The Wellness Center is offering multiple therapy groups meant to give students a chance to connect with others and process their emotions in a safe space.  
 
Therapy groups at the Wellness Center are offered based on student need and availability and facilitated by licensed clinicians. Group offerings include Chronic Illness Support Group, Grief and Loss Group, Disordered Eating Group and DBT Skills Group, among other topics. The length and format of each therapy group varies based on the topic, ranging from an hour to an hour and a half in length. 

“Typically, groups are a mixture of what students are expressing that they need as well as different expertise of the clinicians,” clinician Heather LaRoy said. LaRoy runs a Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills group each semester that helps students learn to find balance in their lives.  

Group therapy sessions are typically held in the newly designed group therapy room at the Wellness Center. The room features art created by students in therapy groups and Wellness Center events. With soft lighting and blue-toned walls, the room was made to create a comfortable atmosphere.  

One of the art pieces in the room was made by LaRoy’s disordered eating group. The art piece is made of different articles of clothing the students struggled with, and a measurement tape one student used to use. “The ribbon with the marking of the different inches was really impactful for one individual, and that was … very connected to the eating disorder,” LaRoy said.  

The expressive arts group uses tools of creativity as a method for students to process their struggles. In each session, students work with creative supplies to help them create a positive view of themselves.  

Debby Patz, a licensed clinician, runs a group that helps students manage their relationship with substances. “I used to start with a short meditation just to get everybody grounded … [and] to prompt a discussion to help people begin to examine their use,” said Patz. 
 
LaRoy encourages students to attend groups even if they are anxious about meeting new people. Groups can help students form new connections on campus. “I will say for those that do attend and do start, it has been incredibly beneficial just for what they’re learning in the connection,” LaRoy said, “They can kind of step out to decrease that loneliness.” 
 
To gauge interest in therapy group offerings, the Wellness Center has put flyers around campus with a QR code that leads students to an interest form. The form asks students which therapy groups they might be interested in attending.  
 
The final text box on the form asks students if there are any other groups they might be interested in attending if the Wellness Center offered them. After filling out the form, “the facilitator of the group that you expressed interest in will reach out to you to get that started,” said Allison Hine, the Wellness Promotion Coordinator. Each group has a maximum of ten members and costs five dollars or 10 dollars depending on the session .