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Groups and Workshops

COVID-19 Update: Please visit our COVID-19 Updates page for more updated information.

We offer free groups and workshops for all current Tufts students. Students can participate in multiple groups in a given semester, with no limit on the number of groups while enrolled at Tufts.

  • Support and therapy groups are an opportunity to receive multiple perspectives, encouragement, and feedback in a safe and confidential environment. The experience can deepen your self-awareness, enhance your relationship skills and allow you to experiment with new ideas and ways of being.
  • Workshops and Discussion Groups offer a more informal opportunity to connect with others regarding particular experiences or for a shared activity. Most workshops are either drop-in or require a simple sign-up to join -- see specific descriptions for details.

Groups FAQs

What is group therapy?

Group therapy is an opportunity for students to join with others to discuss similar concerns or experiences. A typical group has 4 – 8 students and meets for 60 – 75 minutes weekly or every other week, facilitated by a CMHS staff clinician.

Why join a group?

Participating in a group can help you:

  • Feel understood and supported by others with similar experiences.
  • Deepen your self-awareness.
  • Learn to effectively express your thoughts and feelings to others.
  • Enhance interpersonal skills and improve relationships.
  • Develop more effective coping strategies.
What do I talk about in group?

Group facilitators are skilled in creating a safe space where everyone can feel supported to participate and benefit from the group. You get to decide what and when to share; that said, you will find group most helpful when you can open up about the concerns that bring you there.

What about confidentiality?

All groups are confidential, and each member must commit to maintain confidentiality in order to participate in a group. This is a critical aspect of creating a safe, respectful and trusting environment, which allows group members to discuss their concerns and engage with others.

 

Fall 2020 Virtual Workshops and Discussion Groups

These virtual discussion groups and workshops aim to enhance coping strategies and foster connection among Tufts students. All events will take place over a secure Zoom platform.  Please see below for details about each group and how to participate. After you confirm your participation via RSVP, the group facilitator will send a unique link to access the sessions.  If any of the groups you are interested in are full, we encourage you to come back to this page in the future for more information on the groups we are offering. 

Oasis: Holding Space
Facilitators: Candyce Burke Auguste and Damon Pryor
7 Wednesdays, 2 - 3:15pm EST:  10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/18, 12/2 and 12/9 
 
For Black identified students, this virtual space is intended to promote positive mental health and coping. Participants will be able to share and learn in a liberated space about the impact of power and privilege, experiences of marginalization, racial/acculturative stress, intersectionality and identity development. Join with others to give voice to your thoughts and feelings and proactively engage in the radical act of self-care & community care. 
 

 

Building & Maintaining Self-Compassion During Difficult Times 
Self CompassionFacilitator: Megan Tucker (she, her, hers)
Option 1: Tuesday, 9/29 (Part 1) & 10/13 (Part 2) from 4:30 - 5:45PM EST 
Option 2: Tuesday, 10/27 (Part 1) & 11/10 (Part 2) from 4:30 - 5:45PM EST
 
Choose an option depending on which one works best for you. Part 1 is an introduction to self-compassion and ways to build the practice into your life, especially during difficult times. Part 2 will build on what you learned and troubleshoot areas where you continue to struggle with the practice. This workshop aims to respect the Buddhist construct of self-compassion as well as the intersectional identities of each participant. 
RSVP or inquiries: megan.tucker@tufts.edu 
 
Survive and Thrive---Tools for Uncertain Times
Facilitator: Jennifer Granquist  
4 Wednesdays, 2 - 3pm EST: 9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21    
 
This group aims to help students learn and practice resiliency skills to better face unexpected changes and manage uncertainty. Participants will acquire tools to: build social connection, manage emotions, find purpose and meaning, set goals, and promote healthy habits. Each participant will receive a copy of the “Resiliency Skills Workbook” for their own use. Students are encouraged to attend each session if possible.
 
Coping with Loss in a Remote World
Facilitator: Xuhua Qin
8 Fridays 3 - 4:15pm: 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20, 12/4, 12/11
 
This is a confidential and supportive group for students who have experienced the death of a family member, partner, or friend. Group members will have an opportunity to talk about their current lives and the impact of loss while juggling the demands of being a student. Participants will form and connect with each other as a community to be on this journey together. It is an open enrollment drop-in space for both undergraduate and graduate students.
RSVP or inquires: xuhua.qin@tufts.edu
 
TRANScend Connection (For Trans & Nonbinary Students) 
TRANScend ConnectionFacilitators: Megan Tucker (she/her/hers) & Aditi Ahlawat (she/her/hers)
Monthly Tuesdays, 4:30 - 5:45pm EST:   9/22, 10/20, 11/17 & 12/15
 
This monthly drop-in support space is open to all Tufts students who identify as trans and gender nonbinary (TGNB), and is inclusive of TGNB students of all intersecting identities. Topics will include but are not limited to gender affirmation and treatment, managing systemic oppression, coping with stress, self-compassion and self-care, and connecting in meaningful ways when not able to physically connect with community. 
RSVP or inquiries:  megan.tucker@tufts.edu by 4PM on the day of group for zoom link.
 
 
Connection Matters: A 3-Part Series for International Students 
Connection Matters FlyerFacilitators: Xuhua Qin and Aditi Ahlawat
First Series: Thursdays, 11am - Noon EST in October:
October 8th     How to build connections remotely
October 15th   Managing uncertainty and reducing stress
October 22nd  Skills & resources to build psychological safety in a changing world
Second Series: Wednesdays, 10 - 11am EST in November: 
November 4th     How to build connections remotely
November 11th   Managing uncertainty and reducing stress
November 18th   Skills & resources to build psychological safety in a changing world
 
This is a 3-week series for international students, where we will be discussing ways to foster connection, reduce stress, enhance coping skills, and manage uncertainty during this time. Open to all Tufts international students, regardless of your current location. You are welcome to attend any or all of the sessions.
 
Journaling for Self-Care
Facilitator: Jennifer Granquist
5 Wednesdays, 2 - 3pm EST:  10/28, 11/4, 11/18, 12/2 and 12/9
Participants will learn how journaling practices can be integrated into a self-care toolkit in a relaxed and welcoming group. Each week we’ll discuss a different aspect or type of journaling, complete a brief writing exercise together, then (optionally) share our writing and what the writing experience was like. No writing experience necessary. Students are encouraged to attend to all five groups if possible.
RSVP or inquiries: jennifer.granquist@tufts.edu
 
Here Together: Drop in spaces for students in COVID isolation or quarantine
Tuesdays 5:30 - 6:30pm EST Facilitator: Marilyn Downs
Bring your dinner or a cup of tea! Drop by for an informal conversation with other students to connect, share experiences, discuss challenges, and learn strategies for self-care.   
RSVP or inquires: marilyn.downs@tufts.edu 
 
Fridays 3 – 4pm EST Facilitator: Jennifer Granquist
Create: Drop by Friday afternoons for an informal discussion about ways to manage uncertainty, and learn fun and creative ways to expand your self-care toolkit. 
 

 

 

Health Promotion and Prevention Groups On Campus

For more information, visit the Health Promotion and Prevention website.