Student Services

Group Counseling

The Center offers a variety of experiences where you participate with a small group of individuals sharing similar concerns. Groups offer the opportunity to learn and change through interaction and provide a support system for members. Long-term counseling is available in therapy groups.

Group Therapy Defined

Group therapy provides you with the opportunity to address your current concerns, to identify with others experiencing similar concerns, and to increase your self-awareness by identifying life themes interfering with your growth. In group therapy, you have the opportunity to get feedback from other group members and the leaders. By finding out how others perceive you, you increase your self-awareness and can focus energy into aspects of your life you wish to change.

Group therapy also gives you the opportunity to try out new behaviors, to express feelings you are hesitant to express, to assert yourself in new ways, and to experiment with new ideas. Over time, as you experience trust and security in the group, you will feel freer to take risks.

Group therapy allows you to learn from other group members. You will not only benefit from recognizing your emotional and thought responses but also by identifying with feelings of others. Through identifying with others, you increase your own self-awareness.

It is common to feel uneasy or even anxious when thinking about joining a group. This is a normal response; for many people it is difficult to share personal thoughts and concerns with others, particularly when you begin as "strangers". Once the group progresses, however, you will likely develop feelings of interest and trust. However, you are the one who decides when and how much to share with the group. Over time, you will likely feel more comfortable disclosing with the group. Group members help one another to express stifled emotions, to understand puzzling behaviors, and to experiment with new behaviors. Learning about yourself in these ways usually has a positive effect on your relationships and can improve your quality of life.

For more information on how to get started in a group, contact the Counseling Center at 882-6601. All groups are co-sponsored by the MU Women’s Center and are held at either the Counseling Center or the Women’s Center.