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.
All students are welcome to attend.
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.
Please note that we do not run our support groups over the summer. Groups will resume in the fall.
Asian Voices is a space for students to receive support and a safe space to explore the wide spectrum of Asian/Asian American backgrounds (e.g., East Asian, South Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, etc.). Students can connect with other students at VCU and share their experiences and concerns in a supportive environment.
This group meets Wednesdays from 4 - 4:50 pm and is being offered in person at University Counseling Services, Room 232 in the Student Commons.
All students are welcome to attend.
Black Voices is a space for students to come together, share their experiences, and connect with peers. It is a space where we talk about issues/concerns/topics related to the lived experiences of Black students. 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.
This group meets Tuesdays from 4 pm - 5 pm. Location: VCU OMSA Office, 2nd floor of the Student Commons.
All students are welcome to attend.
This support group is a space for all VCU students living on and off-campus who live with a chronic illness. 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.
This group meets Wednesdays from 4:00 pm - 4:50 pm via Zoom.
All students are welcome to attend.
Complete the interest form for the Chronic Illness Support Group
This support group is a space for all VCU students who have experienced the loss of a loved one. This will be a space to discuss the impact of grief on all aspects of one's sense of well-being. It is not intended to provide therapy. The focus is on coming together to find new ways of coping while building a community of support.
The group meets Thursdays from 3 - 3:50pm. Please complete the interest form for more information and to touch base with group leaders.
All students are welcome to attend.
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.
This group meets biweekly on Thursdays from 1 - 1:50 pm in the GEO 3rd floor lounge.
All students are welcome to attend.
Complete the interest form for the International Student Group
Latine Voices is a space for students to receive support and a safe space to explore the wide spectrum of Latine identities. Students can connect with other students at VCU over a broad range of topics including, but not limited to, Latine identity, cultural values and expectations, academics, racism, relationships, and many more. The focus of this group is on coming together to find new ways of coping while building a community of support.
This group meets on Wednesdays from 4:00 - 5:00 pm Location: VCU OMSA Office, 2nd floor of the Student Commons.
All students are welcome to attend.
The Medical Student Support Group is a space for medical students in their clinical years (M3/M4) to drop in on an as needed basis to process their clinical experiences, connect with peers, and find ways to sustainably practice medicine.
All students are welcome to attend.
Complete the interest form for the Medical Student Support Group
**This group will not be running for the spring 2025 semester.**
The Neurodivergent Support Group is a space for Autistic, AuDHD, ADHD, multiply neurodivergent, and questioning students to find community, receive support, learn to embrace your authentic self, and explore what your brain needs to thrive. This group is facilitated jointly by UCS and SAEO.
A formal diagnosis is not required to attend.
This group meets Tuesdays from 1-2pm over Zoom.
All students are welcome to attend.
Complete the interest form for the Neurodivergent Support 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.
This group meets Wednesdays from 3:30 - 4:40pm.
Location: VCU OMSA Office, 2nd floor of the Student Commons.
All students are welcome to attend.
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.
This group meets Tuesdays from 4 pm - 5 pm and will meet at University Counseling Services, Rm 232 in the Student Commons.
All students are welcome to attend.
The Trans and Non-Binary Student Support Group is a space for students who do not fully identify with their assigned gender at birth. This includes folks who are transgender, non-binary, genderqueer, genderfluid, agender, intersex, questioning their gender, and more. At the Trans* support group, we strive to create a “safer space” where you can seek support with relationships of all kinds, coming out, transitioning, questioning, and identity development, as well as connecting with others.
This group meets Tuesdays from 4pm - 5pm in-person at the Rams in Recovery Clubhouse.
All students are welcome to attend.
Complete the interest form for the Trans and Non-Binary Support 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