Group Counseling

This is a weekly drop-in support group for all FGCU students with medical conditions and disabilities. Medical conditions can impact academics, interfere with relationships, or cause isolation. This group provides a space to process these difficulties and gain support from other students who truly understand and share the same experiences. The group is also facilitated by a mental health provider and a health care provider, who are available to offer additional resources and support. 

 

Spring 2022: Wednesdays, 3-4pm 

Contact Jessica Matthews, MS, LMHC if interested or have questions

Men experience tremendous pressures to look, behave, and think in certain ways that limit the ability to find pride and satisfaction in their unique portrayal of masculinity. In this counseling group, we will try to help members explore the messages of masculinity they grew up with and encourage members to develop a sense of masculinity that fits with their sense of self. This group will be process-oriented and allow members to openly discuss a wide array of concerns including definitions of masculinity, physical and mental health concerns, gender roles, dealing with emotions, and managing the many stressors in life.  This group provides an opportunity to discuss, explore, and receive support for the challenges associated with being a man at FGCU and in the world today.  The group’s aim is to help each other face problematic gender roles and live healthier, more authentic, and fulfilling lives.

 

Spring 2022: Thursdays, 12-1:30pm

Contact Jody Magras, MA, LMHC if interested or have questions

This group promotes self-directed change and self-empowerment and offers support in your efforts to address misuse or abuse of alcohol or other drugs and/or other addictive behaviors. Learn self-reliance as you work to improve the satisfaction and quality of your life. SMART Recovery is an alternative to 12-step recovery programs and draws upon the ever-evolving scientific knowledge about addition and recovery. Group members can learn ways of building and maintaining motivation, coping with urges, managing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, living a balanced life.

 

Spring 2022: Tuesdays, 2-3:30pm 

Contact Rebecca Sherry, MA, LMHC, MCAP, if interested or have questions

This group encourages creativity and self-expression using mixed media, such as paint, clay, collages, and other materials.  The physical act of using art promotes healing and emotional well-being, which often assists in managing stress, anxiety, and mood. Members will engage in different creative activities aimed at helping the individual better understand themselves, their life journey, their values, etc.  Group sessions utilize a variety of mediums that will center on a “theme” of the day. Each week’s theme will be different with the overall idea of positive growth, healing, and wellness in mind.  You do not need to consider yourself an “artist” to join.

 

Spring 2022: Mondays, 10-11:30am

Contact Jody Magras, MA, LMHC, if interested or have questions

The Skills Training Class is adapted from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to assist individuals who struggle with issues such as: difficulty controlling and regulating emotions, unstable and intense relationships, difficulty tolerating emotional distress, and identity confusion.  The four modules covered in DBT group are:

1. Mindfulness Skills: These skills emphasize learning to quiet your mind, controlling what you pay attention to and for how long. 
2. Emotion Regulation Skills: These skills focus on learning ways of decreasing negative emotions and increasing both short and long term positive life experiences.
3. Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills: These skills are meant to help you learn to interact and communicate with people in a healthy and productive way. 
4. Distress Tolerance Skills: These skills are meant to assist you in getting through painful life experiences skillfully, that is, without making things worse by resorting to self-defeating behaviors.

As a requirement of group, members must also be in individual therapy.

 

Spring 2022: Thursdays, 2:30-4pm 

Contact Wendy Powell, MA, LMHC or Melanie Fisher, MA, MPH if interested or have questions

Struggling with feelings of depression, anxiety, or stress? The Emotional Wellness group is designed to assist participants in enhancing skills to better manage mood, emotions, and behavior. Learn effective strategies from trained professionals while sharing and relating with other students. Potential benefits of participating in the group include: learning to better manage unwanted emotions, learning how to cope with unexpected events, discussing strategies to reduce impulsive behaviors, improving your communication, as well as supporting and connecting with others who are also wanting to improve their mood and behaviors through practice, reflection and feedback.

 

Spring 2022: Wednesdays, 3-4:30pm

Contact Rebecca Wiemerslage, PsyD if interested or have questions

This group will allow memebers to acknowledge their losses and provide a supportive, safe, and non-judgmental space to share their experiences. Additionally, this group will provide hope through connections with others who "get it", and understand first-hand by having experienced a loss of their own.

 

Spring 2022: Thursdays, 4:30-6pm

Contact Julie Rego, EdD, LMHC if interested or have questions

Spring 2022: Thursdays, 10-11:30am

Contact Sammi Schams, MA or Tania Alaby-Varma, MA if interested or have questions

This group is designed for students who are interested in mindfulness practice.  Whether you have never heard of mindfulness before, are just getting started, or have lots of experience with mindfulness and/or meditation, you might benefit from this group.  The purpose is to educate about mindfulness and provide a space for ongoing practice.  Mindfulness has many benefits including anxiety management, improved ability to relax, improved ability to control one's focus, and improvement in overall sense of wellbeing. Group lasts 4 weeks and new sections begin throughout the semester. 

 

Spring 2022: Fridays, 1-2:30pm 

Contact  Adam McCabe, PhD if interested or have questions

This group is for students struggling with eating or body image concerns, or who may be in the recovery stages of their eating disorder. Eating healthy and maintaining positive views of our internal and external selves are crucial aspects of both physical and mental health. This group is a space for anyone who struggles with eating or body image to learn ways of improving our relationship to our own bodies and discuss these aspects of our lives in a supportive and educative environment. Potential benefits of participating in the group include: connecting with and supporting other students who struggle with similar issues, learning how to develop a healthy image of yourself-both inside and out, gaining insight into the function of unhealthy eating patterns and developing new patterns of relating to food and other people.   This group will be a mixture of interpersonal process and education around healthy and unhealthy patterns.

 

Spring 2022: Tuesdays, 2-3:30pm 

Contact Laura Wright, PhD or Cassie Sirmans, MA if interested or have questions

This support group will explore the journey of being a sexual and/or gender minority in college.  We will discuss issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity, specifically; coming out, transitioning, connecting with family and friends, and creating relationships.  This confidential group is interactive and welcomes people who are in all stages of identity development. Potential benefits of participating in this group include: having a safe space to discuss LGBTQIA-related concerns, connecting with others who are supportive of you and your experiences, learning about and/or sharing resources available locally in the LGBTQIA community, hear about others’ experiences with coming out and gather ideas for your own journey.

 

Spring 2022: Thursdays, 1:15-2:30pm

Contact Dennis Christoffersen, PsyD if interested or have questions

Relationships in general can be at times both satisfying/enjoyable and confusing/challenging. The Relationship Group provides you an opportunity to meet with other students who are interested in talking about relationships and developing a better understanding of themselves and others. Learn steps you can take to enjoy healthier relationships in your life and communicate in more effective ways. Benefits of participation in the group include, but are not limited to: developing a better understanding of yourself and/or others, learning and practicing healthy communication strategies, learning how to ask for what you need in relationships in an assertive manner, learning how to listen to and understand significant others more thoroughly, connecting with others who have similar experiences to your own.

 

Spring 2022: Wednesdays, 4-5:15pm

Contact Bianca Fontanez, MA or Amanda Zoghbi, MA if interested or have questions

This group is a safe space for black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) students to discuss some of the unique challenges they face in an environment that is affirming and empowering.  Members may explore topics such as academics, family, relationships, personal or cultural identity, and concerns related to being a person of color at a predominantly white institution. The group is led by staff of color.

 

Spring 2022: Thursdays, 12:30-1:30pm

Contact Melanie Fisher, MA, MPH if interested or have questions

For students experiencing anxiety, depression, and/or relationship issues. Practice strategies to better manage challenges such as racing thoughts, low motivation, nervousness, irritability, conflict, loneliness, and other common issues associated with anxiety, depression, and relationship concerns. Group lasts 4 weeks, new sections open throughout the semester.

 

Spring 2022: Mondays ,1-2pm OR Tuesdays, 11am-12pm OR Wednesdays, 3-4pm OR Thursdays, 1-2pm OR Fridays, 11am-12pm

Contact Katherine Cascio, PhD if interested or have questions

For students who have been impacted by unwanted sexual experiences at any time in their lives, this group is about understanding how sexual violence impacts us, ways of creating a sense of safety, making meaningful connections with fellow survivors, and addressing feelings that follow unwanted sexual experiences.  Members will not discuss specific details of unwanted sexual experiences in the group. Group is led by a survivor. 

 

Spring 2022: Mondays, 1-2:30pm 

Contact Katherine Cascio, PhD if interested or have questions

For students in the Transgender and Non-Binary communities to explore their gender identities, coming out, relationships, health, transitioning and other medical services, sexual functioning, and other topics the group identifies. Group is an affirming environment for members to explore their identities and receive support from other members of the community.

 

Spring 2022: Wednesdays, 3-4:30pm

Contact Katherine Cascio, PhD if interested or have questions

You survived the traumatic event(s) of your past.  Are you ready to move from merely surviving to thriving? TREE group members will process trauma memories at their own pace in a supportive environment.  Mixed media will be utilized for create self-expression to assist with developing and achieving personal, behavioral, and emotional goals related to trauma experiences.  This group promotes healing, empowerment, and change. No previous art or creative expression experience necessary. 

 

Spring 2022: Tuesdays, 3:30-5pm

Contact Julie Rego, EdD, LMHC if interested or have questions

Understanding Self and Others is a process group that gives members the opportunity to connect with others and talk about whatever concerns are most salient.  The group also gives members and opportunity to share perspectives and offer support to each other throughout the semester or year. 

 

Spring 2022: Wednesdays, 11am-12:15pm OR Thursdays, 12-1:15pm

Contact Alex McAllister, MA, LMHC if interested or have questions

This group is a safe space for female -identified students looking to improving interpersonal relationships through sharing, taking risks and making mistakes, and learning to make repairs and improve interpersonal connections through genuine in-the-moment feedback. This group utilizes an unstructured and interactive environment that will challenge you to practice new ways of connecting, relating, and expressing your genuine self in a direct and meaningful way. This group may help to build communication and assertiveness skills, increase self-esteem, improve the quality of relationships, and help make room for more balance and authenticity in your life. This group is co-facilitated by female counselors.

 

Spring 2022: Thursdays, 3-4:30pm 

Contact Rebecca Wiemerslage, PsyD if interested or have questions