The Counseling Center will offer two new group therapy options beginning fall semester. Descriptions of each are listed below. Interested students who are not currently seeing a Counseling Center therapist should call 217-333-3704 and schedule an initial appointment to determine if a group is appropriate for their needs. Students who are presently seeing a Counseling Center clinician should speak with them at their next appointment to determine if group therapy is a good fit for them at present. In addition to the two new groups for fall, the Counseling Center offers a range of other group therapy options.

Mindfulness Meditation Group (meets Thursdays from 1 to 2:30 p.m.)

The Mindfulness Medication Group is a time limited (8-10 weeks), structured group that is intended to help students learn mindfulness. The group is open for both undergraduate and graduate students.  Mindfulness meditation is about paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment and without judgment.  It is about learning to be in the present moment without getting caught up in thoughts or feelings about the past or worried about concerns of the future. The practice of mindfulness mediation is a powerful tool in promoting happiness and easing difficulties with stress, anxiety, depression and angst.

The group is intended to educate students on how to understand and manage the psychological stressors of one's life through a mindfulness lens.  Formal meditation practices that will be introduced include: Deep breathing, sitting meditation, the body scan, guided imagery and mindful walking and eating. Group members will be expected to engage in mindfulness exercise outside of meetings (such as: listening to guided meditations, performing brief exercises, etc.) between meetings. No previous mindfulness experience is necessary.

Queer Women’s Group (meets Tuesdays for 1 to 2:30 p.m.)

The Queer Women’s Group is open to undergraduate and graduate students who self-identify as a queer woman (lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, queer, questioning, etc). Like other process-oriented therapy groups, we will attend to interpersonal relationships, which may include intimacy, boundaries, and self-awareness, but members may come to group with a variety of concerns, such as depression, adjustment, anxiety, relationship issues, and other personal concerns. We hope to create a safe space for queer women to discuss issues relevant to them and the LBTQ community (such as coming out, identity, relationships with family and friends, dating, and oppression). The specific focus of the group will be shaped by the group’s unique needs.