Group Therapy
Introduction
Group Therapy
What is group therapy?
You might imagine group therapy as several people trying to share a therapist at the same time, or that it’s only an good option when individual therapy isn’t available. The truth is, group therapy is an empirically supported treatment for a wide range of mental health concerns, and group therapy has its own unique process that is intended to be different from individual therapy.
Group therapy is widely regarded as the best option for students whose distress involves difficulties in relationships with others, which can underlie anxiety, depression, PTSD, and many other mental health conditions. Rather than talking one on one with a therapist, the shared space of group allows us to really experience the here-and-now relationship dynamics between members, and understanding and processing these dynamics is how healing begins in group therapy.
Groups do not have a session limit, making them a wonderful place to take on long-term goals, and groups can now be combined with individual therapy at the Counseling Center! Our groups are offered in virtual and in-person models, meet once per week, and have 4-8 members and 1-2 trained group therapists. Groups meet throughout the school year and sometimes over the summer, and many groups have rolling admission, meaning you can join at any time of year. And don’t worry, we take measures to limit the likelihood that you will run into somebody you know in our process groups.
Group therapy can be an ideal place to:
- Explore personal concerns and connect with others, who may have similar experiences, in a trusting, confidential environment.
- Understand your interpersonal style, patterns, and reactions and their potential impact on your relationships with others and on your mental health.
- Empower yourself to change relationship patterns that are not working for you and practice these changes in your relationships with group members.
- Practice openness and vulnerability with trusted others in a way that reflects your values, honors your cultural identities, and facilitates healthy relationships and outcomes.
- Experience healing in community and translate this into relationships outside of group.
It is normal to feel nervous about joining a group, but often the reasons you are nervous to get started are the same reasons why group can be helpful for you! If your distress involves concerns in your relationship with a friend, family member, romantic partner, professor, advisor, boss, etc., or if you have concerns about how you function in relationships more generally (loneliness, people-pleasing behavior, feeling like an outsider, difficulty prioritizing or communicating your needs, etc.), then group therapy might be for you! Keep scrolling to learn more about which groups are available and how to take the next step.
Group Therapy Offerings for Spring 2026
Check out each tab below to learn more about our therapy groups! Because we do not typically add more than one student per academic program to a group, we cannot guarantee that every group will be an option for you. But please reach out and we can work together to see what is available!
CAG
Thursdays 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m., virtual!
Facilitated by Belva Miles
Next session starting January 29th, 2026!
This five-week group will help you address anxiety using the evidence-based approach behind Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The aim of ACT is to bring an open and willing attitude toward all internal experiences and actively working on what you truly care about, even when pain is present. The goal of this group is to help you relate differently to your anxious feelings, depressed moods, worrying mind, and self-defeating behaviors. Sessions will include skill-building, mindfulness activities, group discussion, and experiential exercises.
Please note that the Conquering Anxiety group does not screen by major/academic program, so you may run into a classmate. However, self-disclosure is more limited in this space.
General IPG
Wednesdays 3:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m., in person!
Facilitated by Miki Koyama, Nesreen Jaber, and Michal Massoud
Fridays 1:05 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., in person!
Facilitated by Paulina Wojtach and Broquelynn Shephard
An interpersonal process group is a space for students to grow in their understanding of themselves and their relationships with others. Members often find that they have similar experiences, and they benefit from offering their diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
While sharing about their lives, members can identify patterns and use their safe relationships with others in the group to change patterns that are no longer serving them. By creating healthy, authentic relationships with others in the group, members are able to develop healthy, authentic relationships with others in their lives.
Grad Groups
New! Mondays 11:05 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., in person!
Facilitated by Rebecca Cibbarelli
Tuesdays 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., in person!
Facilitated by Jeanette Simon and Pranali Haribhakti
Thursdays 3:05 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., virtual!
Facilitated by Jeanette Simon and Anne-Marie Romain
These groups provide space for graduate students to grow in their understanding of themselves and their relationships with others. Members often find that they have similar experiences, and they benefit from offering their diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
While sharing about their lives, members can identify patterns and use their safe relationships with others in the group to change patterns that are no longer serving them. By creating healthy, authentic relationships with others in the group, members are able to develop healthy, authentic relationships with others in their lives.
D&A Group
Mondays 1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m., virtual!
Facilitated by Azadeh Fatemi and Belva Miles
The Depression and Anxiety group is an interpersonal process group that creates a space for students who have been working through managing symptoms of depression and anxiety. The group welcomes students with diverse experiences and identities and supports members in developing coping skills and healing via connection to other members.
LGBTQ+
Tuesdays 3:30 p.m – 4:45 p.m., virtual!
Facilitated by Sakina Ali, Emiko Hunt, and Delia San Martino
This interpersonal process therapy group is for students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and/or other gender or sexual minority identities to explore issues related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and interpersonal experiences. The group is also open to students who are questioning their gender or sexual orientation.
NEW! Men's Group
Thursdays 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., virtual!
Facilitated by Bill Johnson
This interpersonal process therapy group welcomes students who are men, including cis, trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive men. This group provides space for members to explore issues related to their experiences as men and with masculinity, as well as to understand themselves and their relationships in the context of their intersecting identities.
NDV Group
New time! Wednesdays 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., virtual!
Facilitated by Anna Looker and Paulina Wojtach
This virtual interpersonal process therapy group is for students who identify as neurodivergent to process their experiences of living in a neurotypical world and build connections and a sense of belonging with other neurodivergent students. Members do not need a medical diagnosis to attend the group.
TNBGE Group
Mondays 4:00 p.m – 5:30 p.m., virtual!
Facilitated by Sakina Ali
This interpersonal process therapy group is for students who identify as transgender or gender expansive to explore issues related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and interpersonal experiences. This interpersonal process group offers a space for group members to gain support in integrating their identities with other areas of their lives.
Trauma Skills Group
Fridays 1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m., in person!
Facilitated by Sakina Ali and Lupe Trejo
Next session starting March 13th, 2026!
This eight week group focuses on building foundational coping skills for trauma recovery with a focus on themes such as safety, self-awareness, and connection. Using a variety of techniques, such as psychoeducation, learning new skills, group discussions, grounding exercises, and self-reflection, the group co-facilitators will work with the members to address ways that past trauma continues to impact their daily lives. Students who are interested in joining the group will need to complete an initial consultation appointment and 20-30 minute meeting with the co-facilitators, Lupe Trejo, LCPC, and Sakina Ali, Ph.D.
Women of Color Group
Stay tuned for Summer 2026 dates/times!
This interpersonal process therapy group welcomes students who are women of color, including cis, trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive women. This group provides space for members to explore issues related to their experiences as women of color and to understand themselves and their relationships in the context of their intersecting identities.
Getting Started with a Group for Spring 2026
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Get started any time of year by completing our interest form below, by emailing Belva Miles (belva1@uic.edu), by talking to your UIC counselor, or by scheduling an initial consultation (312-996-3490).
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If you and your counselor agree that group seems like a good fit, you can then schedule a 30-minute "pre-group meeting" with the co-facilitators of the group. During this meeting, the group leaders will help you determine whether that particular group is a good fit for your clinical and interpersonal needs.
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An exception to this is the Conquering Anxiety group, which requires you to attend an initial consultation but does not screen for major or require a pre-group meeting.
