Support Groups
Support groups are different from therapy groups in that their PRIMARY aim is to help you gain peer support and to build community with other students, particularly those who may share an identity you hold. Unlike our therapy groups, support group members are encouraged to build connections outside of the group. You do NOT have to complete an intake appointment or be an enrolled client at UCS to participate in these support groups.
Select the group you'd like to join and complete the interest form. The group leader will contact you with guidance for the next steps to get started.
Looking for substance use recovery groups? Visit Rams in Recovery for events and meeting information.
Current Support Groups
Questions about these support groups? Give us a call at 804-828-6200 or email us at uccounseling@vcu.edu.
The purpose of the group is to provide a supportive and safe space for students who identify within the wide spectrum of Asian/Asian American backgrounds (e.g., East Asian, South Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, etc.). Students can connect with other Asian American/Asian diaspora students at VCU over a broad range of topics including, but not limited to, identity, cultural values and expectations, academics, racism, and any other issues that participants find relevant.
Every Friday, Noon - 1 p.m. via Zoom
Black Voices: A Supportive Space for Black Students is a space for Black students to come together, share their experiences, and connect with peers. Members of the support group will have the opportunity to share their experiences and concerns, while also offering support to one another in a safe environment, facilitated by UCS staff. The focus of this group is on coming together to find new ways of coping while building a community of support.
Every Tuesday, 2 - 3 p.m. via Zoom
The International Student Discussion Hour is a space for international students to come together, share their experiences, and connect with peers. Group members will have the opportunity to share their experiences and concerns, while also offering support to one another in a safe environment, facilitated by UCS staff. The focus of this group is on coming together to build a community of support.
Every Tuesday, Noon - 1 p.m. via Zoom
Complete the interest form for the International Student Group
Rainbow Group is a support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/gender non-conforming, queer, asexual and intersex students. At Rainbow Group you will find a safe space to seek support with relationships, family and friends, coming out, transitioning, questioning, and identity development, as well as get information and connect with others.
Every Friday, 3 - 4 p.m. via Zoom
This support group is a space for all VCU students living on and off-campus who live with a chronic health condition. This will be a space to discuss the impact of their health conditions on their academic, emotional, physical, and social well-being. Members of the support group will have the opportunity to share their experiences and concerns, while also offering support to one another in a safe environment, facilitated by staff from both University Counseling Services and the office of Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity. The focus of this group is on coming together to find new ways of coping while building a community of support.
Every Tuesday, 4 - 5 p.m. via Zoom
Complete the interest form for the Chronic Health Conditions Group
The Support Group for Survivors of Sexual Violence is currently full for the Fall 2021 semester. If you are interested in participating in this group in the future, please complete the below interest form. If you are interested in connecting with other free survivor support groups in the community, please contact Project Empower at (804) 628-3361 or the YWCA at (804) 612-6126.
The Survivor Support Group at University Counseling Services is a collaboration between Counseling and Advocacy services and is intended to be an empowering, inclusive, safe place for all VCU students who are survivors of sexual violence to connect with other survivors as they journey through recovery from trauma. The group is for any survivor of sexual violence who is at least 18 years of age. Members of the support group will have opportunities to share their experiences and concerns, while also offering support to one another in a safe environment curated by UCS staff. The focus of this group is on coming together to heal, increase self-compassion, and increase understanding of how past experiences have impacted their lives. This is a private and confidential group.
What is the difference between Group Therapy, Skills Groups, and Support Groups?
Group therapy is a form of psychological treatment where a group of patients meets to work on their issues with the help and supervision of one or more therapists. The interactions between the group members are part of the treatment, with multiple sources of feedback and ideas providing the chance to learn to connect with others in new ways and change how they deal with their problems.
Skills groups are usually in a structure-based format because there is a specific theme or topic of discussion, and each group session is focused on a topic relevant to the overall theme.
Support groups are highly effective at giving people a support network for coping. The groups can help people feel less alone with their problem and provide a lot of practical problem-solving advice that might help a group member manage their situation more effectively.
Information adapted from LifeStance.com