The therapy group program is a general group, so any student is welcome to join. It is a group session that occurs at least once a week between students who want support and who are experiencing challenges throughout the semester—in and outside of school. As well as providing a community for students to feel a part of.
For now, the group is to meet in online video sessions, but if enough students join, they can eventually be made in-person. The time of the group is yet to be determined; the students who join will decide on the time and day that is most suitable for everyone. To join, contact Claudia Marte by email.
According to Claudia Marte, the lead counselor in charge of the therapy group program, the goal is to make students feel that they are part of a community. Marte states that she hears many students feel like they are alone or isolated, or that students only feel like they go to the college for just classes and they do not feel like they are a part of something. The group allows students to come to the group once a week to get support from peers.
“Seeing the history of me working in groups in various settings, you could reach a broader base individually — one-on-one. But if you have five, 10 students in a group, you’re reaching a broader community,” Marte said.
Marte, a clinician and licensed counselor, was taught in graduate school that one of the key evidence-based research shows the effectiveness of group therapy in terms of treatment; it has made better strides than individual therapy and Marte and the counseling office hope for reaching a broader audience and expanding the support to allow more people to want to join.
Marte goes on to say that the group allows people “To talk about things that are hard, and if you’re vulnerable, it then allows other people to be vulnerable.”
Reaching a broader audience could expand support and encourage people to want to join and to understand how important mental health is.
If the group has enough students signed up, the counseling service hopes to offer different group therapies for specific students like older students, first year students, LGBTQ+ students and students of color therapy groups.
“Having support is important. The group creates support in people’s differences and opens people’s eyes,” Marte said.