 4:30 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, September 24 to December 3
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly semester group – no drop ins; group orientation required with Cory Myler
• Facilitators: Cory Myler, PhD and Elizabeth Kim

This group will focus on "getting better at feeling" rather than "feeling better," how to best have pain rather than get rid of pain, and how to accept internal experiences (e.g., thoughts and emotions) rather than control them. We will work on the identification of personal values and how to engage in action/behavior that is congruent with those values, even while uncomfortable internal experiences persist.

The format of the group is a mixture of "didactic" and "process"; the group will start out very class-like, with facilitators using slides and a book, "The Happiness Trap", to explain concepts and principles. As the group progresses, it will become more like a traditional therapy group, with more opportunity for interaction between group members and sharing personal experiences. [How to join]

AOD: How to Change a Habit

• Tuesdays, 3:00 – 4:30 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, October 22 to November 26
• 6 weekly sessions; group orientation required
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Facilitator: Jacob Parker Carver, LMSW and Elizabeth Jonas, MSW

This 6-session group welcomes undergraduate and graduate students who are motivated to change an addictive behavior - use of Alcohol & other Drugs (AOD), social media or other technology, gambling, etc - and support each other in a confidential space. Facilitators will provide psychoeducation on the science of behavior change, with opportunities for reflection and practice so you can apply core concepts to your daily life. People who participate in this group can expect to gain a better understanding of their behavior patterns, to significantly reduce or quit an existing “bad” habit, and to identify healthier replacements.

Session 1, Oct 22: The Science Behind Behavior Change
Session 2, Oct 29: Track Your Triggers
Session 3, Nov 5: Cope With Cravings
Session 4, Nov 12: Responding Versus Reacting
Session 5, Nov 19: Reward and Reinforcement
Session 6, Nov 26: Next Level

The format for this group is inspired in part by the book “Atomic Habits”, by James Clear. We encourage participants to read along with the book while engaging in the group. [How to join]

CHEP Recovery Group

• Tuesdays, 5:00 – 6:00 pm in-person at Cornell Health, September 3 to December 3
• Open to undergraduate and graduate/professional students
• Weekly semester group – no drop ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Penny Krainin, PhD and Juliana Garcia, LMSW

The CHEP recovery group is a support group for students who have already sought help for an eating disorder and are in the process of ongoing treatment and recovery. The group provides a strongly recovery-focused environment and allows for building skills, sharing wisdom, and fostering self-compassion with peers that have also participated in eating disorder treatment. [How to join]

Getting out of your Head: Managing Anxiety and Depression Through Movement

• Tuesdays, 4:00 - 5:30 pm, via Zoom, September 24 to December 3
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly semester group – no drop-ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Maurice Haltom, LCSW-R & Travis Winter, LCSW-R

This group will explore mind-body patterns such as tension, worry, negative thought patterns, etc. These patterns can arise from internal and/or external stressors, some of which can include: academic stress, racism, relationships, family patterns, personality types, world events, bullying, normal developmental questioning, identity crisis, lack of community and isolation etc. The focus of this group will be on "listening" to body sensations, thoughts and feelings and then exploring how gentle movement from various disciplines can cultivate self-knowledge and new healthy habits. Simple body/mind practices (e.g., breathing techniques, movement, postures) from a variety of traditions will be explored together to enhance the relaxation response. The group will be comprised of education, discussion, practice and processing that assist group members in working with uncertainty to promote a better sense of personal balance and harmony. All genders, identities, abilities and bodies welcome. [How to join]

LGBTQ+ Support/Process Group for Graduate Students

• Tuesdays, 3:00 – 4:30 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, September 17 to December 3
• Open to graduate / professional students
• Weekly half semester group with option to continue – no drop-ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Kimberly VanNorman, LCSW and Janna Buckwalter, LMHC

This group provides a safe, affirming space for graduate and professional students of any gender who identify as LGBTQ+. Here you will find an opportunity to explore, embrace, question, and share all aspects of your identity. As we connect through shared identities, we welcome you to bring your whole self as we discuss various topics such as coming out, transitioning, relationships, depression, anxiety, and stress. Other relevant topics may include, but are not limited to, advisor/program dynamics, working with uncertainty, stress management, family dynamics, dating, social isolation/connection, as well as any topic that you would like to bring that is relevant to your lived experience. New to groups? No problem! Come join us for a welcoming atmosphere and weekly support, processing, and psychoeducation. [How to join]

Sip and Stim: A Group for Neurodiverse/Neurodivergent LGBTQIA2S+ Students

• Tuesdays, 5:00 – 6:30 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, September 17 to December 3
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly semester group – no drop-ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Karen Williams, PhD and Em McClintock, MSEd, MHC-LP

This group is open to undergraduate and graduate students who identify as neurodiverse/neurodivergent (OCD, autism, ADHD, Tourette's syndrome, and many others) and LGBTQIA2S+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual or Agender, Two-Spirit). This group seeks to provide members with a safe, judgment-free space to process their lived experiences on these intersections. Members, you do not have to choose!

The primary purpose of this group is to facilitate weekly themes/concerns, impacting the members’ lives. For example, relationships and relating to others, sensory euphoria, and academic and campus resources. Members are encouraged to propose topics and share tips that bring value to their everyday lives. Join us for a cup of tea and to discuss these important factors. [How to join]

== WEDNESDAYS ==

Authentically ADHD Support Group

• Wednesdays, 5:00 – 6:30 pm, via Zoom, September 4 to November 20
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly sessions – group orientation optional; drop-ins welcome
• Facilitator: Emily McClintock, MSEd, MHC-LP 

Be it focusing on classwork or figuring out our daily living, ADHD neurodivergence can be difficult to handle. This group is for anyone seeking to find better ways to manage and succeed with ADHD or ADHD symptoms – not just play catchup with the rest of the world. Each week we’ll discuss a different topic related to attention and focus and how these challenges affect us academically, socially, and holistically. This is a psychoeducational support space run by ADHD facilitators with ADHD in mind. No diagnosis needed nor provided. Coming as needed is always welcome. [How to join]

Grief Support Group

• Wednesdays, 3:00 - 4:30 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, September 18 to December 4
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly semester group – no drop-ins; group orientation required
• Facilitator: Katherine Goldberg, DVM, LMSW 

This is a weekly, confidential support group for enrolled Cornell undergraduate and graduate students who have suffered the death of a family member or other significant person. The group is open to those whose loss occurred some time ago as well as those for whom the loss is more recent. The focus of group will vary depending on members' needs and preferences. [How to join]

Queering Connection: LGBTQ+ Interpersonal Process & Support Group for Undergraduates and Graduates 

• Wednesdays, 3:00 - 4:30 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, September 25 to December 4
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students 
• Weekly sessions – no drop-ins; group orientation required 
• Facilitators: Alison Bliss, LCSW and Dan Keenan, LCSW 

This group offers a safe space for exploration of queer identities (sexuality, gender identity, and relationship structure). We will engage in interpersonal processing, mindfulness, and psycho-education related to attachment styles and communication in relationships.

We will meet on a weekly basis in a confidential and affirming group to talk, connect with each other, and offer emotional support. We will explore relevant themes such as relationships with self, family and friends, dating (including navigating relationships on the ace/aro spectrum as well as non-monogamous relationship structures), coming out, being out, transitioning, and ways to embrace all of who you are. There is space to bring all of who you are and your intersecting identities to group. Group is also open to topics that are not exclusively identity related such as academics, depression, anxiety. [How to join]

Social Circle: A Time to Build Connections

• Wednesdays, 12:00 - 1:15 pm, in-person in the International Room at Willard Straight Hall, dates to be determined
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly semester group – no drop-ins; group orientation required
• Facilitator: Travis Winter, LCSW-R 

Whether you are new to Cornell or just wanting to up your social game, this group will be an opportunity to learn how to make friends on campus and/or enhance your current friendships. Think of this as a warm and welcoming space to learn and practice effective strategies to manifest the friendships you want. While this is not a curriculum-based group, we will share specific strategies for moving beyond the “what’s your major” conversation starter to help you make genuine connections with others.  Join two CAPS counselors as they facilitate a fun and safe space where you can practice skills with each other and brainstorm strategies for various social scenarios you may encounter at Cornell.

All are welcome! Open to undergrads and graduate students, with an extra welcome to 1st years, transfers, and international students. Feel free to bring your own food as we chat, connect, and share a meal together in International room at Willard Straight Hall. [How to join]

Tools for Feeling Better: 4-Week Group

• Wednesdays, 3:30 - 4:45 pm, via Zoom, October 16 to November 6
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Four weekly sessions – no drop-ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Sheila Singh, PhD & Joy Mushabac, LCSW-R

This four-session group teaches students some evidence-based mindfulness practices to help them deal more effectively with difficult thoughts and feelings. Students can expect that over the course of this group they will increase their capacity to manage life’s challenges with greater skillfulness, allowing them to put more energy toward doing what gives their lives value, meaning and purpose. [How to join]

== THURSDAYS ==

Anxiety & You: Managing Anxiety in Times of Uncertainty

• Thursdays, 3:00 - 4:30 pm, via Zoom; 5-week group, dates to be determined
• Open to undergraduates and graduate / professional students
• 5 weekly sessions – group orientation with Travis Winter required; no drop-ins
• Facilitators: Travis Winter, LCSW-R and Genel Gronkowski

This group will be a psychoeducational and hands-on 5 session series designed to help students understand, manage, and treat anxiety and with the goal of helping each student develop an individualized treatment plan for themselves. Each session will have a theme (regular attendance is expected):
 
Session #1: Understanding anxiety
Session #2: Cognitive strategies to combat anxiety
Session #3: Gradually facing fears
Session #4: Mindfulness/Anxiety management strategies
Session #5: TBA Determined by participants

Students are encouraged to practice skills outside of sessions and report back so successes can be celebrated, plans can be adjusted as needed, and obstacles can be problem-solved. [How to join]

AOD: Discover Recovery

• Thursdays, 3:30 – 5:00 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, September 5 to December 12 (excluding November 28)
• Orientation required; open enrollment
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Facilitators: Jacob Parker Carver, LMSW and Brett Jakobson, LCSW

Recovery from Alcohol & Other Drugs (AOD) can mean a lot of different things. For many people it's about giving up a specific substance that has caused a lot of problems, for others it's a commitment to full sobriety. It's common to quit using for weeks or months at a time to improve physical and mental health, and some people decide that ongoing abstinence is an important part of their long-term wellness. Whether you're dropping one substance or many, planning short-term or long-term, this group is for you... because we believe you're in recovery when you say you are.

We know that AOD Recovery is about a lot more than sobriety... It's about understanding your values, enhancing motivation, and building a life you don't need to escape from. Each week we'll help identify common triggers, develop strategies for responding to cravings/urges, and explore experiences that provide genuine fulfillment - so you can lead your best life while maintaining abstinence from one or more substances. Most importantly we'll hold a safe space for each other, and work to establish a community of authentic mutual support. This is primarily a process group, with room for education and skill building as requested by participants. [How to join]

AOD: Mindfulness-Based Harm Reduction 

• Thursdays, 3:00 – 4:30 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, September 19 to December 12 (excluding November 28)
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly semester group, orientation required, open enrollment
• Facilitators: Linda Stout, MSEd, Master CASAC and David "Alec" Wierzbicki, PsyD

So you use Alcohol & Other Drugs (AOD), but you're noticing some drawbacks. Some people might benefit from reducing their use, some might want to stop altogether, and others might just be more intentional about how and when they use. Mindfulness helps to cultivate compassionate self-awareness, so you can reduce the harms associated with use and find what works for you.

This group will provide a safe and empowering place to talk about substance use, notice patterns, and identify individual goals. Discussion will revolve around values and motivations, exploring behaviors that support the life you want to have and the person you want to be. Most of the content will be based on ideas and questions from those in attendance, each session will include an element of mindfulness practice with space for reviewing important topics and developing practical skills. Participants are expected to treat each other with dignity and respect, encouraged to search for the wisdom in each other’s experiences. [How to join]

The Eating and Body Image Skills and Support Group

• Thursdays, 4:30 – 5:45 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, September 26 to December 5
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly semester group – no drop ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: April Campanelli, LCSW and Elizabeth Jonas, MSW

Do you think about eating, your body, or exercise often? Are these patterns negatively impacting your academic performance, social life, or physical health? This group will provide a safe and empowering space to talk about disordered eating habits, notice patterns, and identify individual goals. This group is for students who are considering taking steps towards recovery or who are curious about reducing the harm associated with their behaviors and have little or no previous treatment experience. This group will aim to support students in gaining increased insight into their personal values and to discover ways of using those values to motivate change. This group is open to students of all identities and backgrounds. Most of the content will be based on ideas and questions raised from those in attendance. Group leaders may share education or skills as it pertains to the group discussion and needs. [How to join]

Finding Healing Through Art Therapy

• Thursdays, 3:00 - 4:30 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, September 26 to December 5
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Open enrollment; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Alex Julian, PhD and Dan Keenan, LCSW

Navigating the college experience can exciting but at times leave us feeling overwhelmed, lost, and isolated. While support can often be found from traditional talk therapy, alternate methods such as art therapy can be just as helpful or even a better fit for some. This group will provide members with an opportunity to put their experience into a format that may express what they are feeling in a more helpful way. Group will consist of five sessions per cycle and include education on the benefits of art therapy, skill building, managing emotions, and verbal processing. We will be using clay, watercolor, colored pencils, and other mediums. [How to join]

Positive Action Through Interaction: A Graduate Student Group for All Genders

• Thursdays, 3:15 – 4:45 pm via Zoom, September 26 to December 5
• Open to graduate students
• Weekly semester group – no drop-ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Cory Myler, PhD and Sheila Singh, PhD

This group is appropriate for any graduate students who have life dissatisfaction or distress that is primarily linked to how they experience their relationships with important people in their lives (e.g., friends, family, advisors, partners) AND who want to work on being more effective in those relationships. Insight in this group is generally gained through discussion with and feedback from the other group members; however, some mindfulness-based techniques will also be introduced to facilitate this process.  In addition, group will also provide a safer space to practice new, healthier ways of relating to others with the idea that you can 'try it on' in group and 'wear it' in your day-to-day life.  There may also be occasional invitations to enact "experiments" with these insights in your relationships and activities outside of group. [How to join]

Reclaiming Space: A Fat Empowerment Group

• Thursdays, 3:00 – 4:30 pm, via Zoom, September 26 to December 5
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly semester group – no drop-ins; group orientation required with Aurora Tivey
• Facilitator: Aurora Tivey, LMSW 

A weekly process group for people in fat bodies to gather in a safe and judgement free space. This space is a celebration of large bodies and hopes to offer an escape from the persistent cultural influences that prioritize specific body types. Group members will offer support to one another on any relevant themes including existing in fat bodies on campus, utilizing spaces designed for thin bodies, addressing fat-phobia in personal and professional relationships, and any other topics group members bring forward. [How to join]

Somatic Therapy Group

• Thursdays, 2:00 – 3:30 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, September 26 to December 5
• Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
• Weekly semester group – no drop-ins; group orientation required
• Facilitators: Sophia Scholl, PsyD and Shinong Ji, MHC-LP

Somatic Therapy Group offers a sanctuary for those seeking healing, self-discovery, and holistic well-being. It is a gentle yet powerful way to heal from past wounds and enhance self-regulation.

Somatic Therapy is a powerful approach that recognizes the connection between mind, body, and emotions. This embodied approach helps us develop inner knowing, release traumas, and find restoration in our lives. You would benefit from the group if you are seeking to come back to a grounded sense of self, whether it’s from stress, anxiety, trauma, dissociation, body related concerns and anyone who would like to take a step closer to embodiment. Each session includes somatic techniques, mindfulness practices, gentle movement, process your experience, and a plan for a take home practice for maximum benefit between groups. By the end of this group, you’ll discover the profound connection between your body and mind, recognizing your body’s unique responses, sensations, and cues. Empower yourself to navigate life’s challenges with newfound calm, strength, and resilience. [How to join]