Process Therapy Groups
What is process therapy?
Process therapy groups allow students to explore a variety of topics, speak on their personal experiences and receive group support. These groups typically emphasize relationships, interpersonal skills, feedback and strategies to feel more connected with others. Groups also offer a unique opportunity to receive different perspectives, support, encouragement and feedback in a safe and confidential environment.
How to get started
All students must complete a screening appointment in order to join a process therapy group.
Undergraduate Process Groups
Undergrad All-Gender Process Group
This group provides a supportive space for students to deepen self-understanding and to explore ways of relating more comfortably to others. This group is also designed to help students learn to deal with feelings of depression and anxiety, family dynamicsand other personal concerns.
- Day: Mondays
- Time: 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
- Location: CAPS Office (C4C, N352)
- Facilitator: Lisa Boyle, LCSW and Jose Flores, MA
- Day: Tuesdays
- Time: 12:15-1:30 p.m.
- Location: CAPS Office (C4C, N352)
- Facilitator:Melissa Bottiglio, LCSW and Christi DeSimone, MA
Undergrad Men's Process Group
This group provides a supportive space for students who identify as men to deepen self-understanding and explore ways of relating more comfortably to others. This group is also designed to help students learn to deal with feelings of depression and anxiety, family dynamics and other personal concerns. Members may focus on challenging traditional norms within our society that constrain men, how to increase choice and lead a lifestyle that fits one's own needs.
- Day: Thursdays
- Time: 10:30-11:45 a.m.
- Location: CAPS Office (C4C, N352)
- Facilitator: Lamar Lewis, LCSW and Shane Trujillo
Graduate Process Groups
Graduate All-Gender Process Group
A supportive environment for students to examine patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that are creating problems in relationships with friends, roommates, family members, and others. Group members also work on a range of symptoms, such as anxiety and depression.
- Day: Mondays
- Time: 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
- Location: CAPS Office (C4C, N352)
- Facilitator:Stacy Gerberich, PsyD
- Day: Mondays
- Time: 1-2:15 p.m.
- Location: CAPS Office (C4C, N352)
- Facilitator: Rachel LaHoda, PsyD
- Day: Wednesdays
- Time: 2:30-3:45 p.m.
- Location: CAPS Office (C4C, N352)
- Facilitator: Eve Wesson, LCSW
- Day: Thursdays
- Time: 10-11:30 a.m.
- Location: CAPS Office (C4C, N352)
- Facilitator: Matt Tomatz, LPC, LAC
Graduate Women's Group
This group is intended to support graduate women experiencing the full range of stressors common to student life—academic pressures, financial concerns, and relationship issues with family, friends, babyֱapp, and partners, among others.
- Day: Fridays
- Time: 9-10:30 a.m.
- Location: Virtual (Zoom)
- Facilitator:Mya Bethune, PhD
Graduate Men's Group
This group is intended to facilitate graduate men’s awareness of self and interpersonal styles of relating to others. Members may focus on challenging traditional norms within our society that constrain men and how to increase choice and lead a healthier lifestyle. Issues discussed include independence and dependence, intimacy and autonomy, strength and vulnerability, and responsibility and choice.
This process groupis currently on hold. Please check back later.
Topic-Specific Therapy Groups
Autism Spectrum (ASD) Support Group
This support group is for students on the Autism Spectrum (ASD) who want to connect with a supportive community and discuss topics related to sensory needs, communication, advocacy and 'unmasking.'
- Day: Mondays
- Time: 2:30-3:30 p.m.
- Location: CAPS Office (C4C, N352)
- Facilitators: Audrey Gilfillan, LPC and Abby Rackley, MA
- Day: Wednesdays
- Time: 2:30-3:30 p.m.
- Location: CAPS Office (C4C, N352)
- Facilitator: Audrey Gilfillan, LPC
Chronic Care Support Group
Living with a medical condition can be isolating and challenging to navigate. This group provides a space for students who are coping with chronic medical conditions or chronic pain to share their experiences, explore coping strategies, and build a support community with others going through similar journeys.
- Day: Mondays
- Time:9-10 a.m.
- dzپDz:Virtual (Zoom)
- Facilitators:JaniraGonzalez-Cunningham, PsyDandMelissa Linden, MSW
Creating Safety to Move Past Trauma
This group is intended to help individuals who have had a traumatic experience deal with the past, feel safe in the present, and move towards the future. By offering a space to feel supported and the opportunity to learn healthy skills for safely managing the present, this group aims to allow individuals to develop a sense of strength, securityand empowerment that may be hard to find after experiencing trauma.
- Day: Mondays
- Time: 10-11:15 a.m.
- Location: Virtual (Zoom)
- Facilitators:Liz Schmidt, MA, LPC and Olivia Shay, MSW, SWC
*This group is currently full. Please reach out to the facilitating providers for waitlist information.
Transgender and Gender Creative Group
This group welcomes CU students of all ages and backgrounds who identify as cross-gendered, transgender, gender variant and gender queer to a supportive space. This group will focus on encouraging individuals towards personal development, creating and utilizing workable coping skills and providing acceptance of each person’s unique journey.
- Day: Mondays
- Time:2:15-3:30 p.m.
- dzپDz:CAPS Office (C4C, N352)
- Facilitators:Sarah Haueisen, MA and Mick Zuniga, MA
Skill-Based Therapy Groups
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Group
DBT combines cognitive, behavioraland Eastern mindfulness strategies to teach skills for managing crisis situations, highly reactive emotions, as well as developing self-acceptance, assertiveness and communication skills.
- Day: Tuesdays
- Time:1-2:30 p.m.
- Location: CAPS Office (C4C, N352)
- Facilitators:Rachel Goold, MSSW and Caitlyn Wilson
ACT Skills Group
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is focused on helping you stay in the present moment and accept your thought and feelings without judgment. This includes efforts to avoid, control or get rid of unwanted thoughts, feelings and/or sensations, which can cause unnecessary suffering. This group will teach skills to help you engage in mindfulness, get unstuck, remain flexible and take steps to accept unwanted thoughts, feelings and/or sensations.
- Day: Tuesdays
- Time: 1:30-3 p.m.
- Location: CAPS Office (C4C, N352)
- Facilitator: Colleen Ehnstrom, PhD
Process therapy groups allow students to explore a variety of topics, speak on their personal experiences and receive group support. These groups typically emphasize relationships, interpersonal skills, feedback and strategies to feel more connected with others. Groups also offer a unique opportunity to receive different perspectives, support, encouragement and feedback in a safe and confidential environment.
Students who join interpersonal therapy groups typically want to be able to improve their relationships and self-confidence. Students may also choose to join a therapy group if they are:
- Feeling angry, frustrated or dissatisfied with their relationships
- Having difficulty trusting others
- Struggling to create close or meaningful relationships
- Relying on drugs or alcohol to socialize
- Struggling to communicate their thoughts, feelings or needs with others
- Experiencing anxiety in social situations
- Having difficulty with opening up or being vulnerable with others
- Frequently experiencing loneliness
- Struggling with self-esteem
Interpersonal therapy groups are relatively unstructured. These groups do not follow formal agendas or rely on prompts for discussion. Instead, sessions focus on what members bring up and what happens within the group. Members are encouraged to pay attention to their own thoughts, feelings and reactions in the present moment and report out to the group.
Groups allow space for students to:
- Learn to identify and communicate their thoughts and feelings
- Give and receive feedback
- Experience new ways of relating to others
- Practice skills like initiating activities, saying “no”, taking social risks, etc.
- Accept praise or recognition
- Find out that you are not alone in what you may be experiencing
- Be open and show up as their true selves
- Ask for help and let others be helpful
- Develop compassion for yourself and others
- Disclose information that feels uncomfortable or difficult to say in other settings
- Allow themselves to be close and develop trust with others