Groups & WorkshopsCounseling Center

Fill out this form if you would like to register for one of our groups or workshops or if you would like further information about these offerings.

Support Groups

Divergent Discourse

A supportive and educational space for Gusties who identify as neurodivergent and/or have executive functioning challenges. This group meets on Fridays from 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm in the Counseling Hub, JSU Room 105 (next to Center for Inclusive Excellence). If you have interest in this group or have any questions, contact jmauel@gustavus.edu.

Grieving Gusties

A support group for students who have experienced the death of a loved one. This group meets on Thursdays at 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm in the Counseling Hub, JSU Room 105 (next to Center for Inclusive Excellence). If you have interest in this group or have any questions, contact melaniebexell@gustavus.edu

Queer & Questioning

A safe and confidential space to examine diverse gender and sexual identities for students who identify as LGBTQ+ or are questioning their identities. This group meets on Fridays at 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm in the Counseling Hub (JSU 105, next to the Center for Inclusive Excellence). For any other questions, contact ageringe@gustavus.edu or jortmeier@gustavus.edu.

Workshops

Surviving Stress

You have probably become very familiar with stress as a college student—maybe too familiar. But do you know what to do about it? Stress impacts us psychologically and physiologically, which means we don't just feel it mentally—we feel it in our chests, in our muscles, even in our guts. Through this workshop, you will learn about your stress response cycle, what gets us stuck in "chronic stress," and ways we can take control of completing the cycle to experience some relief. In one 50-minute session, you will be able to create a plan to help you reduce stress and feel better.

Self-Compassion & Embodiment Workshop

Are you hard on yourself? Do you feel like you’re not good enough? Maybe you feel disconnected from yourself. Many people feel this way at one point or another. Learning how to hold space for yourself with compassion and an open mind can help you feel more confident and at peace. In this 50-minute workshop, you will learn somatic practices to incorporate self-compassion into your daily life, leading to a more understanding, connected relationship with yourself.

Sleep Hygiene

Do you find yourself falling asleep in class or canceling plans because you're so tired? Are you frustrated that you're just not waking up feeling rested? You're not alone! Sleep is so important for our most basic functioning, and can often become one of our biggest stressors. In this 50-minute session, you will learn the fundamentals of the sleep-wake cycle, the importance of quality sleep, and tools you can start using right away to improve your sleep hygiene.

Visualize Away Procrastination

This single session, 30-minute workshop teaches a visualization skill that can help with managing issues of procrastination and motivation. Whether you are struggling to get started on writing a paper, putting off getting started on an assignment you have been dreading, struggling with staying on task while studying, or finding it difficult to start or complete any non-academic tasks, this workshop could benefit you.

Anxiety Toolbox

This 2-session workshop is specifically designed to help students who struggle with a variety of anxiety-related concerns (e.g., panic attacks, generalized anxiety, test anxiety). The goal is to provide psychoeducation on anxiety and to teach effective coping strategies for managing anxiety symptoms.

Getting Unstuck

This 2-session workshop is specifically designed to help students who struggle with a variety of depression-related concerns. The goal is to provide psychoeducation on depression and to teach effective coping strategies for managing symptoms.

Creating Mindful Moments

Mindfulness is the practice of intentionally observing, describing, and participating fully in reality non-judgmentally, in the moment, while being skillful. When you practice mindfulness, you are able to experience more awareness of the present moment, which can lead to increased focus, fulfillment, and flexibility to change. This workshop is made up of 2, 50-minute sessions. 

BRIDGE

This 3-session workshop is focused on Building Relationship Intimacy and DialoGue Effectiveness. Through this workshop, you will increase your understanding about what makes for a healthy relationship (including identifying values and setting boundaries), how to communicate effectively, how to resolve conflict, and how to manage difficult emotions. Each session is 50 minutes long.

The ACT of Adjusting

In our lifetime, we all experience changes or transitions that require us to adjust to a "new normal". Some examples include starting college, studying abroad, graduating and entering the 'real world', transitioning into life participating in a competitive team sport for a number of years, experiencing the loss of a relationship, and working through grieving the loss of a loved one. Using principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, this workshop provides practical tips to help participants navigate life adjustments and challenges. This is a 50 minute, single-session workshop.