About group counseling
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.
CAPS groups 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.
- 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 CAPS 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
- Most groups require a group orientation; learn more below about how to join a group
Group Counseling schedule (Fall 2026)
Additional groups will be posted soon. Please check back for updates.
== MONDAYS ==
The Eating and Body Image Skills and Support Group
- Mondays, 4:15 – 5:30 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, October 19 to December 7
- Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
- Weekly sessions – no drop ins; group orientation required
- Facilitator: April Campanelli, LCSW
Do you find yourself thinking a lot about food, your body, or exercise? Are these patterns negatively impacting your academic life, relationships, or overall well-being? This group offers a supportive, nonjudgmental space for students to explore their relationship with eating, movement, and body image.
The group is open to students at any stage of their journey—whether you have never sought help before, are curious about making changes, or have participated in previous treatment and are looking for ongoing support. Together, we will notice patterns, reflect on how these experiences show up in daily life, and identify personal goals that feel meaningful to you.
Group discussions will emphasize the development of coping skills, clarifying personal values, and exploring how those values can guide choices and support well-being. Content is largely shaped by the needs, questions, and experiences of group members, with group leaders offering education and skills when helpful. This group is open to students of all identities and backgrounds.
== TUESDAYS ==
ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy) for Anxiety & Depression
- Tuesdays, 2:30 – 4:00 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, September 29 to December 8
- Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
- Weekly semester group – no drop ins; group orientation required with Cory Myler
- Facilitators: Cory Myler, PhD and Tanya Kingsley, LMSW
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.
== WEDNESDAYS ==
Moving Forward: A Support Group for Survivors of Sexual Violence
- Wednesdays, 4:00 – 5:00 pm , in-person at Cornell Health, September 9 to December 9
- Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
- Weekly semester drop-in group – come to one or all meetings; group orientation required
- Facilitators: Elizabeth Jonas, LMSW and Jordan Ferrari, Assistant Director, SHARE and Confidential 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.
What You Resist Persists: a Group for Those with OCD
- Wednesdays, 3:15 – 4:45 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, October 14 to December 9
- Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
- Weekly semester group – no drop-ins; group orientation required
- Facilitators: Alex Julian, PhD and April Campanelli, LCSW
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.
== THURSDAYS ==
AOD: Discover Recovery
- Thursdays, 3:15 – 4:30 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, September 3 to December 17
- Open to undergraduate and graduate / professional students
- Orientation required; open enrollment
- 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.
CU Adjust
- Thursdays, 3:15 – 4:45 pm, in-person at Cornell Health, October 1 to November 19
- Open to undergraduate students only
- 8-week group – no drop-ins; group orientation required
- Facilitators: Dan Keenan, LCSW and Alex Julian, PhD
The adjustment to college can be challenging whether you are a first-year student, a transfer student, an international student, or someone returning from time away. This eight-week counseling group is designed to help you get your footing, build routines that work, and connect with peers who are experiencing a similar transition.
Each week blends practical skills and learning with a space to talk about how your adjustment is going. You’ll get tools to manage time and energy, create routines that support your well-being and learning, and handle the emotional ups and downs of things like homesickness. We will cover topics about different forms of rest (aside from sleep), social connection, and communication skills. You will have space to explore your values and how to be more in alignment with them.
This is an educational and supportive space where you can share as much or as little as you want.
**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.