Group Counseling
Spring 2022 Virtual Group Schedule
Please Note: All Groups Will Be Offered Virtually Spring 2022 Semester
Therapy Groups
A safe space to understand and express emotions, explore better ways of interacting with others, and find increased authenticity in relationships in and out of the therapy room.
Graduate Student General Therapy Group - Tuesdays
- 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (contact Dr. Allison Asarch (she/her) at aasarch@umd.edu)
Tuesdays
- 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (contact Dr. CJ Polihronakis (he/him), Ph.D. cjpoli@umd.edu)
Thursdays
- 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Contact Dr. Michelle Farrell (they/them) at farrell2@umd.edu)
Anxiety
This 8-week group is for students who struggle with social anxiety and fears that keep them from forming new relationships and fulfilling their academic/social potentials. Students will learn and practice new skills to overcome their social anxiety, receive support and feedback, and build social confidence.
- Contact Dr. Kayi Hui-Spears (she/her) at kayihui@umd.edu
International Students
International students are invited to participate in a weekly support group where they can talk about mental health, social challenges, adjusting to the U.S. and the University, academic stress, and personal problems. This also is a great place to practice speaking English and share information.
- Contact Dr. David Petersen (he/him) at petersen@umd.edu
Diversity Issues
This group is open to undergrad and graduate APIDA diaspora of diverse identities to share their challenges and successes when navigating academic/career concerns, family/cultural value conflicts, relationships, identities, acculturation process, sociopolitical climates and beyond. This group aims to create a safe space for APIDA students to cultivate radical healing, hope, mental wellness and empowerment through storytelling and support.
- Contact Dr. Kayi Hui-Spears (she/her) at kayihui@umd.edu or Dr. Chandni Shah (she/her) at chandni@umd.edu
A support & discussion group that addresses such topics as personal concerns, interpersonal & dating relationships, sexuality, and being a Black woman on a predominantly White campus.
- Contact Dr. Kimberly Y. Campbell (she/her) at kcampbe6@umd.edu or Dr. Shealyn Blanchard (she/her) at sblanch1@umd.edu
Individuals representing the diverse gender and sexual orientation continuum are invited to participate in co-creating a space to discuss identity, coming out, transitioning, relationships, struggles, and victories; a space to decompress, share what's on your mind, and find support.
- Contact Dr. Michelle Farrell at farrell2@umd.edu
This group is meant to be a safe space for Latinx students to share their stories, struggles, and successes as they work to accomplish their academic goals at UMD. Students may discuss experiences related to their identity, cultural values, academics/career, family, and relationships, among other topics. Students will learn about themselves, gain support, and work on improving their self-care and life balance.
- Contact Dr. Maria Berbery at mberbery@umd.edu
Grief and Loss
This group offers emotional support and information about the process of grief and helps students develop adaptive coping strategies for managing loss.
- Contact Dr. Yi-Jiun Lin (she/her) at ylin1234@umd.edu
Self-Compassion
This is an 8-week, semi-structured group designed to help women be kind and patient with themselves. Guided by the mindful, self-compassion approach, this group utilizes guided meditations, journaling, and various exercises to cultivate a new relationship with oneself based on kindness, respect, and compassion and to explore how these changes affect how one relates to themselves and others.
- Contact Mimi Tekeste (she/her) at mtekeste@umd.edu) or Urvi Paralkar (she/her) at paralkar@umd.edu
Sexual Assault Support
A supportive and confidential environment for female survivors of sexual assault.
- Contact Dr. Chandni Shah (she/her) at chandni@umd.edu
Body Image
Explores women’s struggles with body image and self-worth and the ways that dieting, obsessing about thinness, binge-eating, over-exercising, and purging may affect their lives.
- Contact Dr. Erica Merson (she/her) at merson12@umd.edu
Graduate Student Support
Members will receive support from the facilitator and each other in getting through the struggles involved in completing their dissertation or thesis.
- Contact Dr. Chandni Shah (she/her) at chandni@umd.edu
Understanding Emotions
This a six week semi structured group designed to provide a supportive space for students while teaching students skills to manage emotions that “get the best of them,” and whose emotions interfere with their ability to effectively solve problems and to communicate in relationships that are important to them.
- Contact Dr. Kimberly Campbell (she/her) at kcampbe6@umd.edu