Group Counseling & Support Spaces

Led by our licensed clinicians, our groups and support spaces help you improve your relationships, learn about yourself and others, enhance your communication skills, and reduce isolation within a supportive, normalizing environment of peers.

Group Counseling

At CAPS, we offer group therapy as a valuable opportunity for self-discovery and addressing concerns in a supportive and collaborative environment. Our group sessions typically consist of 4-10 students who meet weekly throughout the semester, all under the expert guidance of our CAPS clinicians. Joining a group allows you to gain valuable insights into yourself and others, fostering personal growth and understanding in a nurturing setting. To take advantage of this transformative experience by participating in our group therapy sessions, you can complete our  Group Interest Form or by emailing our Group Coordinator Kortnie Parks, LPC at [email protected] for additional information. 

The Journey: A Grief and Loss Group

A weekly, in-person, grief and loss group for GW students who have experienced the death of a family member (i.e. parent, guardian, grandparent, spouse/partner, siblings, and/or extended family members). Grief is a natural response to loss. There is no right way to grieve and no set timeline. This group provides a safe environment where students can explore their story and express difficult feelings freely in a supportive environment. The group provides a place for establishing a connection with others with similar experiences to decrease the feelings of isolation that come with loss. It’s also a forum for understanding common myths about what grief is and how to grieve in a way that heals. If you have experienced the death of a loved one, this group may be the support you are looking for. Facilitated by Jeremy Smith, LGSW weekly on Wednesdays at 4pm. 

Initial Meeting: Wednesday, September 18 at 4 pm
Location: SHC Group Room, G104

Healthy Relationships Group 

Healthy Relationships Group is a semi-structured processing space that helps students gain insight and tools to improve any kind of relationship. Group topics will include self-awareness, self-esteem, communication, boundary setting, and making connections. Facilitated by Dr. Laura Finkelstein and Linnicia Lobo weekly on Mondays at 4 pm.

Initial Meeting: Tuesday, September 17 at 4 pm
Location: SHC Conference Room 2, G30

Sexual Assault Survivors Group

This group is a support and healing space for femme/female-identifying people who have experienced sexual assault(s). This group is going to be a collaborative space where students can learn more about trauma, cope and process all the complicated feelings that come following a sexual assault, and learn to move forward by integrating the traumatic event into a healthier version of self. This group will use the foundations of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT) and the openness and presence of those who have been through a similar experience to provide healing and meaningful support. This group is meant to be a safe space where students feel understood and less isolated by their traumatic assault. Facilitated by Leanne Juzaitis, LMFT and Sarafina Milgrom, LICSW  weekly on Thursdays at 3pm. 

Initial Meeting: Thursday, September 19 at 3 pm
Location: TBD

UniQue Voices: Mental Health for the GW LGBTQIA+ Community

UniQue Voices is a supportive therapy group dedicated to LGBTQIA+ university students. Our mission is to provide a safe and inclusive space where students can share their experiences, explore their identities, and receive professional mental health support. Through guided discussions, peer support, and therapeutic activities, we aim to empower each individual to thrive in their academic and personal lives. Join us to connect, heal, and celebrate the diverse voices within our community. Facilitated by Rachel Enloe, LPC weekly on Thursdays at 4pm. 

Initial Meeting: Thursday, September 19 at 4 pm
Location: SHC Group Room, G104
 

Chill Skills: Techniques to Manage Emotions

Chill Skills offers a supportive environment to equip yourself with tools to manage your emotions and develop resilience during life at GW. You’ll leave with new techniques that will help you to identify your emotions and become more self-aware so that you can choose how you want to respond to challenging or distressing situations. Facilitated by Rachel Enloe, LPC and Jessica Glover, LGSW weekly on Wednesdays at 11am. 

Initial Meeting: Wednesday, September 18 at 11 am
Location: SHC Conference Room 2, G27

Music and Me (Understanding Self Through Music)

This group is to utilize music to help students more effectively experience and respond to their feelings. This group is for students who want to explore another alternative to traditional talk therapy but still openly identify and explore their thoughts and feelings. And, ideally, the medium of music will provide an organic and relatable experience to connect with and receive support from others. The group activities primarily will draw from existing popular music. Facilitated by Jay Dismukes, LICSW weekly on Tuesdays at 4 pm. 

Initial Meeting: Tuesday, September 17 at 4 pm
Location: SHC Conference Room 3, G32

International Students Group

The purpose of this semi-structured group is to create a safe and caring environment to explore  
common themes international students encounter. The group will facilitate conversations around thoughts and emotions related to these experiences. The facilitator will offer support on how to process various topics to improve the student's well-being. Students will engage in group discussion with peers experiencing similar thoughts and emotions, and exercises to build community, reflection, coping tools, and familiarity. Facilitated by Dean Bolt, NCC weekly on Wednesdays at 4pm. 

Initial Meeting: Wednesday, September 18 at 4 pm
Location: SHC Conference Room 2, G30

Grad Group

Grad Group is a semi-structured processing space where graduate students can share experiences and get support and feedback from their peers and a clinician. Group topics will include: handling academics, balancing work and self-care, making connections, healthy relationships, maintaining perspective, and finding a supportive community. Dr. Laura Finkelstein weekly on Thursday at 4pm. 

Initial Meeting: Thursday, September 19 at 4 pm
Location: SHC Conference Room 2, G30

Support Spaces

Support Spaces are no-commitment spaces where students can receive assistance, encouragement, and guidance from from peers with the support of mental health professionals. These spaces are designed to be non-judgemental and empathetic, fostering a sense of trust and community

Affinity Support Space

What is an Affinity Support Space?

Affinity Support Spaces are an informal way for students to connect, share, and process their experiences in a safe and understanding environment of others with common interests and/or experiences. Affinity Support Spaces are offered across campus by GW CAPS clinicians in collaboration with campus partners. Previous spaces include: “First In The Family” (First Gen Students), “Kaleidoscope” students identifying as Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), and “The In, Out and In Between” ( LGBTQIA+ students)

How are Affinity Support Spaces formed?

Affinity Support Spaces are formed based on shared characteristics, experiences, or identities. For example, there could be spaces for racial/ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, survivors of trauma, individuals dealing with chronic illness, First Gen, or Veterans. Each space defines how they want to be in a community with one another and reflect on the experiences students’ intersectional identities.

How can I set-up an Affinity Support Space?

Students can request Affinity Spaces through various channels:

1. Requesting them through the CAPS Outreach Request Form.
2. Coming through CAPS 12-4pm hours and speaking with a CAPS clinician.
3. Emailing [email protected] for additional information.

 

We ask students to request this space at least three weeks in advance with time and date flexibility to help ensure the success of the space. We will do our best to accommodate student preferences of clinician identities in the space as well.

 

Community Comfort Zone: Post-Crisis Support Space

CAPS Clinicians are available to provide support and Psychological First Aid* to GW students following  impactful, traumatic, or tragic events that occur on campus or community events that have greatly impacted our students' well-being. This support can include talking with groups on campus (e.g., student organizations, departments, classes) about coping with unjust, violent, or traumatic situations, grief/loss, and/or facilitating conversations about current emotions. Please call us directly at (202) 994-5300 for more immediate assistance if your request is related to a crisis or urgent situation.

Examples of Critical/Urgent Situation:

• Death of a student, faculty, or staff member
• Aftermath of natural disasters or terrorism events
• Impactful world events (ie: Social Injustice and Racial Tensions, Political Unrest)

Additionally, if you or your department/organization are planning an activity or other response to recent tragedies or events, CAPS can provide collaboration, presence, and/or resources to support your activity. 

THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE A REPLACEMENT FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES.  If you are or someone else is in crisis or experiencing a life-threatening emergency please call GWPD at 202-994-6111, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room.

*As defined by the American Psychological Association, Psychological First Aid (PFA) is “an initial disaster response intervention with the goal to promote safety, stabilize survivors of disasters and connect individuals to help and resources. PFA is delivered to affected individuals by mental health professionals and other first responders. The purpose of PFA is to assess the immediate concerns and needs of an individual in the aftermath of a disaster, and not to provide on-site therapy.”

Support Spaces are offered by GW CAPS clinicians, in collaboration with campus partners. Support Spaces are not group therapy, but a space to be utilized for support, resources, and community building with the support of a licensed clinician.