Group Counseling
Spring 2023 Group Schedule
Please Note: Groups Will Be Offered in Person and Virtually
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.
Undergraduate Student General Therapy Group – Mondays
- 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (contact Dr. Grace-Ellen Mahoney, Ph.D. (she/her) at gmahone1@umd.edu)
Undergraduate Student General Therapy Group – Tuesdays
- 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (contact Dr. CJ Polihronakis (he/him) at cjpoli@umd.edu)
Graduate Student General Therapy Group – Mondays
- 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (contact Dr. Erica Merson (she/her) at merson@umd.edu)
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; in person/virtual format TBD)
Graduate Student General Therapy Group – Fridays
- 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (contact Dr. Pepper Phillips (she/her) at pepper@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. Jihee Hong (she/her) at jhong114@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. Shealyn Blanchard (she/her) at sblanch1@umd.edu or Dr. Alex Agiliga (she/her) at aagiliga@umd.edu
This group is open to undergraduate and graduate students of Color who represent the sexual orientation and gender continuum. Members of the group are invited to participate in co-creating a space to discuss identity, coming out, transitioning, relationships, struggles, victories, and more - a space to decompress, share what's on your mind, and find support.
- Contact Dr. Alex Agiliga (she/her) at aagiliga@umd.edu
The LGBTQIA+ Support Group provides a co-created space for non-heterosexual (e.g., bi, asexual, queer, lesbian, gay) and gender expansive (e.g., transgender, genderqueer, agender, gender non-conforming) undergraduate and graduate students to engage in discussions around their identities, coming out and/or transitioning experiences, relationships, families, as well as struggles and victories. This group aims to provide a space for LGBTQIA+ students to decompress, share what's happening in their lives, and find support.
- Contact Dr. CJ Polihronakis (he/him) at cjpoli@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 (she/her) at mberbery@umd.edu
Anxiety
This time-limited group is for students who struggle with anxiety and fears that keep them stuck, afraid, or unable to fulfill their social or personal potentials. Students will learn new skills to overcome their anxiety and build social confidence.
- Contact Dr. Michelle Farrell (they/them) at farrell2@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
Body Image
Explores the experiences of women-identified and nonbinary people in their 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
Women Support
This is a semi-structured group designed to help women be compassionate and patient with themselves in their healing journey. Guided by the mindful, self-compassion approach, this group utilizes various meditations and reflections, along with vulnerability, discussion, and exploration to cultivate a new relationship with oneself based on authenticity, kindness, and respect.
- Contact Dr. Urvi Paralkar(she/her) at paralkar@umd.edu