Group Counseling
CAPS groups are available to all eligible Penn students pending staff availability and sufficient enrollment. CAPS offers a number of different types of groups, including structured and unstructured, support and therapy groups. Some groups are organized around a specific theme, such as eating disorders, while others involve a specific population, such as undergraduate women.
Students may be referred to group at intake if the intake counselor believes that the student's needs would be best met in a group setting. This may be based upon matching the student's concerns with a group that focuses specifically on those concerns. Also, groups are perfect for students who are dissatisfied with their friend or romantic relationships. To ensure the best decision, most group leaders prefer to conduct a group intake in which one or both leaders meet with the student to learn about what the student is seeking, to give the student specific information about the group, and to help the student decide if the group seems like a good fit.
For more information about CAPS groups in general, please contact the Group Coordinator.
How Groups Work
In group counseling, 5-9 students meet with one or two trained group counselors on a weekly or biweekly basis. In group, students tend to talk about whatever brought them to CAPS in the first place. Group members share with and provide support, advice, and feedback to each other. They benefit from realizing that other students also struggle and have found ways of working through similar issues. They have an opportunity to learn more about themselves and others. Group is a safe place for members to try new behaviors and to develop more satisfying ways of relating to others, which they can take into their lives outside of group.
In group, members are encouraged to take their own pace in opening up, and trust and safety are emphasized. Initially, members may be quiet and hesitant as they try to figure out what feels okay to talk about. As members become more comfortable with the group, they open up more and show more of themselves. This provides the opportunity for students to receive direct feedback about how they come across to others. Feedback comes in the form of reinforcement, encouragement, and respectful challenging. The goals are to help members feel supported in working on their personal issues and establish patterns of interaction that will allow them to develop the quality of relationships that they desire.
Why Group?
-Gain Support
-Share experiences and struggles
-Receive advice and feedback
-Learn about yourself
-Try new behaviors
-Develop more satisfying ways of relating to others
What are the Ground Rules?
Group sessions are CONFIDENTIAL. Group members, like the leaders, are bound ethically not to disclose information about the group.
Regular and timely attendance is necessary for relationships to develop and for you to have sufficient continuity to get as much as you can out of group. If you truly must miss group, please let the leader(s) know as soon as possible.
Most groups have an initial commitment of several sessions. It usually takes a few sessions to open up and get enough of a sense of the group to decide if it is a good fit for your needs.
If after the initial commitment the group does not feel like a good fit or at some point you feel as though you have gotten all you need from the group, it is important that you inform the group and give the other members the opportunity to say goodbye.
You are encouraged to take your own pace in group. However, you get
more out of group if you work on the concerns that brought you to CAPS through
active participation. It is expected that it will take time to work up to
taking risks and stretching yourself in ways that will help you make the most
of your group experience.
2009 Group Offerings
Group offerings vary from year to year and sometimes from semester to semester. Groups are available to all Penn students pending staff availability and sufficient enrollment. Only a few of our groups run during the summer. To the left is a list of the groups typically offered at CAPS. Click on the group names for more specific information about the groups and to contact the group leaders. If you have general questions about our groups that are not addressed elsewhere in this section or if you are interested in a group that is not listed, feel free to contact the Group Coordinator.
The following groups are planned for Fall 2009:
Bereavement Group: Is the recent loss in your life impacting your ability to connect with your friends, your family, and your schoolwork? This group is for students who have experienced the death of someone close to them. The group is designed to help students through the grief process by providing a supportive and therapeutic environment to talk about issues of loss and grief. Thursdays 3-4:30 pm, starting Thursday, September 24th.
For more information, contact Theo Burnes, PhD.
Dissertation Support Group: Participation in this group provides enhanced support, structure and motivation to Ph.D. students. Topics discussed include the thesis research and writing process, setting mini goals, dealing with departmental politics, the job search and maintaining a sense of life balance. Tuesdays 4-5 pm, either weekly or biweekly.
For more information, contact Margaret Fichter, PhD.
Eating Concerns Group: This group is for women diagnosed with anorexia or bulimia and for those in active recovery. The group provides the opportunity for members to support each other in exploring such issues as self-esteem and self-image, personal and family relationships, and developing alternative ways of coping with problems. The group meets once per week for typically 1hr and 15 minutes. Both undergraduate and graduate students are welcome. Concurrent individual therapy is recommended. For more information, contact Gabe Mauren, PhD.
Family Issues Group: Penn students are often grappling with family problems, including divorce, culture clash, depression, excessive anger, drug/alcohol abuse or other psychological dysfunction in a family member. The family issues group provides a confidential, supportive setting for students to share their experiences and develop helpful coping strategies. Wednesdays 4-5 pm.
For more information, contact Margaret Fichter, PhD.
Gay Men's Group: For men who identify as gay. The Gay Men’s Group provides a forum where group members can share their personal experiences, concerns, and challenges of being gay within the Penn Community in a supportive, confidential, and safe environment. Members are encouraged to explore topics such as: relationships, coming out, peer and family relationships, men’s health concerns, diversity, cultural beliefs, and past experiences as they relate to their gay identity. The Gay Men’s Group meets weekly.
For more information, contact David Glassman, PsyD.
Graduate Co-Ed Group: This group is designed for graduate students at Penn of all genders. It is a process-oriented group that focuses on encourages self-exploration within a cohort who wants to support each other and address issues that disproportionately affect graduate students, such as: relationship difficulties (with advisors, friends, partners, and family); academic and/or career-related stress; and personal/professional role conflict. Members benefit from the respect and validation that comes from open sharing with and empathy from others. Topics of discussion include individuals' many identities on and off campus but could also consist of issues such as family of origin issues, self-esteem, loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Thursdays 5-6:30 pm.
For more information, contact Theo Burnes, PhD.
Graduate Women's Group: This group is for women who are in a graduate or professional program. The focus is on developing self-awareness, self-esteem, and connection in the context of being a woman in academia. Topics of exploration include preserving self-esteem while coping with the graduate school experience, balancing multiple roles, dealing with sadness and anxiety, and maintaining healthy relationships.
For more information, contact Deborah DiLazzero, PsyD.
Group Meditation: Make exam time less stressful and join us for group meditation: more efficient use of study time, improve concentration, decrease anxiety, improve "your edge", decrease procrastination. This is a drop-in group, come as often or as little as you like. No need to sign up. Newcomers always welcomed. Wednesdays 5:15pm - 6pm (newcomers come at 5pm).
For more information, contact Ella Ray, PhD.
LBTQ Women's Group: This group is for women who identify as lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer. Members and group leaders get together on weekly basis in a confidential and affirming group, where members talk about and offer each other support on any issue that may be affecting their lives: intimate relationship, family, academics, past history, personal identity, etc. The group is not specifically focused on issues of sexuality, although such issues are discussed when relevant to group members. Tuesday afternoons.
For more information, contact Betsy Conston, MSS, LCSW.
Relationship Support Group: This group is a co-educational, support group for students that want to learn to navigate difficult relationships or start a new relationship, and learn about themselves in the process? Thursdays 2:30-3:30 pm.
For more information, contact Geoffrey Margo, MD or Anna Nicholaides, PsyD.
Undergraduate Women's Group: This group offers a safe, confidential and supportive space for exploring a range of concerns experienced by female undergraduates. Patricipants will share perspectives on such issues as managing academic demands, handling relationships with friends and romantic partners, coping with social and family pressures, and building self confidence. Thursdays, 5-6:15 pm, September 24 - November 19th.
For more information, contact Leslie Hempling, MSS, LSW.
Other Potential Group Offerings:
- ACOA Group
- Acquaintance Rape Survivors Group
- Career Exploration Group
- Chronic Pain Group
- International Student Support Group
Contact Us
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
133 South 36th Street, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Hours: 9am - 5pm, Monday - Friday
Emergencies: 215-349-5490 (ask for CAPS Clinician On Call)
Tel: 215-898-7021
Fax: 215-573-8966
Email: caps@pobox.upenn.edu
