Group Counseling:  Fall 2009

The Thomas E. Cook Counseling Center (CCC) offers a variety of free counseling groups and workshops for Virginia Tech students.  Often the number of participants per group is limited.  Therapy groups are often viewed as equally or more helpful than individual counseling because of its interactive and community emphasis.  Interested students are encouraged to contact the CCC and sign-up as soon as possible.  For more information about groups please see our Group Brochure or contact the Thomas E. Cook Counseling Center at 540-231-6557.

Understanding Self and Others
General Process Groups

For students who wish to increase self-understanding, self-esteem, and intimacy in relationships, as well as address their interpersonal style and relationship-building skills.

Day and Times:
To Be Announced

Where:
Thomas E. Cook Counseling Center
240 McComas Hall, Room 258

To join a group contact the Cook Counseling Center

Questions? Contact Dr. Tevya Zukor at 231-6557

 Healthy Bodies Group

 This group is designed for people who are actively dealing with an eating disorder.  Participants will learn to live each day with  intention, without being a hostage to thoughts and feelings about bodies and eating.  Participants will learn ways to reduce distress and improve the ability to cope with the present.

Call 231 - 7809 for a screening appointment
with Ellie Sturgis or Dahyun Chun

Uncomfortable around new people?  Having a hard time making friends?  Come to:
Becoming at Ease Around People

If your heart pounds and your palms sweat at the thought of meeting someone new, and you find yourself staying alone in your room even though you'd like to get out and have friends, this group may be for you! The goal of this group is to help students who experience a lot of discomfort or anxiety in social situations to develop skills for interacting with others and become more socially comfortable.  In a relaxed, supportive atmosphere, you will learn some new approaches to dealing with situations you find difficult.  You will also find that you are not alone!

Call 231-7809 and ask to speak with anna Epperson.

Time: Fridays 10:30-12:00
(Beginning September 25, 2009)
Location: Cook Counseling Center at Collegiate Square
400 Turner Street, Suite 102

Title:   Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Series
When:  Thursdays from 10:30-11:45 am, starting October 1 until November 19
Where:   Cook Counseling Center, 258 McComas Hall
What:   Mindfulness is a way of re-teaching your mind to focus on the present moment.  Mindfulness techniques offer relaxation and stress reduction by increasing awareness of the self, body, and mind.
Who:   Please contact Kelli Moran-Miller, Ph.D., or Katherine Luci, M.Ed., at Cook Counseling Center for more information. (231-6557)

MBSR is: "Mindfulness is about being fully awake in our lives.  It is about perceiving the exquisite vividness of each moment.  We feel more alive. We also gain immediate access to our own powerful inner resources for insight, transformation, and healing." --Jon Kabat-Zinn

Benefits include:

• An increased sense of well-being
• Greater energy and enthusiasm
• A renewed focus on what is important

MBSR programs can be helpful for people that are looking for assistance with: relaxation, anxiety, depressive symptoms, sleep disturbances, and daily hassles.  Each 1 hour 15 minute meeting will outline the theory and background behind this effective skill with some time allowed for practicing mindfulness techniques in a comfortable environment.

International Graduate Student Support Group

This group is a forum for international graduate students to come together once a week to meet, talk, support and problem solve.  It's an opportunity for international students to:

• talk out loud challenges and struggles as graduate students in a foreign country
• discuss ways to balance school and personal life
• manage academic stress
• manage relationship concerns
• discuss other cross-cultural issues

Time: Thursdays, 12-1pm
For more information call or come by:  Cook Counseling Center  240 McComas Hall / 231-6557

Black Graduate Student Support Group

Time: Wednesday 10:00-11:00
240 McComas Hall

This support group provides black graduate students with a place to talk with other graduate students across campus about various challenges.

Come, let's talk about:

• The stress of balancing academic and personal life

• Dealing with Committees

• Problem professors or other students

• Thesis and Dissertation Completion

• Problems transitioning from academic life into professional life and vice versa

If you are interested in joining this group or would like more information please contact Cook Counseling Center (231-6557) located in 240 McComas Hall.