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.

Autism Support Group (hybrid)

Fridays
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
1/19/2024 - 5/10/2024

Bereavement

Fridays
1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
2/2/24 - end date TBD

Upcoming:

International Students Support Group

Thursdays
1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Start and End Date TBD

In-Person Support Groups

In Progress:

Autism Support Group (hybrid)

Fridays
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
1/19/2024 - 5/10/2024

Getting Things Done

Fridays
3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
2/2/2024 - 5/10/2024

Upcoming:

First Gen American Trauma Group

Fridays
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Start date TBD

Healing From Childhood and Adolescent Sexual Abuse

Mondays
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Start and end date TBD

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.

Fridays
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
1/19/2024 - 5/10/2024

Facilitator: Motoni Fong Hodges, 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 either via Zoom or in person to connect and converse with others on selected topics of mutual interest.

To join, please email [email protected] with "Autism" in the subject line if you would like to participate in the workshop.

Fridays
1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
2/2/2024 - end date TBD

Facilitator: Debra Domenech, Ph.D. and Jorge Alvarenga, 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 [email protected] and [email protected] with "Bereavement" in the subject line.

Thursdays
1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Start and End Date TBD

Facilitator: Manali Roy, Ph.D.

This is a virtual workshop and support space for international students to share their experiences of adjusting to a new country, culture, community, and systems and to learn ways to navigate the transitions. We will talk about skills to cope with stress, anxiety, imposter syndrome, managing existing and new relationships, as well as any other topics of shared interest.

To join, email [email protected] with "International Students" in the subject line.

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.

Fridays
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
1/19/2023 - 5/10/2024

Facilitator: Motoni Fong Hodges, 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 either via Zoom or in person to connect and converse with others on selected topics of mutual interest.

To join, please email [email protected] with "Autism" in the subject line if you would like to participate in the workshop.

This workshop is now full.

Fridays
12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
1/19/2024 - end date TBD

Facilitator: Maria Narimanidze, Psy.D.

A psychotherapy group to help participants understand and improve their relationships with others – friends, romantic partners, family, and others. Members will have a chance to explore their personal histories, including attachment histories, and practice, in vivo, more effective ways of communicating.

The group will address areas like:

  • Understanding boundaries
  • Managing expectations
  • Disagreeing/ addressing conflict effectively
  • Asking for what you want
  • Active listening & validation
  • Receiving feedback
  • Knowing when and how to end a relationship that is not working

To sign up for the group, please email [email protected] with "Relationships" in the subject line. Please note that an initial consultation with the facilitator will be required to gauge whether this group is an appropriate fit.

Fridays
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Start date TBD

Facilitator: Mercedes J. Okosi, Psy.D.

This group is for students who are adult children of immigrant parents and who have experienced trauma. Often, it can be difficult to grow up in the United States and have parents from another country with a different understanding of mental health, and their own values and stigmas. Trauma may also occur across generations of a family. Ideally, students in this group will also have had some experience in individual therapy. Undergraduate and graduate students are welcome.

The group will provide a safer space for adult children of immigrants to process their own trauma histories and feel supported by others who may relate to them. Students should be prepared to discuss how their trauma and responses to their trauma have been impacted by family dynamics. The group will focus on psychoeducation about trauma and the impacts of intergenerational trauma, coping skills, tools for better communication, and exploration of cultural norms and stigmas.

To join, please email [email protected] with "First Gen" in the subject line.

Fridays
3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
2/2/2024 - 5/10/2024

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 [email protected] with "Getting Things Done" in the subject line.

Mondays
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Start and end date TBD

Facilitator: Marcia Stern, Ph.D. 

This eight-week group offers an opportunity for female and gender non-binary students with a history of childhood or adolescent sexual assault to meet in a safe, confidential, and supportive space.  The group's goals are to increase understanding of trauma's impact, decrease isolation, reduce shame and self-blame, enhance coping skills, and increase their capacity for safe relationships.  

Email [email protected] with "Group" in the subject line. Please note that an initial consultation with the facilitator will be scheduled prior to the start of the group.

This workshop is full. Stay tuned for the Fall 2024 group.

Fridays
10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Start and End Dates TBD

Facilitators: Annette Santiago-Espana, Ph.D. and Melanie Kressel, Psy.D.

This confidential support group is for undergraduate and graduate students of all genders who are motivated and invested in their path toward recovery from a range of eating and body image concerns. Group members will have the opportunity to explore issues related to eating concerns such as relationships, body image, self-concept, race and culture, gender, social media, trauma, family, academic pressures, and coping with relapse. The students in this group will feel empowered and supported, and work towards building a strong sense of self as they develop and maintain healthy attitudes and behaviors.

To join, email [email protected] and [email protected] with "Reawakening" in the subject line.

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]