Counseling Groups and Workshops

CMHS groups are open to undergraduate and graduate students on the Medford-Somerville and SMFA campuses. There is no limit to the number of groups you can attend while enrolled at Tufts, and all groups are confidential. Groups are free for all full-time students as well as for part-time students who have paid the Health and Wellness fee. Unless otherwise noted below, they will be held in person at CMHS at 120 Curtis Street on the Medford campus. 

Fall 2026 Counseling Groups 

TRANScend 

• Tuesdays 2-3:15pm from October 13 to November 17
• Facilitators: Mary Dulong, LICSW and Jesse Frieder, PsyD

This support group is a drop-in space for trans, nonbinary, and gender diverse undergraduate and graduate students. Topics vary each session and are related to gender identity exploration, transition, coping with transphobia, and resource sharing.

Graduate Student Support Group 

• Tuesdays 4-5pm from September 29 to November 17
• Facilitators: Cristy Urton, LMHC

This support group offers graduate students a confidential space to connect with others, speak openly about their experiences, build community, and develop practical coping skills for navigating graduate student life at Tufts.

Returning From A Leave Group 

• Wednesdays 1-2pm every other week from October 7 to December 2
• Facilitators: Takahide Watanabe, LMHC

This support group is for students who have returned from Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA). Group members will have an opportunity to share experiences with MLOA, including challenges and successes as returning students. Participants will build connection and community, learn about resources, and gain confidence navigating their return to Tufts.

Out of your Head, Into the Present: Life in 5 Senses (a Sensory Grounding Group) 

• Wednesdays 3-4pm from October 7 to November 18 (no meeting on November 11 holiday)
• Facilitators: Jen Granquist, LMHC

Feeling the beginnings of burnout? Overwhelmed by racing thoughts? Struggling to stay focused during lectures? When stress hits, our minds tend to spin out of control. "Life in 5 Senses" is a wellness group designed specifically to help you hit the pause button. This is a hands-on, practical lab where you will learn how to use immediate, real-time awareness to calm your nervous system. Come connect with a community also interested in using the 5 senses to navigate stress and manage uncertainty.

DBT Skills: Building Your Emotional Toolbox 

• Thursdays 1-2pm from October 8 to November 12
• Facilitators: Courtney Nugent, LICSW and Lauren Nguyen, PsyD

Are you struggling to navigate your emotional responses in various situations and relationships? Join this group to learn more essential coping skills. We will cover topics such as stress reduction, mindfulness, understanding and managing emotions, and building stronger relationships. Meetings feature educational content, resource sharing, meaningful discussions, and experiential exercises. Embark on this journey toward improving your emotional well-being!

Understanding Relationships 

• Thursdays 3-4pm from September 24 to November 19
• Facilitators: Xi Bi, PsyD and Kristina Esopo, PhD

Have you ever felt unseen, misunderstood, disconnected, or unsure how to be yourself with others? Understanding Relationships is a group for students who want to better understand how they connect with others and what gets in the way of feeling close, authentic, and understood in relationships. Through open conversations with other group members, we will explore experiences such as holding back, people-pleasing, feeling invisible, worrying about taking up too much space, struggling to express needs, or finding it difficult to let others really know you. Both returning and new participants are welcome.

Navigating Stress at Tufts 

• Fridays 1-2pm; group will run for three consecutive weeks and will be offered in three sessions (choose one) - Session 1: October 2, 9, 16; Session 2: October 23, 30 & November 6; Session 3: November 13, 20, December 4 (no meeting on November 27 holiday)
• Facilitators: Sage Garcia, LICSW

Life as a student can be stressful, but you don't have to navigate it alone. Join this 3 session skill building group to better understand anxiety, learn practical strategies to manage stress, and build a personalized coping plan that works for you. You'll gain tools to recognize how anxiety affects your mind and body, how to strengthen your support network, and leave with skills you can use throughout the semester and beyond.

Coping with Loss 

• Fridays 3-4:15pm from October 2 to November 20
• Facilitators: Stefan Jadaszewski, PhD

A support 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 connections with each other as a community on this shared journey.