Groups for IUP Students

Spring 2023

All groups will be held in the Counseling Center, Suites on Maple East G31. All groups will be held in person!

Participation in these groups requires an initial 30-minute triage appointment. This is a short information session to see if the group is right for you. To schedule this appointment or to ask questions, contact the Counseling Center by phone at 724-357-2621 or email counseling-center@iup.edu.

Group can be a great source of feedback, support, good humor, and creative ideas on how to cope with personal challenges.

Research has shown that group counseling is as effective as individual counseling. Talking with other students who have similar experiences provides support and perspective. Contact the Counseling Center by phone at 724-357-2621 or email counseling-center@iup.edu.

BIPOC – Belonging: A Process Group for BIPOC Students

Tuesdays 4:00–5:30 p.m.

This will be a confidential space to connect with one another around the challenges and blessings that come with our racial identities, as well as the experience of attending a predominantly white institution and existing in a rural community. 

With the support of IUP counselors (who are also BIPOC and/or international), the group provides an opportunity to find validation, new perspectives, motivation, and acceptance among BIPOC and international peers. 

We’ll also take some time to focus on general wellness and staying emotionally healthy during college and beyond. We welcome anyone who identifies as BIPOC or international with their whole intersectional selves.

Family Issues

Tuesdays 4:00–5:30 p.m.

This group is primarily a support group for students who have some concerns related to their family—defined broadly. Examples of family issues may include parental abuse/neglect, substance abuse by parents, or over-involvement that causes significant distress. The family issues can be current or in the past but must present some barrier to current functioning.

Additionally, members of the group will be expected to be willing to share some of their concerns in the group. As long as students have family concerns and are not likely to experience significant crises that would interfere with group participation, they would be appropriate for group membership.

Femme Fusion 

Wednesdays 5:00–6:00 p.m.

People identifying as female or femme face unique challenges in today’s world. Why not get connected to others and start talking about these challenges? Femme Fusion is a therapy group designed to provide a safe, open space for women, or anyone identifying as "femme," to discuss and process issues such as healthy communication skills, boundary setting with self and others, and healthy relationship modeling, as well as empowering individuals to take on the world’s tests.

Join us in creating an environment where everyone can feel secure in knowing that they are heard, seen, and supported by other strong individuals in the IUP community. 

Life Skills for Stressful Times

Wednesdays 4:00–5:30 p.m. 

The Counseling Center has created a group to help students build concrete skills to manage emotions, relationships, and self-care.

Join us to learn more about yourself while building skills that are essential to improve your quality of life—mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotion regulation.

The Men’s Connection Project 

Thursdays 4:00–5:00 p.m.

Feel sad, isolated, angry, or stressed? Want to improve relationships and how you talk about your emotions?

The Men’s Connection Project is a supportive space for those who identify as men or masculine to connect and share personal experiences. Society often sends messages that it is inappropriate or “weak” for those who identify as men to discuss mental health struggles such as depression, anxiety, isolation, feelings of emptiness, etc.

The Men’s Connection Project provides a nonjudgmental space for members to practice being open/vulnerable, get support from other men in similar situations, learn how to better manage personal challenges, and improve their relationships.

Meetings will be used for creating connections, discussing general/personal men’s issues topics, and offering support as we share about ourselves.

Understanding Self and Others

Thursday 4:00–5:30 p.m.

This is a therapy group where students meet with others and share who they are, learning about themselves and each other while gaining skills and insight to use outside of the therapy room. This is a meaningful way to receive multiple perspectives, support, encouragement, and feedback, and to learn how to relate to others in a safe and confidential space.