Support Groups
Support groups are open to Columbia students on the Morningside/Manhattanville campus who have paid the full Columbia Health and Related Services Fee.
Students are welcome to join support spaces and groups that are in progress unless otherwise indicated in the group description. Please contact the facilitator if you have any questions.
All hours are listed in Eastern time.
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Virtual Support Spaces
Thursdays
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
1/23 - 5/15
Fridays
1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
1/31 - end date TBD
In-Person Support Groups
Thursdays
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
1/23 - 5/15
Wednesdays
3:00 - 4:15 p.m.
1/29 - 4/30
Wednesdays
3:15 - 4:30 p.m.
2/19 - 4/30
Mondays
2:00 - 3:15 p.m.
3/10 - 5/5
Workshops
Virtual
Fridays
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
2/7 - end date TBD
In-person
Fridays (except 3/7 and 3/21)
1:15 - 2:30 p.m.
2/21 - 4/25
In-person
Mondays
2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
3/24, 3/31, 4/7, 4/14
In-person
Mondays
3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
3/24, 3/31, 4/7, 4/14
In-person
Mondays
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
4/14, 4/21, 4/28, 5/5
Group Descriptions
Virtual Support Spaces
Due to the open and online nature of this virtual space, this is not private or confidential though participants are encouraged to be respectful and practice discretion. This is intended to be an interactive support space, not group therapy. The facilitators respectfully request that all participants have their video enabled during meetings.
Thursdays
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
1/23 - 5/15
Location: virtual/in-person
Facilitators: Motoni Fong Hodges, Ph.D. and Emilia Mikrut, Ph.D.
This is a supportive community space open to both undergraduate and graduate students who are on the autism spectrum. We will meet once a week via Zoom or in-person to connect and converse with others on selected topics of mutual interest.
To join, email Dr. Motoni Fong Hodges at [email protected] and Dr. Emilia Mikrut at [email protected] if you are interested in joining and/or have any questions regarding the group.
Fridays
1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
1/31 - end date TBD
Facilitator: Debra Domenech, Ph.D.
The death of a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences in life. This is further complicated during a pandemic and times of transition. If you would like a space where you can share with peers who are also going through this, you are invited to attend. This will be a weekly space for graduate and undergraduate students to meet and support each other.
To join, email Dr. Debra Domenech at [email protected].
In-Person Support Groups
Due to the open nature of support groups, this is not private or confidential though participants are encouraged to be respectful and practice discretion. This is intended to be an interactive support group, not individual therapy.
Thursdays
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
1/23 - 5/15
Location: virtual/in-person
Facilitators: Motoni Fong Hodges, Ph.D. and Emilia Mikrut, Ph.D.
This is a supportive community space open to both undergraduate and graduate students who are on the autism spectrum. We will meet once a week via Zoom or in-person to connect and converse with others on selected topics of mutual interest.
To join, email Dr. Motoni Fong Hodges at [email protected] and Dr. Emilia Mikrut at [email protected] if you are interested in joining and/or have any questions regarding the group.
Wednesdays
3:00 - 4:15 p.m.
1/29 - 4/30
Facilitator: David Hittson, Ph.D.
Getting Things Done is a group that focuses on helping students to improve their productivity and their relationship to work/working. The group employs a mixed approach of psychoeducation, skill building, accountability and process therapy to tackle problems of procrastination and work avoidance. Members are expected to attend weekly and to engage with a process of trying new strategies and processing their experiences with other group members. Group participation will require a brief screening appointment and interested students are asked to reach out to the facilitator to be screened if they are interested.
To join, email Dr. David Hittson at [email protected].
Mondays
2:00 - 3:15 p.m.
3/10 - 5/5
Facilitators: Sherina Persaud, Ph.D. and Qurat-ul-ain Gulamhussein, Ph.D.
This is a group for students who are ready to process their experience of sexual abuse. The group leaders will meet with interested students to discuss fit for the group and answer any questions prior to joining. Ideally a student in this group will have some previous experience in therapy and/or currently be in individual therapy.
The group will provide a safe space for survivors of sexual abuse to heal and support one another. This is a group for individuals who identify as female or non-binary. In this group, we will discuss the ways in which trauma has impacted the body and mind, and learn coping skills for feeling safe and connected. Group members will share their experiences and bear witness to one another. We will process how to incorporate past experiences of trauma with hope, empowerment, and making meaning for the present and future. The group incorporates elements of art therapy, movement, and processing through discussion.
To join, email Dr. Sherina Persaud at [email protected] or Dr. Qurat-ul-ain Gulamhussein at [email protected].
Wednesdays
3:15 - 4:30 p.m.
2/19 - 4/30
Facilitator: Marina Mazur, Ph.D.
Tolerating Distress and Managing Emotions is an experiential psychotherapy group that is designed to help individuals manage and endure emotional distress without resorting to harmful behaviors. Group participants will learn and practice skills to tolerate and cope with difficult emotions. Key components of the group will include mindfulness techniques, practical tools to handle acute distress, and reality acceptance skills.
To join, email Dr. Marina Mazur at [email protected].
Workshops
Due to the open nature of workshops, this is not private or confidential though participants are encouraged to be respectful and practice discretion. This is intended to be an interactive workshop, not individual therapy.
In-person
Mondays
2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
3/24, 3/31, 4/7, 4/14
Facilitators: Christine So, Ph.D. and Brendan Krovatin, Ph.D.
This workshop provides undergraduate and graduate students with skills to communicate more effectively with professors, colleagues, friends, family, and romantic partners on how to navigate difficult social situations, resolve conflicts, and set healthy boundaries. The workshop draws from different research-backed interventions and theories such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, the Gottman Method, and attachment theory.
To join, email Dr. Christine So at [email protected] and Dr. Brendan Krovatin at [email protected].
In-person
Mondays
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
4/14, 4/21, 4/28, 5/5
Facilitator: Yaniv Phillips, Ph.D. and Marina Mazur, Ph.D.
Have a strong foundation for your committed relationship, but want to make it even better? This might be the workshop for you. This hands-on, sequential 4-session workshop will provide practical tools for couples who wish to strengthen their relationship.
Topics include:
- Understanding Relational Expectations and Beliefs
- Nurturing the Positives in the Relationship
- Improving Problem-Solving Ability
- Communication Skills.
The workshop is open to all Columbia students and their partners.
To join, email Dr. Yaniv Phillips at [email protected] and Dr. Marina Mazur at [email protected].
Fridays (except 3/7 and 3/21)
1:15 - 2:30 p.m.
2/21 - 4/25
Location: In-person
Facilitator: Manali Roy, Ph.D.
After we experience a traumatic event or a series of significant adverse life events, our views of ourselves, others, and the world around us tend to shift and can be excessively and unfavorably influenced by the difficult life experience(s). In this 8 week, in- person workshop, we will focus on identifying, exploring, and getting unstuck from these unhelpful beliefs that originated in the traumatic past experiences, that affect the way we think, interpret, feel, and act in our day to day life. We will explore themes of safety, trust, control, esteem, and intimacy. We will discuss and practice coping strategies and exercises that are based in gently challenging unhelpful thoughts, exploring alternative explanations, noticing related feelings, cultivating self-compassion, and
mindfulness practices.
To join, email Dr. Manali Roy at [email protected].
In-person
Mondays
3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
3/24, 3/31, 4/7, 4/14
Facilitator: Yaniv Phillips, Ph.D.
This 4-session in-person workshop may be what you need to turn the dial down on procrastination and finish the semester strong. This workshop will help you figure out how to let go of self-regulation problems and learn to take the necessary steps toward achieving your goals. We will look at underlying causes of procrastination, and introduce techniques such as use of goal setting, time management techniques, and how to use accountability to achieve what matters to you most. The workshop focus will be on the concerns of the Columbia University student, but all community members are welcome to participate. Come have fun and work on getting things done.
To join, email Dr. Yaniv Phillips at [email protected].
Fridays
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
2/7 - end date TBD
Location: Virtual
Facilitator: Andrew Colitz, Ph.D.
Cancer not only affects the person diagnosed but ripples through families, reshaping roles and family dynamics. This psychoeducational workshop is designed to help students impacted by cancer in their family navigate the emotional, psychological, and challenges they face during this difficult time. By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the emotional impact of cancer on families and practical coping tools to better support both their family members with cancer and themselves during this challenging time. This workshop is open to students who have a family member currently undergoing cancer treatment as well as those who have supported a family member through a cancer journey. Participants will also have opportunities to share their experiences and ask questions in a supportive, non-judgmental space.
If you are interested in joining the workshop, please email Dr. Andrew Colitz at [email protected] with “Supporting Loved Ones Through Cancer” in the subject for the zoom link.
If you don’t find something that meets your needs, please check back. We add to our offerings throughout the year. You may also email Anne Goldfield, Associate Clinical Director for Outreach and Community Clinical Services, with your suggestions at [email protected]